The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-12-06

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"And you think it would do her
good?'
Undoubtedly, and it would be the
cheapest medicine you could give her,
and the surest. Think it over day or
so, Nathan"
That evening Martha was not sur
prised to see startled. anxious look on
her brothers face, as he closely re-
garded his wife, whenever he thought
himself unobserved. Husbands are
often the blindest of all persons in re-
gard to their wives, but Nathan was
convinced.
That night when they were alone, he
suddenly exclaimed:
"Clara, how would you like to visit
your mother this fallp"
She looked at him a moment in
silence, while wave of crimson swept
over her pale face. Then, turning away.
she said, brokenly:
Don't talk about it, Nat; / know we
can't afford it, and I'd rather not speak
of it.
''But we can afford it, and Martha is
willing to keep house for me. Now do
you want to go, dear?"
proach in his voice, and a look of pain
in his face which she could not under
stand.
80, Nathan" she sobbed, with her face
hidden on his shoulder, don't imagine
that l love you any the less, or am tired
of our little home; but do want to 90.
Just now there is nothing in the world
want so much as to see father and
mother"
"Well, then, you shall go, little wife,
Don't cry so; didn't know you cared
so much; but that settles it, you shall
60"
After Mrs. Tracy and the baby were
gone, Martha looked around the I'M
ornamented rooms and resolved that
there should be something new, some
thing bright and pretty, to welcome back
the home-keeper. The front room"
had never been furnished, but after con-
sidering her resources, Martha thought
she could manage it, if she could per-
suade Nathan into buying a carpet
"a carpetp why Martial he ez-
claimed at her proposal, too astonished
to say more.
"What was Clara's old home like P
You don't want her to notice too sharp
contrast on her return" said tie
sister, quietly.
II may get carpet" thoughtful :;
'but so many other things would hare
to follow"
"Nat, when father and mother died,
we were going to divide things, but you
had no home then, and while John and
stayed, everything remained the same.
When | came here, l sold or packe ed
everything, and there is big box for
you, which is on the way out here. Be
sides bedding and clothing, there are
pictures, vases, curtains, widespread
and some of mothers nice rugs. They
will help furnish the room. / guess
you can afford to buy cane-seat rocker
and two chairs, and we'll make the
rest.
I'D like to know how
There are two bottomless chairs in
the granary; will ebonize the fran es,
cushion seat and back, and with strips
of embroidery and heavy fringe they
will be handsome That old rocker
which is forever coming to pieces can
be mended and treated likewise, minus
the rockers, and you'll have an easy
chair. A pine table which you can
make, stained and vanished, and COW
cred with the spread, will do nicely"
''Well, it sounds practicable, I'll help
all cam
There will be ottomans to make, a
mantle to put up, and cornice for the
curtains. 1t will take our spare time
for all winter, but how pleased Clara
will be-"
II intend to have everything nice for
her some day."
"Yes, Nat; but woman must have
something to live on in the meantime.
There's love of the beautiful in every
woman's heart, and it must be satisfied.
If surrounded by grand scenery the
mind can feed on that; but here, in this
level, mOnOtOnOus country, believe the
home should be very bright and at
tractive."
"There may be some truth in that,
but | never thought of that BEFORE"
replied Nathan.
ut is not common for a man to think
about the home as woman does, for
he mingles with the world, while most
of her hours are spent inside the four
walls. Clara had no time to fix up any
thing; that baby was sight of trouble;
but if you and the children help, we can
do wonders
And they did. When Clara came
home, four months later, she scarcely
knew the place.
Come and look at your wife," whis-
pered Martha, when Nathan had fin
ished the chores and was ready for a
happy evening.
There she was in the pretty room,
chatting with the children. Joy and
gladness shone through her face, which
had lost its sharpness and pallor, and
there was an elasticity in her move
ments which recalled her girlhood.
''She looks ten years younger, Martha;
and if l can help it she shall never work
SO again. You've taught me lesson I'll
not forget. Wen take all the comfort
we can now if we never get big house. 4"
martha has made this SO pretty that
we shan't want another" exclaimed
Clara, hearing his last remark as they
entered the room. 'I'm so thankful to
you all for this pleasant homecoming"
martha deserves the thanks, for she
planned it all, )" said Nathan, catching
up the baby.
"You are jewel, Martha; and to
think that l was afraid of you and
dreaded to have you comet
"Was that because you knew was an
old maidp'" asked Martha, laughing.
"Yes, that was just it. didn't know,
you see, that you were such blessed
old maid. '"-Hedrthstone.
BIunders Of the Telegraphers.
Many biunders occur in the trans