Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-23
SELFISH JOHN CLARK.

SELEISH JOHN tLAhhs
The meeting was good one, in spite
Of the intense heat, and there was more
singing done by the mos quitoes than
by thu human species.
John Clark sat by an open window,
where what breeze there was came IN
and kept him comparatively comfort
able: and then he had on clean linen
guit. which his wife had washed and
ire that day, Notwithstanding the
mercury mounted high in the nineties,
and its freshness was an additional
comfort.
His first crop Of hay, much larger
than usual had that day been Put In
his spacious barns, without damage by
go much rs drop of rain. lie was
well, strong, prosperous and therefore
happy.
The ride home was charming, and
rs the new horse took them through
CAirnley Woods, with sure, feet feet,
he felt that life WAS very bright, and az
be 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 enjoyment 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 ut the meeting. Bear ye
one another's burdens" had been the
subject of the evenings talk, and Johns
gpeeCh had been listened to with evil
dent relish.
"Your husband has the root of the
matter in him." said the pastor as she
Gassed out. 81 hope we shall all take
heed 10 his well-timed words
81 think of hiring Tom Burch rs a
sort of spare hand or call-Doy general
ly. find this hot weather takes the
starch out Of me-" John said, rs the
horses trotted through the cool pine
grove, and illckers of moonlight"
"WilI you board him 7" asked Mary
Clark, in constrained voice, with the
memory of her husbands exhortatiois
atil ringing i'll her mind.
"0f course. want him evenings to
take tho horses when we come home
from riegti,g, or if ] have friends out.
IL il rather hard to go to work directly
after one gets home"
"You are gong to hire him to help
bear some of your burdens" said Mary
in the same hard voice.
Gust 40, wife. 1t stands me in hand
to practice if | preach; don't you say
Bo?"
al do! | am glad you are going to
have help; as you say, 1t Id hard to go
to work the minute you get home. i
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-morrows, burdens
into this present ride. And it seems to
me il would be better to get all the
house WORK done before meeting time
"If could; hut that is iinposs BILE
milk to strain, and dishes to wash,
Benny and baby to put 10 bed-all
these duties come together; and then
Tam tired enough to go to bed my
telf."
cake it easy, Mary; keep cool, a.
void all the hot work you can"
Il wish | could have a girl to help
me, JohL?'
"Motner used to sayt hat girls were
more hlndrauce than help. / guess
YOU would find them so; and then
they waste and break more than their
wages. don't see how | could afford
girl. Do what you can, and leave
some things undule; that's the way TO
work it, and John sa. back with q
Nh isiied air, and Mary thought of her
husbands glowing words i'll prayer
meeting.
IL will do what can" said Mary ia
Il weary voice. "What / am obliged
to do is much beyond my strength.
The three meals come near together,
the washing aud ironing must be done,
baby shall not be neglected, and OF
course | must keep the clothes Well
mrnded."
Zone thing ut time is the way to
think of the duties. Pick up all the
comfort you can rs you so along. l
have made mp my mind To do so in the
future
so see by your thinking of having
an extra hand"
eyes, feel that must take care OF
my health for your sake and!the chill
drens
"Cartainlvw Mary answered in 8
sarcastic tone; chow thoughtful you
are for u.s."
John made no further comment, but
inwsrdly 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
J., ha ho rl1xy MT
to buy without my opinion" This was
the next day.
John left his wife ironing with the
half sick baby sitting ut the table in the
company of an army of flies, and, ID
spite OF the home-scene enjoyed his
ride along the pleasant, shaded road,
well pleased to be seen in company
with such n big man of the town. AT
supper time, ne came home with a new
reaper tied behiud the wagon.
"By buying two, we made q hand.
some saving, aud rs had to buy one,
| thought | might IS well take it now,'
he remarked by way of explanation.
at will save time and strength, and
pay for itself in q year"
Mary made no comment, but set her
teeth tightly together when she re.
membered that she had asked in vain
for something to make her work easier.
A sewing machine had been pronounc-
ed "hurIful better have fewer changes
of clothing than run machine" John
had decided when the subject was dis
cussed. "A clothes ringer would be
constantly getting out of order. To
bring water into the house would be
Just to spoil the water. Mother never
would have pump in her day"
My mother used to say all men
are selfish and 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. 81 e@ 94fg@Gs &8@@8i@
Her husbands appetite was good,
but from fatigue and overheating her
self Mary could not eat. His ride and
the society of the genial squire had
acted like a tonic, but there is no tonic
in the air of the bot kitehen..s
ga. common place life," she said
and she sighed, as she cleared away
the tea dishes, while John tilted back
in his arm chair on the cool, drafty
porch and talked over things with
neighbor Jones.