Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-23
Selfish John Clark.

Selfish John clark.
The meeting was good one in spite Of
the intense heat, and there was more sing
ing done by mosquitoes than by the human
species.
John Clark sat by an open window, where
what breeze there was, came in and kept
him comparatively comfortable, and then
he had on clean linen suit which his wife
had washed and ironed that day. notwith-
standing the mercury mounted high in
ditioral comfort.
His first crop of hay, much larger than
usual, had that day been put in his spacious
barns without damage by so much as drop
of rain. He was well, strong, prosperous,
therefore happy.
The ride home was charming and as the
new horse took them through Cairnley
woods with sure, fleet feet, he felt that life
was very bright; and, as he thought of
Brother Whites remarks about "weary
burdens" I" feet tired with the march of
| life," he concluded that the aforesaid
brother was not in the enjoyment of re-
| ligion.
Johns wife sat back in the carriage rest.
ing her tired body and turning over in her
mind the remarks her John had made at
the meeting. Bear We one another's bur-
dens," had been the subject of the evenings
talk, and Johns speech had been listened to
with evident relish.
"Your husband has the root of the mat
ter in him." said the pastor. al hope we
shall all take heed to bis well.timed words"
al think of hiring Tom Birch as sort
of spare hand and cal.boy generally. / find
this hot weather takes the starch out of
me-" John said, as the horse trotted through
the cool pine grove and hickers of moon
light.
"Will you board him 2" asked Mary
Clark, in a constrained voice, with the mem
ory of her husbands exhortations still in
mind.
"Of course I want him evenings to
take the horse when we come home from
meetings, or if | have taken friend out
1t is rather hard to have to go to work di-
rectly one gets home"
you are to hire him to bear some OF
your burdens" said Mary, in the same hard
voice.
"Just SO, wife. 1t stands me in hand to
practice, if preach don't you say so ?"
al do. ] am glad you are to have help I;
as you say, it is hard to go to work the
minute you get home. l have been foolish
|
ing of bread TO mix, two baskets of clothes
to fold before | sleep, for the ironing to-
morrow, and dinner to get for four hungry
men, and baby to care for"
| "Don't crowd tc-morrow's burdens into
this pleasant ride. And it seems to me
that it would be better TO get all your house
work done before meeting time"
"lf could, but that is impossible; milk
to strain, dishes TO wash, Benny and baby
TO put to bed-all these duties come to-
gether, and then am tired enough to 60 to
bed myself"
Take it easy, Mary; keep cool, and
avoid all the hot work you can"
al wish could have girl, john"
| Mother used to say that girls were more
hindrance than help. | guess you would
find them so, and then they waste and
break more than their wagee. | don't see
how | can stford girl. Do what you can,
and leave some things undone that's the
way to work it," and John sat back with a
satisfied air, and Mary thought of her hus-
bands glowing words in the prayer meet
ing.
al will do all can," said Mary, in a
weary voice. "What am obliged to do is
much beyond my strength. The three
meals come near together, washing and
ironing must be done, baby shall not be
neglected, and of course | must keep the
clothes well mended."
One thing at 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"
$50 see by your thinking Of having an
extra hand"
Yes. | feel that must take care of
| TO- 10 a Il.
| Certainly" Mary answered in sar-
castle tone, :" how thoughtful you are for
US
John made no further comment, but in
wardly wished that prayer meetings did
Mary the good they had done once, and
wondered why his wife had so changed.
II am going with Squire Towne to see a
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 com
pany of an army Of flies, and in spite of the
home scene er joyed his ride along the pleas
ant, shaded road, well pleased to be seen so
much with the great man of the town. At
supper time he came home with new
reaper behind the wagon.
BY taking two we made handsome
saving, and, as / intended to buy one,
thought might as well take it now," he
remarked by way of explanation. at will
save time and strength, and will pay for
itself in a year"
Mary made no comment, but set her
teeth tighter together when she remembered
that she had asked in vain for something
TO make her work easier. A sewing ma
chine had been pronounced "hurtful !"
better have fewer changes of clothing
than run a machine" John had decided
when the subject was discussed a"clothes
wringer would be constantly out of order,
To bring water TO the house would be Just
to spoil the water. Nothing, after all, like
the coed old bucket Mother would never
have pump in her day !"
My mother used TO say all men are sell
fish, and | begin TO think she was right"
Mary muttered, as she went to the kitchen
for the plate of hot biscuits John was 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 hot kitchen.
"A commonplace life" she said, and she
sighed as she cleared away the tea dishes,
while John tilted back in his arm chair on
the cool, draughty porch, and talked over
things with Neighbor Jones'
"Why don't you buy Widow Patch's
cranberry medder 7" asked Mr.. Jones ;
"it's going dirt cheap, and you can afford
it," The sum was named, figures that as
tonished Mary, aud she was more surprised
when she heard her husband say
ave 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 80 squally,
| don know just where to salt il 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 dis
! ordered table and thought how cheaply she