The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-13
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION.

great men Of the town. At supper time
ne came homo with the new reaper
behind the wagon.
by taking two We made a handsome
saving; and, as I intended to buy one,
l thought might as we'll take it now" "
he remarked, by way of explanation.
ut will save time aud strength and pay
for itself in Il year."
May made no comment, but set
her teeth tightly together when she
remembered that she had asked Ill vain
for something to make her work easier.
A sewing machine had been pronounced
"hurtful; better have fewer changes OF
clothing than run machine," John
had decided when the subject was dis
cussed; 50 clothes wringer would be
constantly getting out Of order. To
bring water into the house, would be
Just to spoil the water. Nothing, after
all, like the good old bucket. Mother
would never have a pump in her dayi''
"My mother used to say all men are
selfish. and L begin to think she was
right" Mary muttered as she went to
the kitchen for the plate of hot biscuit
John was 80 fond of for his tea.
Fer husband 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
ar Of hot kitchen,
-"A commonplace ife," she said, and
she sighed, as she cleared away the ten
dished, while John tilted back in his
arm chair OH the cool, draughty porch
and talked over things with neighber
Jones.
"Why don't you buy Widder Patoh's
cranberry medder?" asked MIR. Jones:
tits going dirt cheap, and you can af-
ford it" Tue sum$was named, figures
that ustonlshed Mary, and she was moro
surprised when she heard her husband
say:
i've half mind to do it. Two lust
had an old debt paid III, and, to tell
the truth, affairs in the money market
are so squally, | don't know just where
to salt it down."
NO tears came into Mary's tired eyes,
but her heart went out in one mighty
sob as she stood, dish-pan in hand, be.
fore the disordered table, and thought
how cheuply she had sold herself, really
for 81 week and her board, to the
man who had promised to love and
cherish her until death. The beautiful
piano she had brought to the farm was
never opened, but looked like gloomy
casket i'll which was buried the poetry
OF life. The closed "best parlor' had
long since assumed tue grimness and
mustiness of country best parIors, of
which i'll her girlEood she had made 80
much fun. John was Il rlch mun, and
III spite of his marriage vows and bis
glowing prayer-meeting talk, was allow
ing burdens grievous to be borne. to
press on her shoulders. III order to "salt
down" his dollars.
Had she not tEo duty to perform?
Ought she to allow him to preach and
never to practice? Had she not rights
to be respected2 which were not by her
husband; for, she reasoned. if he al
lowed her to do what could be done by
al ignorant Irish woman for 50 week,
then he rated her at that price.
"Wldder Patch has had Il tough time
ont" said neighbor Jones; 'sshe is
gong to the West'rd to Tom, if she
sells the med ler, and Jane is going out
to work. sfShe's tried sewing, but it
don't agree with her, and DR.. Snow
recommends kousework rs healthy
BUSINESS"
''Yis healthy business" chimed in
.'ohn. "Now my ~iso is II good deal
better than when married her. Why,
she never did washing in her life
until she came to the farm. l think
washing and general housework is
much better than piano playing and
reading"
$50 say to the girls, who pester me
to buy an organ; better plny on the
wash board, enough sight, wus the ele-
giant response.
ARE yon going to p..v the cranberry
meadow John3" Mary asked, as she saw
her husband making preparations to go
from homo.
"9es--why?"
''Can you afford it2"
"We shall have to figure a little
closer i'll order to do it, but it is going
Cheap"
''You will have to give up Tom
Birch, won't you and DO the chores
yoursclf?"
81 have thought of it, but Tom is
poor, AMI TO give him home is a deed
oficharity.. No, we will save some other
way"
~" hiuoii 10 you Ihy IOmf
'Three dollars and his board. And.
by the way, he says you didn't wash
his clothes. Washing and mendlng was
IN the bargain"
Il think Tom will have to 90, for +
have hired Jane Patch. She will be
here tonight. Two dollars week 1
am to give her. You want to practice
Boar ye one another's burdens, as well
as preach from the text, so I will give
you chance. L will take my turn in
sitting on the cool piazza after ton with
neighbor, while you do the chores.
l think the time has come for some of
my burdens to be lifted. BY exchnng-
ing Tom for Jane you will have 81 a
week for the cranberry meadow. You
say strong, active Tom is in need of a
home; he can make one for himself
anywhere. 1t is u deed of charity to
give Jane home, and an act of mercy
TO give your wife little rest"
Before John could recover from his
astonisbment, Mary walked out of his
sight, and taking the children, went to
the shut-up parlor. Throwing opon
the windows to lot in the soft summer
nir, with the baby in her lap, she sat
1p,up ~ har ,,iono on.j hoo,~ 10 x>,,,,