Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07
Crock me TO Sleep, Mother.

1t was In farm house on our western
prairie that the story came to me, in the
golden, glorious month of October Mine
host, Mr.. c. was hard-working, successful
farmer of middle age. His father had owned
and cultivated the land before him, and had
followed his wife to "the long home" some
ten years before. A younger unmarried
brother lived with them, and the two broth.
ers owned and worked the farm together.
Over many an acre of wheat their reapers
went many a cornfeld laughed with every
breeze that rippled over it; and fine cattle
stood knee deep in the creek, or browsed
peacefully on the hillslopes.
"A well-to-do farmer" How much that
suggests of plenty, comfort and independ-
ence And all that can surround farm life
with beauty and content seemed included
in the picture of these Indian summer days.
The large, white farmhouse was full of
quiet life; the cool diningroom, the sunny
kitchen, the great pantry aud dairy beyond,
the sitting-room and long hall opening into
the broad, vine-shaded porch, the parlor,
with its close blinds and door, and the bed
room back Of the parlor, with its old-fash-
ioned mahogany bedstead and bureau,
"clothes press" and open fire. Here it was
my story came to me. Mrs. c. was pale,
quiet little woman, looking always very
tired. Not so much tired from work or
care as from sorrow. She must have been
very pretty in her girlhood,- gentle
beauty of clear complexion, and soft eyes
and hair,-but she looked prematurely old.
Nor was it that either, but an indescribable,
heart.hungry, bsfflsd look; look never
found on mems faces, and often misunder-
stood in woman's face. The more | see
of western country life the more often |
find it settled on the faces of farmers wives.
She had good, reliable help, and her hus-
band was very thoughtful of her in his
great, strong, clumsy way but the house
was very quiet, save at meal-time, for no
children gaddeped it with noisy merriment.
When, three weeks before, sunny room
upstairs, with plenty OF quiet for rest and
the "cream and honey" that can be found
only in the country, had been granted the
stranger from NJ, she was still presiding at
the table and ordering the ways Of her
household but she looked at me as though
she needed long rest. To sleep and sleep
like child. All, how many of us need TO
sleep the sleep of childhood again
wished that might get near to her and her
woman's heart, for there was that about her
quietness which made my my heart ache
for her. But she seemed always busy, going
from dairy to fruit room and back again
only noticed as the days went by she went
oftener to her own room to rest. Her hus.
band said one morning, as we gathered
about the breakfast table, and she asked in
cidentally if he would send one of the men
to pick grapes
"Do let the grapes go to-day, Minnie
You had better lose them dozen times
over than make yourself sick. wish you
wouldn't work so hard |"
And she looked up in that weary, sup
pressed way "Whst is there to do but
work | cannot sit with folded hands;
cannot play like child" And each day
found her little paler and more quiet
the sorrowful curves to her lips more droop
ing.
came across Mr.. c. late one afternoon
near the brook. He had been mending q
place iu the bridge that spanned it, and we
spoke of the fall rains and the overflowine &
harvest, nearly gathered. Then mentioned
his wife.
"She hardly seems as well to-day Has
she not consumption or some local trouble
Have you no fear ?"
81 really do not know" he answered
slowly, a great shadow creeping over his
face; "she does not cough, and there is nc
consumption in her family. The doctor
cannot seem to help her any; she says sh,
feels no pain but, though she will see tC
things round the house just the same, car
see she grows weaker. The fact is, she ha,
not been the same since we buried thu
baby. Our three lie together on the hill
side yonder," and he nodded his head il
that direction. Then his eyes wandered tC
the roofs and gables that sheltered her, a.
they stood ont over the brow of the hill
and he added, al am afraid am going tC
lose her, and IL can't seem to help il
either His voice choked little; the
team came along; Le turned to his men
and to finish my walk. A week later sht
was unable TO leave her room.
went into the old-fashoned bedroom tC
see her one night after our early tea. She
was lying with closed eyes, and | feared tC
disturb her; but she looked up 80 sweetly
that drew a rocker to the side of her bed
and asked her If there was anything could
do She shook her head gently and asked
me If | were not lonesome in their quiei
life. | told her, mo, indeed the quiei
aud fresh air, aud absence of excitement
are luxury to me Then | have so much
reading want to do"
"Ah yes," she sighed, "when was mar
ried | longed TO read, but there was nc
time. | sometimes think shall never read
again"
81 thought of the thinking that went Oh
day after day, and alas, night after night
and trembled for her reason. Then some
thing prompted me to break the pause that
followed by saying, " You must miss tn,
little ones the dear God has taken from you
very much and was sorry the next in
slant, for great spasm of pain swept across
her face; but with it had learned the SO
cret of her weariness. She said with evi
dent effort
have not been strong since baby cam,
and went. And | must get well, there Ii
SO much to be done before winter sets in.
She opened her eyes-brown eyes they were
and thought Of Alice Cary's lines
Her .iGs 'SpI Law sEsSy os' .; sI. n, waiting
Jenny, the dairymaid, came in for some di
rections and went up stairs with that looh
haunting me. A few days later she wsi
feverish and decidedly worse.
al wish you'd go in and see her, il you
wouldn't mind" her husband said, as in
quired for her as usual after supper Then
Instead of putting ON his broad. brimmed
hat and following his brother to the barns
he took it of again and fingered the rim
slowly. waited, for knew he wanted tc
say something. Farmer.folk are generally
very silent. Silence is the rule, oonversa
tion the exception. Aud when they dc
speak they have something to say. So ]
waited, and he said, after clearing his throat
and looking out of the open door;
"lf she would just cry or sleep. She has
not shed tear since the baby died.
thought she bore up real well, but woman
who came over to help lay it out said she
hoped she'd have crying spell soon.' 'l