The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-30
GETTING INTO SOCIETY.

81 tell you, Jack, the farm is not
your vocation. l become more and
more conyincd of the fact every day.
and less contented with the life we
are leading"
Break fast was over and we stood on
the farm house porticO, arm in arm.
On the sill of the door sat baby,
screaming with delight, as she fed a
pair of pet pigeons from her dimpled
hands.
Our breakfast had been delicious
one-coffee clear as amber, bread like
snow, and steak done to turn.
All about us was a green tangle OF
sweet brier and honeysuckle ; the sun
was just rising aboye the mountain
peaks and the morning air was sweet
and fresh and filled with exquisite
woodland oelors and musical with d.Its
songs of birds. We could catch a
glimpse of the barn and poultry yards
from where we stood, and hear the
plaintiYe lowing of the kline and
dreamlike tinkle of their bells.
felt a vague sort of conviction that
Jack had but little sympathy with my
spirit of discomfort, yet l was deter
mined to carry my point, if possible.
"You are dissatisfied with your lot
i see that plainly, Nell" said Jack.
trifle sadly.
"Oh, nonsense !" 1 put in. mot
with my lot, nor with you ;only with
the farm, Jack. Pm tired to death
with this prosy, humdrum life, and |
hate to see you delving and toiling
like slave from one Year's end to
another. You were born for some
thing better. Jack-sOmething gram
der and nobler. Fancy a man of your
abilities growing grain and digging
potatoes and raising stock to his life's
end"
"But, my DEAR" suggested Jack,
zone must live and have bread and
butter"
ITO be sure, Jack ; but why not
earn it IN more genteel fashion ?"
Honest labor is always genteel,
Nell"
"Oh, pshaw you don't understand
me, Jack. l mean that you have ca
pacities for something better. You
only cling to the old farm to please
your father, when you could do IA
hundred-fold better elsewhere. And,
besides, where is your society in this
place. Jack ? What chance is there
for cur children as they grow up?
Jack laughed as he glanced down
at baby, who was struggling furious
ly to get pigeons head in her
mouth.
"Ah, Nell, that is looking so tar
ahead" he said land my dear, you
seem to forget that have lived here
all my life"
"No, no, l don't forget. And pray
what have you done. Jack ?"
LED an upright life, and married
yourself in the end"
"But you didn't pick me up among
the clover blossoms, Jack don't for
get that. You found me in town, and
Jack, dear, Pm anxious to get back to
my native element. Pm tired of all
this. You can get on ever so nicely
in town, Jack and there we can get
into society"
"I'm not fond of society, Nell"
"Oh, but you should be, for my
sake, Jack. Pm fond Oft. | hate to
live like hermit. Why, Jack, if we
desired to give little party to-mor-
row, we could not for lack of guests"
"Dear me, Nell, why l could mus
ter scores"
"Of a certain sort. yes, but | don't
want them, Jack. Pm little pecu-
liar in my notions. want no society
but the best the-the-sort of society
one gets in town."
Questionable society, Nell ?"
"Well, then, why not? You have
means, Jack, and fiatter myself that
we are fitted to move in any circle.
Why should we bury ourselves in this
wilderness ?"
"Our means are not inexhaustible,
Nell"
"Pm aware ofthat, Jack, but we've
enough for start, and Marlborough
offers you good place in their bank"
"At limited salary, Nell"
"Oh,yes, but you can work your way
up. Jack right to the topmost round
of the ladder. Do let's go, Jack I've
lived here to please you ever since our
marriage | think you can afford to
pie ase me little now."
Jack sighed as he looked out upon
his ripening grain fields, but he drew
me close to his heart and kissed me.
"That's true" he said, "you can't
be expected to care for the farm as |
do. Nell. l promised to make you
ha L.