Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-02-22

SICub iLICl w lIiC lO"lis ~ p"PlNA
he came home with the new reaper
behind the wagon.
"By taking two we made handsome
saving; and, rs l intended to buy one,
l thought | might rs we'll take 1t now,
he remarked, by way of explanation.
at will save time and strength and pay
for itself III IL year"
Many made no comment, but set
her teeth tightly together when she
remembered that she had asked III vain
for something to make her work easier.
A sewing machine had been pronounced
"hurtful; better have fewer changes of
clothing than run n machine" John
had decided when the subject was dis
cussed; "a 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 pump i'll her day!'
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 so fond of for his tea.
Her 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 III the
air of hot kitchen,
ga commonplace hfe." she said, and
she sighed, as she cleared away the tea
dIshed, while John tilted back III his
arm chair on the cool, draughty porch
and talked over things with nelghbor
Jones.
"Why don't you buy Widder Patch's
cranberry medder?" asked MIR. Jones;
''it's going DIRT cheap, and you can af-
ford it." The sum was named, figures
that ustonlshed Mary, and she was more
surprised when she heard her husband
say:
i've half a mind to 90 it. I've just
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 rs she stood, dish-pan i'll hand, be-
fore the disordered table, and thought
how cheaply she had sold herself, really
for 81 a 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 a gloomy
casket in which was buried the poetry
of life. The closed chest parlor' had
long since assumed tue grimness and
mustiness of country best parlors, of
which III her girlEood she had made SO
mueh fan. John was n rlch man, 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. "a order 10 salt
down" his dollars.
Had she not the duty to perform?
Ought she to 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 al
lowed her to do what could be done by
an ignorant Irish woman for 81 week,
then he rated her at that price.
"Wldder Patch has had tough time
ont" said neighbor Jones; "she is
going to the West'rd to Tom, if she
sells the med Ter, and Jane is gong out
to work. "She's tried sewing, but it
don't agree with her, and DIR. Snow
recommends kousework as healthy
business"
""1is healthy business" chimed in
John. ''Now my wife Is a good deal
better than when married her. Why,
she never did a 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 poster me
to buy an organ; better play on the
wash board, enough sight, was the ele-
giant response.
''Are you going to buy the cranberry
meadow John?" Mary asked, as she saw
her husband making preparations to go
from home.
"Yes-why?"
'Can you afford it2"
eve shall have to figure little
closer in order to do it, but it is going
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, AMI 10 give him home Is a deed
of charity. No, we will save some other
way"
"How much do you pay Tom?"
"Three dollars and his board. And,
bV the Way he saws Won didn't wash
his clothes. Washing and mend1ng was
III the bargain"
Il think Tom will have to go, for
have hired Jane Patch. She will be
here tonight Two dollars week 1
am to give her. You want to practice
Bear we one another's burdens, as well
as preach from the text, SO will give
you chance. will take my turn in
sitting 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 exchang-
ing Tom for Jane you will have 81 q
week for the cranberry meadow. You
say strong, active Tom is in need of
home; he can make one for himself
anywhere. 1t is a deed of charity to
give Jane home, and an act of mercy
to give your wife little rest"
Before John could recover from his
astonishment, 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 a. her OiaDO and haOan tO 1oIoU