Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-04-04


with such big man Of the town. At
supper time he came home with the
n, W reaper behind the wagon.
BY taking two we made handsome
saving, and as 1 intended TO buy one, l
thought l might as well take it now,
lie remarked, by way Of explanation.
II will save time and strength, aud pay
for itself 10 a year,
Mary made no comment, bu! set her
Reetn tightly together when she remem-
Jered that she had asked in yaln for
.omething to make her work easier. A
iewing-mach inc had been pronounced
'hurtful better have fewer changes
If clothing than'run a machine John
rad decided when the subject was dis"
cussed; "a clothes-wringer would be con-
..ntly getting out OF order. To bring
L, i,e water into the house would be just
o spoil the water. Mother would new
.e have pump in her day.
My mother used to say all men are
elfsh; and begin TO think she was
u ght.' Mary muttered, as she went TO
ne e kitchen for the plate of hot biscuit
John was 30 fond Of for bis tea
Her husbands appetite was coed;
but from fatigue and oyerheatinG her
self Mary could not eat. His ride and
The society OF the genial squire had ac'
ted like tonic, but there is no tonic IN
the air of hot kitchen.
"A commonplace life, she said, and
sb e sighed as she cleared away the tea
dishes, while John tilted back IN his
arm chair on the cool. draity porch and
talked over things with neighoor
Jones.
'Why don't you buy Wldder Patch s
cranberry medder p asked Mr.. Jones !;
O. is going dirt cheap and you can al
lord it, The sum was named, hsurcs
that astonished Mary, aud she was
more surprised when she heard her hus-
baud say:
Il have half mind TO buy 1t. I've
had on old bill paid in, and TO tell the
truth. affairs in the money market are
so squarliy, I don't know just where to
salt It down.
No tears came 10 Mary's tired eye',
but her heart went out in one mighty
sob as she STOOD, dlsh-pan in hand be-
fore the disordered table, and thought
how cheaply she had sold herself, real
" for her board aud two dollars week
TO a man who had promised 10 love aud
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 poe
try of her life. The closed parlor' had
long since assumed the grlmness and
mustiness Of country best parlors, OF
which in her girlhood days she had
made such fun. John was rich man !;
aud in spite OF his marriage vows and
his glowing prayer-meeiing talk, was
allowing burdens grievous to be borne
to press on her slender shoulders in
order 10 salt it down his dollars.
Had she not a duty to perform {?
Ought she 10 allow him TO preach and
never to practice! Had she not rights
to be respected ? which were not by her
husband; for, she reasoned, If he all
| owed her 10 do what could be done by
a hired woman at two dollars week,
thea he rated her at that price.
'Widder Patch has had tough time
OMIT said nelghbor Jones; she is 90
ing 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 reccomends housework
as it's healthy business
"Tis healthy BUSINESS chimed in
John. Now my wife is good deal
better than when married her, Why,
she never dld Washing in her lie un-
til she came TO the farm thiak wash
iug and general housewOrk much better
than piano-pl ay ing and reading
so say 10 the girls who poster me
to buy an organ; better play on the
washboard enough sight was the ele-
CANT response.
Are you going 10 buy that cranberry
meadow, John = Mary asked, as sbe
saw her husband making preparations
to go frem home,
'Yes-why?
Can you afford it?
we shall have TO figure little clos
or in order 10 do it, but its gong
cheap
You will have to give up Tom Birch
won't you, and do tie chores your
self:'
Il have thought Of it; but Tom is
poor and 10 give him home is deed
Of charity. Now, we will save in some
other way
How much do you pay Ton?
Three dollars and his board. And.
By the way, he says you didn't wash his
clothes. Washing and mendlug was in
the bargain
| Il think Tom will have 10 go, for
have hired Jane Patch. She will be
here tonight. Two dollars a week l
am to give her. You want TO pfacIico
IsBear We one anolber's burdens, as vel
as preach from the text; 50 | will give
you a chance. will sit on the coo
piazza after tea with s-neighbor. while
YOU do the chores. I think the time ha;
come for my burdens TO be lifted. BS
exchanging Tom for Jane you will have
all. m u.oat for The pranhprr I