The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-23

where he had spent his entire life, tn
one ambition of his heart was to owl
land, stock, barns and model farm
a He had seen his mother cook, churn
feed poultry, and drudge all her life
all the women he knew did the same
and if Lima made odd mistakes she pu
a willing heart into her work and sool
I conquered its difficulties. Surely, h,
thought, it was an easier life to be mis-
tress of his own home, with the STANLEY
farm in prospect than to toll over stu
pid children in district school. HI
had never seen velvet carpets and LACE
curtains, grand pianos, dainty silks anc
other surroundings that were Lina's
from babyhood. He had never heard
the wonderful music the little white
hands, all rough and SCARED now,
could draw from the ivory keys of an
organ or piano, or the clear, pure
voice in song. 1t was an unknown
world to John where his wife's memory
fingered as she secured tins, strained
milk and cooked huge dishes Of food
for the farm hands. He would have
thought it wicked waste, if not positive
insanity, to draw from the bank his
hard earned savings to invest them in
identifying his plain, comfortable
home.
And Lima dashed her conscience
sharply telling herself she was I'M
grateful, repining and wicked. Was
not her John tender, true and loving 7
Where among her city friends was
there heart like thisP Had she not
known he was only farmerP
And 80 the loving little woman toiled
and shaved, undertook tasks far beyond
her strength, worked early and late
until just one year after his wedding
day, John Reynolds, coming home to
his tea, found lying upon the kitchen
floor little senseless figure with a
chill to his very heart.
The doctor, hastily summoned,
looked grave, and advised perfect
quiet and rest. A girl was hired and
John tenderly nursed the invalid, but
though she grew better she was still
pale and weak.
"Take her away awhile" said the
overworked."
"But," said honest, puzzled John,
"she does nothing but the homework
for us two. She has no child, and our
sewing is not much"
The doctor looked into the troubled
face. "You are good man, John
Reynolds, and strong one," he said,
twill you let me tell you few
"Yes. About Linap''
"About Lima. You remember, do
you not, the tiny antelope you admired
so much in the menagerie we had here
last SUMMER"
Certainly" said John, looking more
puzzled than ever.
"Suppose you had bought that little
creature and yoked it with one of your
oxen to a cart to do the same work P"
"I've been fool" said John; "that |
little thing couldn't work. 1t was just |
MADE pretty to look at and to play"
"That's it, John. Now, don't think
God ever made woman to look pretty
and play, but he made some for the
rough work of this world and some for
the dainty places, some to cook and
scrub and some to draw mems souls to
uCdfCA ny SCLltlC lOfOllAOocs l. Jul WHO
is one of the latter. If you were poor
man would have held my tongue, but
you are a rich one. Give your wife
servant; let her have books, music,
pretty things around her. Let her rest
rom toll, and you may keep her by
your side. Put her back in her old
place and you may order her tomb
tone, for she will soon need it. Don't
,ut your antelope beside your oxen,
Tohn."
81 will not! Thank you! 1 under
tand. Poor, loving, patient hearth"
"That's right. Take her now for a
title pleasure trip, and get back her
oses."
Lima clapped her hands when John
sked her if she would like to spend
7eek at New York and really seemed to ,
raw in new life from the very idea.
1t was delicious fun to see Johns ,
yide open eyes as they entered the par
Or of the great city hotel and were
hown into the bedroom, whose beau :
es were quite as bewildering.
"The best room," he had told the
lndlord and Lima could not repress a !,
ry of delight at the vista of the cosy {
tting room with a piano standing in !
itingly open.
go John!" she said, "won't you 90 y
/ there and shut the door for five min I
tes, pleasep" I
John obeyed, of course. John, she t
fought, gratefully, refused her nothing C
ow. p
elbow lucky brought some of my
d dressesi" Lima thought, 81 have c
ot worn them since l was school 8,
arm. Fancy Mrs. Reynolds scrub n
ng the floor in this dress!"
John rubbed his eyes and pinched d
mself as little figure sailed into the
ting room, made him a sweeping IL
'urtesy and went to the piano. W
Was that the little woman who had
orn prints and sunbonnets so longI O,
be fair hair was fashionably dressed, M
i'd bands of blue velvet Topped the n,
,lden curls. A dress of blue silk, with o.
fest lace trimmings and ornaments Y,
pearls, had certainly made a fine ia
dy of Lima. The piano was yielding
most bewitching tones to the skilled b,
tie fingers, and Johns bewilderment h,