Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-24

And then, in q solemn breathless hush,
The three sports showed what they had got
But aces won't beat 9 royal flush,
For = ana sHorta are ms nat,1rsl foes.
And the former carry cards in their clo'es.
Where railroad trains are running.
-Tfavele7's Magazine.
SELFISH JOHN CLARK.
The meeting was a good one, in spite
of the intense heat, and there was more
singing done by the mosquitoes than the
human species.
John Clark sat by an open window,
where what breeze there was came in
and kept him comparatively comforta-
BILE; and then he had on a clean linen
suit which his wife had washed and
froned that day, Notwithstanding the
mercury mounted high in the nineties,
and its freshness was an additional COM
fort.
His first crop of hay, much larger
than usual, had that day been put in his
spacious barns without damage by so
much as a drop of rain. He was well,
strong, prosperous, and therefore happy.
The ride home was charming, and as
the new horse took them though Cairn-
ley Woods with sure, fleet feet, he felt
that life was very bright; and as he
thought of Brother Whites remarks
about weary burdens and feet tired with
the march of life, he concluded that the
aforesaid brother was not in the enjoy
ment of religion.
Johns wife sat back in the carriage,
resting her tired body and turning over
in her mind the remarks her John had
made at the meeting. sBear ye one
another's burdens" had been the SUBJ
ject of the evening talk, and Johns
speech had been listened to with evil
dent relish.
"Your husband has the root of the
matter in him, J" said the pastor, as she
passed out. 81 hope we shall all take
heed to his well-timed words"
"I think of hiring Tom Birch as a
sort OF spare hand or call-boy generally.
I find this hot weather takes the starch
out of me-" John said, as the horses
erotted through the cool pine grove,
amid fickers of moonlight.
"Wil you board him." asked Mary
Clark, in a constrained voice, with the
memory of her husbands exhortations
still in.her mind.
"Of course. I want him evenings to
take the horse when we come home
from meetings, or if I have a friend out.
1t is rather hard to go right to work tdi-
rectly one gets home"
"You are going to hire him to help
bear some of your burdens" said Mary,
in the same hard voice.
"Just so, wife. 1t stands me in hand
to practice, if l preach; don't you say
soP"
edo! am glad you are going to
nave help; as you say, it is hard to 60
to work the minute you get home. l
have been foolish enough to have this
ride spoiled by thinking of bread to
mix, two baskets of clothes to fold be-
fore | sleep, for the ironing tomorrow,
and dinner to get for four hungry men,
and baby to care for"
"Don't crowd to-morrow's burdens
into this present ride. And it seems to
me that it would be better to get all the
Homework done before meeting time"
eff l could; but that is impossible;
milk to strain, dishes to wash, Benny
and baby to put to bed-all these duties
come together; and then I I'M tired
enough to 60 to bed myself.n
"I'ake it easy, Mary, keep cool,avoid
all the hot work you cam"
~ wish l could have a girl, John?"
"Mother used to say girls were more
hindrance than help. Iguess you would
find them so; and then they waste and
break more than their wages. don't
see how l can afford a girl. Do what
you can, and leave some things undone;
that's the way to work it," and John
sat back with q satisfied air, and Mary
thought of her husbands glowing words
in the prayer-meeting.
"l will do what I CAM said Mary, in
q weary voice. "What 1 am obliged TO
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, I
must keep the clothes well mended."
"One thing at a time is the way TO
think of your duties. Pick up all the
comfort you can as you go along. [
have made up my mind to do so in the
future.'
extra hand"
"Yes, / feel that 1 must take care of
my health for your sake and the chill
.ren's."
"Certainly!" Mary answered. in q
sarcastic tone; chow thoughtful you are
for us:"
John made no further comment, but
inwardly wished that prayer-meetings
did Mary the good they had once done,
and wondered why his wife had so
changed.
81 am going with Squire Town to see
D new reaper; he says he hardly wants
70 buy without my opinion" This was
The next day.
John left his wife ironing with the
half-sick baby sitting at the table in the
company Of an army of flies, and, in
'Pite OF the home-scene, enjoyed his
Tide along the pleasant shaded road,