The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-09

"What was your father thinking OK
that he didn't hire some man to do it
for her?" asked Clara, biting her lips.
people out this way do their own
work" observed John Field, little
shortly. ''Money doesn't grow on
every bush like blackberries, and the
women of Hazelfield are taught to be
proud of their industry and thrift"
Clara shrugged her shoulders and
tripped lightly over the dewy meadow
| to where the pretty home of her broth
er-in-law, William Field, nestled in Il
grove of ancient elms'and sycamores.
IF this is life in the country" said
the bride to herself, II think I'll go
back to teaching in the city"
willis wife was summoned from the
dairy to receive her visitor. She had
met Clara before and welcomed her
with smile and cordial pressure of
the hand.
II thought, of course, you would have
been over to see me before now," said
Clara, responsibility.
81 did intend to come" said Mrs.
Will, apologetically, "but l was up
last night darning the children's stock
ings until past midnight
She had dropped into chair, with
hand pressed to her side, pale, wea-
ried, Notwithstanding creature, with
her abundant brown hair huddled into
a net, a large crash apron tied around
her waist, and sleeves rolled up high
above the thin elbows that had once
been round and dimpled.
'Alice,N said Clara. Z" tell me what
you have done to-day, and what you
do other days. Aunt Keziah is hold
ing you up as model to me, and |
want to hear what it is that you have
actually accomplished.
Mrs. VIII. smiled.
Eyes, she said, ''they tell me that |
am good worker. And | do get
along well, for my husband has laid up
a deal of money at interest, and we
haven't had hired girl in the house
in two years. You see rise at four
o'clock every morning-one can accom-
plish so much before the sun really
gets hot. This morning l churned
twenty pounds of butter, strained and
skinned the milk, scalded the pans,
fed the little pigs, and the young tur-
keys and ducks and chickens, and got
the breakfast for Will, two hired men
anu Ine CnlIuren.
"Stop a minute" said Clara, who
had been listening with intent eyes of
interest. $50 VIII has hired men?"
Eyes, he always keeps two in sum
mcr and one in winter" explained
Alice.
Then l think you ought to have q
woman to help YOU" argued the
bride.
at would cost too much, said Alice,
solemnly. "WeIl-let me see, where
was l? Ah!-after breakfast l make
the beds and sweep all the principal
rooms, and get the children ready for
school. Then on Mondays | wash;
Tuesdays l iron; Wednesdays l bake
and clean; Thursdays | do up fruit,
pickles and tomatoes; Fridays clean;
and Saturdays ] bake again and get
ready for Sunday, for VIII. always in
vites friends to dine with him on Sun
days, and it is the busiest day in the
week. And besides all this, l have all
my own clothes and the children's to
mend and make; Wills shirts to cut
and make, stockings to knit, soft soap
to make, spring and fall cleaning to do,
rag carpets to sew and weave, and"
80, stop, stop,' cried Clara, lifting
her hands as if in terror. 81 don't Won
der. Alice"
you don't wonder at what?" said
Mrs. VIII. Field, in some surprise.
That Wills first wife died at twen-
ty-siX, and that you, at thirty-six, are
following as rapidly in her footsteps as
can be-" cried Clara. eff you were
made of iron and India rubber you
couldn't accomplish all this drudgery
without being worn out. I'm going
directly home to abdicate my position as
reigning sovereign"
And the spirited young wife, leaving
Mrs Will Tapped in amazement, hur-
ried away.
John Field was standing at the old
well, in his working costume, drinking
from the bucket, as Clara tripped up
the path. He looked up with a smile
''Well, pet" said he, ''where are you
going?"
10 pack my trunk" said Clara,
with mischief sparkling in her deep,
soft eyes, i've been investigating
matters, and don't like the situation. -
"What stuation?'
THAT of maid of-all-work, laund-
ress, cook, housekeeper and lady, all
rolled into one, at the. salary of my
clothes and food"
But, my dear" said John, with
puzzled face, ''you are talking non
sense. Nobody expects all that of any
woman"
Don't they, thought said Clara
There's where you are mistaken. 1t
is precisely what Wills present wife
has been doing for him all these last
years! what his first wife wore herself
out in doing. and what you are prepar-
ing yourself to demand of me. Aunt
Keziah advises me to take WILL s wife
for model. But | shall do nothing of
the sort had deal rather go back
to teaching" -
II never heard such talk in my life,''
said Aunt Keziah, who. from the
kitchen threshold, had overheard Mrs.
John Fields declaration of independ-
| ence.
Every likely" said Clara. ''You
see Tee no idea of committing suicide,
whatever viii. g wife's opinion may be.
o, John, how blind, how short-sighted
you men are. Look at poor, pale,
WORKOUT Alice, type of every farmers
wife in the neighborhood. Look ather