Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-03-29

of clothing than run machine" John
had decided when the subject was dis
cussed. ga 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. az she
went to the kitchen for the plate of
hot biscuit John was 30 fond of for his
tea.
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 tonic, but there is no tonic
in the air of the hot kitchen.
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.
why don't you buy Wilder Patch's
cranberry medder?" asked MIR. Jones;
sit is going dirt cheap and you can
afford it." The sum was named, fig
ures that astorished Mary, and she
was more surprised when she heard
her husband say:
l have half a mind to buy it. I've
had an old bill paid in, and to tell the
truth, affairs in the money markets are
so squally, | don't know just where to
salt it 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, be-
fore her disordered table and thought
how cheaply she had sold herself, real
ly for her board and 50 week to a
i 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 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
she 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 So week, then he
rated her at that-very small price
indeed.
"Widder Patch has had a hard time
ont" said neighbor Jones; "she is 60
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 homework as it's a healthy bus
mess"
''Tis healthy business" chimed in
John.
"Now my wife is great deal better
than when / married her. Why she
never did a washing in her life until
she came to the farm. / think wash
ing and general housework 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 sight," was the ell
egant response.
care you going to buy the cranberry
meadow, JohnW Mary asked, as she
saw her husband making preparations
to leave home.
"Yes-why?"
"Can you afford it?"
eve 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
81 have thought of it; but Tom is
poor, and to give him home is deed
of charity. No, we will save some other
way"
Glow much do you pay Tom 2"
"Three dollars week and his board.
And by the way, he says you don't
wash his clothes. Washing and 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 as we'll as to
preach it from the text; SO will give
you chance. [ will sit on the cool
piazza after tea with neighbor while
you do the chores. [ think the time
has come for some of my burdens to
be lifted. By exchanging Tom for Jane
you will have ST. for the cranberry
meadow. You say strong, active Tom
is In need of 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
establishment, 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 and around to where
John sat on the porch, and compelled
him to give the song words. Not mu-
steal poetry, but sombre prose, where
in washing, ironing, hard days at the
ehurn, hours of cooking for hungry
men, stood out before his minds eve
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 of
Mrs. Clark's cares, and no one greeted