Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-02-21
New Series-Vol. "a. No. 8
Then 1 think you ought to have a

I
woman to help you, argued the bride.
at would cost too mucb," said Alice
lsolemnly. "Well-let me see. where was
II? Ali after breakfast 1 make the beds
and sweep all the principal rooms, and
get the children ready for school. Then
ON Mondays l wash; Tuesdays l iron:
Wednesdays | bake and clean; THURSDAYS
do up fruit, pickles and tomatoes; Fri
days L clean; and Saturdays l bake again
and get ready for Sunday, for VIII al
ways invites friends to dine with him on
Sunday, 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 tn
make, spring and fall cleaning to do. rag
carpets to sew and weave. and"
70, stop, stopp' cried Clara, irtine her
hands as if in terror 81 don't wonder.
Alice"
You don't wonder at what ?" said Mrs.
VIII Field, in some surprise.
That Wills first wife died at twenty
six, ane that you, at thirty-six, are fol-
lowing as rapidly in her footsteps as can
be" cried Clara. IF you were made of
iron and India rubber you couldn't ac-
complish all this drudgery without being
worn out. am going directly home to
abdlcate my position as reigning soyer-
eign."
And the spirited young wife. leaving
MIS-. VIII tapped In amazement, hurried
awry.
John Field was stsnding at the old
well, In his working costume, drinking
from the bucket, as Clara tripped up the
path. He looked up with smile.
We'll, pet" said he, "where are you
going?"
ITO 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 situation?"
THAT of maid-of-all-work, laundress.
cook, hOusekeeper and lady, all rolled in
to one, at the salary of my clothes and
food"
But, my DEAR" said John, with a puz.
zled face. you are talking nonsense. No
body 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 yearsl
what his first wife wore herself out in
doing, and what you are preparing your
self to demand of me. Aunt KeZiah ad-
yises me to take Wills wife for a model.
But shall do nothing of the sort. l had
adeal rather go back to teaching"
Il never heard such talk in nv life"
said Aunt Keziah, who, from the kitchen
threshold, had overheard Mrs. John Fields
declaration of independence.
'Vely likely" said Clara. You see
LCe no idea OF committing suicide, what
ever Wills wife's opinion NAV be. O.
John, how blind, how short-sighted you
men are. Look at poor, pale, worn-out
Alice, type of every farmers wife in
the neighborhOod. Look at her now. and
then try to remember her as she was
when first she came here. You may call
it good housekeeping. I call it killing
herfelf by inches"
"Wen." owned John, "she does look
feeble"
And do you wonder at it, when YOU
see all that she accomplishes ?" flashed
out Clara. "Why, Bluebeard himself
never killed off his wives more systemat-
ically than New England farmer does.
I'll tell you what, john" she added, IF
you'll provide me ali the servants need,
and let me live in my home as its ruling
spirit, not as its drudge. I'll remain here.
Otherwise shall leave Hazelnut Farm
to-day"
She's not far wrong" said Aunt Ke-
ziah. who had shrewd, rugged conscienti-
BUSINESS of her own under all her preiu-
dices
shes right" said John Field. STAY
with us, pet, and you shall see that we
know how to appreciate you as you de-
serve"
So Mrs. John Field stayed, the head of
an efficient establishment of stout servant
girls, who officiated as hands to her own
active brain, and no place in the neigh
borhood tlourished more than Hazelnut
Farm.
Its extravagance-ridiculo extraya-
gancew exclaimed Will Field, when he
heard of his brothers new administration
of affairs.
We'll see how the bills add up at the
end of the year" said John, quietly.
And at the years end viii was unable
TO imagine how it was that his brothers
account had swelled to nearly a third
more than his own.
I'VE have lived much more economi-
cally than yOu," said he. "We have kept
no lazy, wasteful, shirking help"
ABR said Clara, but you didn't count
the doctors bills while poor Alice lay sick
so long with rheumatic fever, brought ou
by scrubbing her cellar floors herself, nor
the expenses of the nurse who took care
of her. To be sure, little Alice and Jane
did the work of the house between them
while their mother was ill, but neither of
them will be strong for year, so heavy
was the strain. And next year you will
probably have undertakers' bills to pay
into the bargain"
mo. won't" said Will, resolutely. ~I1l
try Johns way, and see if it will brighten
Alice and the children up little"
Call it Claras way" said John Field,
laughing; "for she is the originator of
the whole thing"
Its sensible way, anyhow" said
Will, ~whosever it may be-"
For Clara had converted them BOTH
n. Y. Ledger.