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

ait is going dirt cheap and you can
afford it." The sum was named, fig
ures that astonished Mary, and she
was more surprised when she heard
her husband say:
81 have half mind to buy it. I've
had an old bill paid in, and to tell the
truth, affairs in the money markets are
80 squally, don't know just where to
salt it down."
No tears came to Marv's tired eyes,
but her heart went out in one mighty
sob as she stood, dish-pan in hand, be-
| fore her disordered table and thought
how cheaply she had sold herself, real
ly for her board and 90 week to a
man who had promised to love and
cherish her till 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 lite. The "closed parlor"
had long since assumed the grimness
and mustiness of country best parlors,
of which in her girlhood days she made
| such fun. John was a rich man, and
in spite Of his marriage VOWS and his
glowing prayer meeting talk, was allow
| ing burdens, grievous to be borne, TO
press on her slender shoulders in order
to "salt down" his dollars.
Had she duty to perform? Ought
che to allow him to preach and never
| to practice? Had she not rights to be
respected, which we're not by her
husband? For she reasoned, if he al
lowed her to do what could be done by
hired woman at 50 week, then he
rated her at that-very small price
| indeed.
"Widder Patch has had lard time
ont" said neighbor Jones; ''sbe is GO
ing to the westward to Tom, if she sells
the medder, and Jane is going out to
work. She tried sewing but it don't
agree with her. DR.. Stone recon-
mends housework as it's healthy bus
| mess"
"Tis healthy business" chined in
John.
"Now my wife is great deal better
| than when l married her. Why she
never did washing in her life until
she came to the farm. I think wash
ing and general Homework is much
batter than piano playing and read
ing"
$50 say to the girls who poster me
to buy an organ" "better play on the
washboard, enough eight" was the el
egant response.
care you going to buy the cranberry
meadow, John?" Mary asked, as she
saw her husband making preparations
to leave home.
"Yes-why!'
"CAn you afford it?"
owe shall have to figure little closer
in order to do it, but it is going very
cheap"
"You will have to give up Tom Birch.
! won't you, and do the chores YOURSELF
II have thought of it; but Tom is
poor, and to give him home is deed
of charity. No, we will save some other
way"
"How much do you pay Tom?"
"Three dollars q week and his board.
And by the way, he says you don't
wash his clothes: Washing nd mend
ing was in the bargain"
81 think Tom will have to GO; / have
hired Jane Patch. She will be here
tonight. Two dollars week / am to
give her. You want to practice Bear
ye one another's burdens rs well as to
preach it from the text; so / will give
you chance. will sit on the cool
piazzi after tea with a neighbor while
you do the chores. / think the time
be lifted. By exchanging Tom for Jane
you will have 81 for the cranberry
meadow. You say strong, active Tom
is in need of a home; he can make one
for himself anywhere. 1t is deed of
charity to give Jane a home, and an
act of mercy to give your wife little
rest"
Before John could recover from his
astonishment, Mary walked out of his
sight, and taking the children, went
| to the shut up parlor. Throwing open
the windows to let in the soft summer
air, with the baby in her lap she sat
down to the piano, and began to play a
''song without words" piece John
had loved to hear when he used to Wis
it her in her home where she was a
petted girl. The song crept out through
the open window aud around to where
John sat on the porch, and compel ed
| him to give the song words. Not mu
steal poetry, but sombre prose, where
in washing, ironing, hard days at the
churn, hours of cooking for hungry
men, stood out before his minds eye
in contrast to the fair promises he ha d
made to the pretty girl he had won for
his wife.
Jane Patch came that evening, and
at once took upon herself many oil
Mrs. Clark's cares, and no one greeted
her more cordially than did the master
of the house. Nothing was ever said
about her coming and Tom Burch did
not go away; so Mary knew her hus-
band could well afford the expense.
She told me how she helped to make
one man thoughtful and unselfish, as
we sat on the cool piazza one hot Au-
gust night and / was glad that one had
grit enough to demand her rights. II
John Clark had been poor his wife
would have borne her burden in pa,
thence; but she had no right to help
make him selfish and indifferent as to
her health and comfort.
Are there any selfish husbands like
John Clark among our readers?