Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-08-08

| pining and wicked. was not her Johh
tender, true and loving' Where among
| her city friends was there heart like
his. Had she rot known he was only a
farmer;
And so the loving little womsn toiled
and slaved, 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 sense
| less figure with face like death and
hands that sent 4 chill to his very heart.
The doctor, hastily summoned, looked
grave, and advised perfect quiet and rest.
\ 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 tho doc
tor. "Try change of air. She is over
worked"
"But," said honest, puzzled John, "she
does nothing but the housework 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 q strong one" he said, "wiil you let
me tell you a few truthss"
eyes. About Lina'"
About Lima. You remember, do you
not, the tiny antelope you admired go
much In the menagerie we had here last
summcr?"
Certainly" said John, looking more
! puzzled than ever.
"Suppose you had bought that little
creature and yoked Il with one of your
oxen to n car: to DO the same work.
'I've beon 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
that God ever made q woman to look
pretty and play, but he made some for tile
rough work ot this world and some for
the dainty places, some to cook and scrub,
and some to draw mems souls 20 hoAYcn
by gentle loyeliness. Your wife is one Of
the latter If you were poor man
would have held my tongue, but You are
rich one. Give your wife servant; give
her books, music, pretty things around
her. Let her rest from! .oil, and you may
keep her by your side. Put her back in
the old place and you may ORDER her
tombstone, for she will soon need It.
Don't put your antelope beside your oxen,
john"
az w.li not! Thank you. I under
stand. Poor, loving, patient heart"
''That's right Take her now for li;tlo
pleasure trip, and get back her roses"
Lima clappcd her hands when John
asked her If she would like to spend a
week in New York, and really seemed to
draw a new life from the very idea.
1t was delicious fun. to see John wide
open eyes rs they entered the parlor Of the
great city hotel and were shown into the
bedroom, whose beauties were quite as
bewildcring.
"Tho best ROOM" ne had told the land
lord, and Lima could not rcpross cry Of
delight at the vista Of the cosy sitting
room, with q plano standing invitlngly
open.
"Oh! John" she said, won't you just
90 In there and shut tie door for five min
utes, pleaset"
John ohcyed, of course. John, she
thought, gratefully, refused her nothing
now.
GLOW lucky It was brought some Of
my old dresses!" Lima thought. ''I have
not worn them since was school-msrm.
Fancy Mrs. Reynolds scrubbIng the floor
in this dress!"
John rubbed his eyes and pinchcd HIM
self as little figure sailed into the sitting
room, made him a sweeping courtesy, and
went TO the piano.
Was that the little woman, who had
worn prints and sun-bonnets so long2
The fair hair was fashionably dressed,
and bands of blue velvet looped :he golden
curls. A dress Of blue silk, with softest
lace trimmings and ornaments of pearls,
had certainly made a fine lady Of Lima.
The piano was yielding its most bewitch-
ing tones TO the skilled fingers, and Johns
bewilderment was complete when voice
of exquisite sweetness, though not power
full, began to sing.
Only one song, full Of trills and quavcrs,
and then Lima rushed from the piano into
Johns arms.
"John, darling" she said, "hold me
fast. Don't let Inc slip from you"
go, Lima ~ he groaned, 81 was not fit
to marry such dainty bird But loved
you, little one!"
"And love yon, John, rough old John.
Let uc sing again. l am very happy, to-
day, my husband"
"But no wonderful trills filed the little
room now. In clear, pure voice, full Of
expression, Lima sang:
~ know TINT my I.cdeeIner l!Yctb."
Every word fell like hot tears on poor
Johns heart, until, a. the last chord trem-
bled upon the a.r, Lina turned 70 him,
stretching out her arms.
"Take me in your arms, John"
He took her tenderly to the room she
had quilted SO gsily and replaced her fin
cry by white wrapper, whOse lace TRIM
mings looked like fairy work TO his unac-
customed eyes.
care you tired, loveY' he asked, with