Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-08-02

~ demanding bricks without straw, 80
with the very scanly resources, Phcbe
sat about preparing for the dreaded
witt, She would have liked u little
girl to help take care Of the baby, but
her husband objected on principle II
might look cxtrayagant to Uncle Alcck
and the board of such u girl would be
more than her wages.
1t was q beautiful day In June, aud
the country at is best when Uncle
Alcck came. Ilc gave his nephew u
hearty hand.shakc, aud looked over
his added pounds of avoirdupoia with
laughing eyes,
Farm life hasn't worn you down, ]
perceive hc said, as he stepped into
the buggy.
The supper was excellent, the house
like u new pin, baby sweet and fresh
in his clean white tucker, and there
was only one shadow that those keen
eyes detected, aud that was the worn
and tired look Of the young moIher.-
II filed him with solictudc, and gave
him real pain, rs he feared the young
wife might be in failing health, and his
poor boy be LETT early with only II men,
ory and pictured face, rs he had been
these many years. One thing which
had so drawn him TO Phcbc was her
resemblance to that little ivory-painted
picture he ore over land and sea.
lie wondered if there was not Il
cause for her pallid checks, that might
yet be discovered and rcmedicd. The
farm was kept up to II state OF high
thrift and ncatncss by the hired man,
and RiJgcway got the credit of it,
But indoors there was II scrimped, I'M
handy look about most of the working
implements, which did not escape oh.
servation. He saw Phebc tinkering
her tins with bits of twinc drawn into
holes, and he heard Ridge expostulat-
ing with her in the kitchen about some
supplies she needed. He sat through
u Monday in the cosy sitting room,
where he could see her toiling ut the
wash-tub, and hurrying to get up the
meals, while she attended to the ne
elected baby when she could catch n
moments time. His Indignation was
at white heat by night, and he felt that
he could have cancd 'thc graceess
scamp his nephew, with pleasure, for
permitting such II state of affairs.
They walked out after tea and look
ed at the growing crops, Ridgeway
feeling unusually well satisfied with
himself and all doings.
Uncle Alexis first remark hardly
chimed in with this sentiment.
Didn't it ever seem to you, Ridge,
as rather one sided arrangement,
that you have stout man to help you
out of doors, and your wife no help at
all in doors? Turn about is fair play.
Suppose now that you try the business
for three years alone, and let her have
the help
Oh, uncle expostulated Ridge,
there is steady work for two men on
the farm the year round.
And steady work in the house for
two women; and you have let a young,
delicate wife carry it on single handed,
and as far as I know have never re-
monstrated with her on the slow suicide
she was committing. Such havoc as
three short years have made 1t
ought to make q man ashamed, if his
feelings are not iron clad, to so over
work woman he has vowed to love
and cherish
Ridgeway reddencd at his uncle's
plain dealing, but he was not disposed
to admit that he was the one so much
to blame.
Il tell you, uncle, Phebe has not the
faculty of getting along with her work
that some women have. 1t takes her
longer than it needs to get every
meal. am sometimes most surprised
1T certainly does take her longer
than it need to. I have plainly seen
that, and now, young man, I'll teach
YOU lesson. You are to rake hay to-
morrow, I believe. I'll fix you a
rake, and I'll see you use it. And
the irate old man smashed all but three
teeth out of good rake and handed it
over to his nephew. There's your
implement, and I'll come out and see
how you get on with it. There'll be
no Sinking there, either. Everything
l have seen of your home convinces me
has been just Of that order. Your
wife works with three toothed rake
from morning till night. 1t is good to
be saving and lay up money, but not it