The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-05-12
Rolling Stones.


William Bradley was man of thirty.
had boen married five years, and he
leased good farm aud bought span oi
horses. n few sheep and ak cows, which
he paid for and ian in debt $500 for
buggy harnesses and some farming tools.
He brought his young wife homo 10 a
large two storied house and he Furnished
the apartments they needed for uso and
let tha rest OF the building remain un.
occupied. She was n neat, industrious,
thrifty little woman, and meant 10 do hor
part in life Eell.
Bradley was hard-working man; bul
somehow things did not seem 20 prosper
The farm was large; hired help was high;
the beetles injured his potatoes 40 that
he did not get half crop; the rust struck
bis oats; the weevils ruined his wheat
his corn got frost bitten, and. the hawks
and foxes destroyed hiss goultry aud
kept him in constant fidget most Of the
time. However, he managed TO pay his
hired man, and the rental on the farm
and earned his living besides. Bnt he
was not getting rich very fast and he
was half discouraged and more than half
discontented
II say. Hattie" said ho one evening,
81 believe ! shall rent n smaller farm
next year. IL costs so much to hire and
board q man. / believe i can do better
on the Kendrick farm. where / oan do
the work alone"
Perhaps things will prosper better
here next year, answered his wife. I'VE
were just beginning and had a good
many outgoes. that We shall not have an.
al he. IL l.a A..
move. and this is q pleasant home,
William"
1T is hard work and small play. I
believe | can make more money there. .
The little wife drew q long breath, and
spoke sadly: II declare. William. do
not $50 how NO can move the first OF
April. II will be drsadfully hardr'
"Oh. | viii hire some one to help
pack; but really think it wilf be really
better for US. You need not lift finger
about the moving"
Hattie Bradley had learned before this
time that when William crooked his
elbow" nothing could bend It, 40 she
said no more on the subiect-and in q
few days her husband told her he had
hired the Kendrick farm, and got il a
hundred dollars cheaper than the
one they occupied. They must
vacate their present home the last OF
March, as the new tenant would want
TO take possession then. OF course
there was nothing more 10 be said, but
when packing up came there was no one
to be had 10 assist, and Mrs. Bradley had
the whole thing 10 do herself. She was
a careful housewife, and took every pre-.
caution to have the furniture protected
from injury in transporting; but the
roads were rough, and the sled that
had her nice chamber set upon il upset,
and the bedstead got broken and marred
the large mirror smashed, and the back
was broken of the little rocking chair.
The cook s.ove had one Of the oven doors
broken, and ope leg was lost, and plenty
OF other Disasters occurred 10 make q
housekeeper cross; but Hattie made the
best of it, and William said he would
get the things mended as soon as he got
time.
Before they had got settled In their
new home, so as to be comfortable
and know where the things were, Mrs.
Bradley was taken sick, and for three
months was under the doctors care, and
q nurse and hired girl were requisite
most of the time.
"It was very imprudent for You to
move at such time" said the doctor to
Mr.. Bradley. "Your wife was not able
to work 80 hard, and she will not get her
strength again for months; you would
have been 5000 better OF TO have stayed
where you were."
II was long time before Hattie could
be about the house at all. and when she
did visit the kitchen and pantry she was
disheartened, there was no place for any.
thing and things were in confusion.
At the end OF the year they were not
as we'll off as they were when they com.
menced housekeeping. Dishes were
broken; spoons lost; the butter was moi
of No. l quality3 and SO went for hall
price; and 80 with the rest
ST declare, Hattie exclaimed her hus.
band, "We have had hard year T.
ST certainly have, Everything is be
hind hand with my work, and baby is SC
worrysome that I cannot find time fol
much but nursing niH4s IL he we're only
we'll, and q tear rtfinlded down her pale
| cheek and fell on The little waxen face
that rested on her arm.
"Kendrick is talking of selling this
farm. Ii he does we. shall have to looh
out for another home before long"
"Oh dear, |Yilliaml can't move again
1t is enough 10 Kill me to think of it
aid poor Hattie.
IT had about, made up my mind tc
leave, even il he does not sell it; it is 6
hard farm to work.
William, u rolling stone gathers M
moss it was a great damage to us NOV
ing last year, aside from my sickness
My furniture was broken aud ruined ani
not thing has been mende1 yet"
/ ST never think of it when / have tim,
to do it; to tell the truth, Hattie. I havG
half mind to give up mp farming and
| turnmy hand at something else" -.
What else can you earn a livingby?'
:'There's plenty OF work for d man Il
do, and I think I should have motJ
money at the end of the year even if
worked out by the day"
/ s'But your stock-you have dair,
now"
"Cows will sell, said be shortly, anl
left the room, while his poor wife So
| down for q good cry.