River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-27
MRS. BlRkER'S MOOD.


wood yard Two or three green logs
Jay there, against one OF which an ak
leaned in a cleft formed by stove
length being half chapped off. Her
husband and his hired help, consisting
: Of a man aal boy, had Just gone to their
work on distant part Of the farm, and
she knew SIZE should see neither of
them before dark.
What should she do? Half impa-
tiently She turned toward the house, and
then, with Thought OF the pan of light
dough waiting inside, she began to
gather some OF the chips which lay
around, only to fling them down again.
It's no use. l can't bake bread
with these | know what I'll do. "
She quickly washed the dinner dishes
with the already cooling water, and
then went to the stable, in which, with
hands dextrous by practice IN such
work, she had soon harnesscd a horse
to light buggy.
Mother and the Girls sill think I'm
crazy" She said to herself, but ]
can't help that. / swung an ak once
and ached for month TO pay for it, so
I'm not DING to do it again,
She Brought ont her pan of bread
wrapped il a large cloth, and, setting it
in the bottom of the buggy, sprung in
herself, and had soon driven the two
miles which la between her OWE house
and her mothers Arriving there she
carried in her pan and set it down with
a laugh
There. mother. I've come to bake
my bread. John and the others went
OH without leaving me any wood, and [
had to do it or let it spoil. Men will
forget you know"
She was not going to blame him to
others, nor let them imagine ROW often,
since she had gone as Q bride TO John
Bankers new house only last spring,
sthe had this same trouble about wood
"That's right Set IL right down
there by the fire, so'till get het up be-
fore Won knead it into loavcs. Yes,
they viii and if any mans TO be eX-
cused for not keepjn wood on his mind
it's John Barker, if there's anything in
Iooi aud l say there is. His father
Just sO-a real fOrehanded man, good
rovider, and took proper pride in hav-
in things spick and span about him,
but never seemin' to think what a both
ar it was to the women folks not to have
their wood handy. Many and manys
the time I've dropped into ten with
Johns mother and see her have the
greatest time 4 scrapin' up few chips
or shakin' the snow off sticks of miser
able green wood"
Johns wife turned her face as she
took oil her things. for fear her friends
would see in her face how nearly her
own experience was already becoming
like that of Johns mother.
4" 1 used to tell her" went on her
mother that she'd ought to trained him
better when he was young Now, like
rs not. John takes little after his faith
er-nobody could wonder at If -and
wish father could haul You load or
two of his good seasoned wood spose
'twOuldn't do-eh, Susan ,"
NO. twouldnt do, mother; thank
Won all the same
Twilight Of the November day was
shutting in When John Barker, return
ing to his house missed the accustomed
fire glow in the windows.
Whats up ? no fire. no wife! No
wonder" he calculated again, as he went
out aud took view of the wood yard.
After fifteen minutes work with his
AK he carried In an armful OF wood and
kindline. ana hada bright fire crack
ling and swapping in the stove by the
time his wjie's CHEEKY voice was heard.
81 L.. II t,I,u Ia
said. tug@ing in basket. from which
she laid ont several loaves of bread and
number of light, puffy biscuits. Il
couldn't find &av wood. so just hitch
ed up old Bill and went over to moth
er's to bake my bread
There was not the slightest shade of
reprhach ia her tones, but John felt 4
tingie of mortisca at what had oc-
,prred, aud resolved that it should not
happen again. and so he assured Susan
with great feryor.
And the next dav he went vigorously
to work to keep his word Logs, some
freshly feiletl, others which had fallen
through decay. were hauled from the
piece Of timber land belonging to the
farm. aud for Il week all hands sawed
and chopped with a VIII. Then the re-
suits were flung peil nell into the wood
shed and John. who had never learned
at home to look far enough ahead to
think OF providing seasoned wood from
wear 10 wear fplt proud az having done
lis ,iutv like "a nam,
And Sns,n. rs she worried through
tlat winter with wood green or dScayed,
too snort ar too lone for the stove.
made mn her mind Cand She had a good
deal of mind If her own to make up
hat Sic would never worry through
su.l another. remembering some senSi-
ble advice her sensible. energetic moth
or lal givpn her when She left home.
-.Ga,tr f,i9r~ Susan. There. lots Of
thine, ia. to Is borne In this world.
,sd tfenl tina. Iesres 10 h,ar 'em bests
the h II If an. Ma will be irving.
sra II woman, ,.an't i,e rat.eit it's ant to
MAKE trouble. Bat miad-when I say
b.,r I mean there's reason in all things.