Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-11-18

'~N-A~~ AAA&A oAiSiA ~, thhio oiiSii OhCy
waste and break more than their wages.
l don't see how can afford girl. Do
what you can, and leave some things
undone; that's the way to work it,"
and John sat back with satisfied air,
and Mary thought of her husbands
glowing words in the prayer-meeting
II will do all 1 can," said Mary in a
weary voice. "What / am obliged to
do is much beyond my strength. The
three meals come near together, wash
ing and ironing must be done, baby
shall not be neglected, and of course 1
must keep the clothes well mended."
zone thing at time is the way to
think of your duties. Pick up all the
comfort you can as you 60 along. 1
have made up my mind to do so in the
future
$50 see by your thinking of having
an extra hand"
eyes. feel that must take care
of my health for your sake and the
childrens."
"Certainly" Mary answered in a
sarcastic tone, show thoughtful you
are for us p
John made no further comment, but
inwardly wished that prayer-meetings
did Mary the good they had done once,
and wondered why his wife had so
changed.
81 am going with Squire Towne to
see new reaper; he says he hardly
wants to buy without my opinion"
This was next day.
John left his wife ironing, with the
half-sick baby sitting by the table in
the company of an army of flies; and
in spite of the home scene enjoyed his
ride along the pleasant, shaded road,
well-pleased to be seen so much with
the great man of the town. At sup
per time he came home with the new
reaper behind the wagon.
"By taking two we made a handsome
saving; and, as / intended to buy one,
l thought might as well take it now,"
he remarked by way of explanation.
"It will save time and strength, and
pay for itself in year."
Mary made no comment, but set her
teeth tighter together when she remem-
bered that she had asked in vain for
something to make her work easier. A
sewing-machine had been pronounced
"hurtful; better have fewer changes of
clothing than run machine" John
had decided when the subject was dis
cussed; "clothes-wringer would be
constantly getting out of order. To
bring the water into the house would be
just to spoil the water. Nothing, after
all, like the good old bucket. Mother
would never have pump in her day!"
'My mother used to say all men are
selfish, and l begin to think she was
right" Mary muttered as she went to
the kitchen for the plate of hot biscuit
John was so fond Of for his tea.
Her husbands appetite was good, but
from fatigue and overheating herself
Mary could not eat. His ride and the
society of the genial Squire had acted
like tonic, but there is no tonic in the
air of ahot kitchen.
ga commonplace life," she said, and
she sighed, as she cleared away the tea
dishes, while John tilted back in his
armchair on the cool, draughty porch
and talked over things with Neighbor
Jones.
"Why don't you buy Widder Patch's
cranberry medder?" asked Mr.. Jones;
"it's going dirt lcheap, and you Ican
afford it," The sum was named,
figures that astonished Mary, and she
was more surprised when she heard
her husband say:
'I've half mind to do it. I've just
had an old debt paid in, and, to tell the
truth, affairs in the money market are
so squally, don't know just where to
salt it down"
No tears came to Mary's tired eyes,
but her heart went out in one mighty
sob as she stood, dish-pan in hand,
before the disordered table, and thought
how cheaply she had sold herself, really
for So week and her board, to the
man who had promised to love and
cherish her until death. The beautiful
piano she had brought to the farm was
never opened, but looked like gloomy
casket wherein was buried all the
poetry of her life. The closed "best
parlor" had long since assumed the