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


Lima Reynolds looked up as she spoke
to smile brayely into tho face bending
anxiously over her.
"Tired, Lina'" he said, lifting the little
figure as he spoke and taking his wife like
a child upon his knee. "What have you
been doing to tire you2"
"Only the days work. Don't worry
John" for shade passed over the kindly
face.
sI don't worry; but I can't SEQ What
makes you complain so often Of being
tired. am sure the housework amt so
much. Other women do it."
There WAS just a little fretfulness in
Johns tone, though he did not mean to
be unkind.
81 know they DO Mrs. Harper has four
children and takes care Of them III addi-
ton to houscwork, besides doing piles OF
sewing. Perhaps, John, It is because
have not had experience in country work
and don't manage well. Twill learn bet
ter after awhile. Now, tell mo what you
did In town"
81 did quite well. Sold the whole crop
of wheat st good price, and put another
installment in the bank for tho Stanley
farm"
sYour heart Is set on that farm, John. "
"Indeed it is. Let ma once own that
clear of debt, and l shall be happy man.
It Is the best land in the county, and the
hous. is twice as large as this"
Lima thought of large floors to scrub,
more rooms TO clean, and additional work
OF all kinds, and swallowed little sigh
that nearly escaped her.
"John," she said, rather tImilly, "don't
you think that if you spent part OF the
money on this house We might be very
happy here ?"
"Speud money Oh this house!" cried
the astonished John. "Why, what Oh
earth ails this house?"
81 mcan in things for 1t. Now. the
parlor looks so stiff, and is always shut
up. was thinking If we ind q pretty
carpet and some curtains Of white muslin
or lace and Il sct of nice furniture, and
and-a piano. Oh, John, if could have
piano"
John Reynolds looked at his wifc as II
she had proposed to him 70 buy up the
crown Jewels OF Russia.
GA piano! Do you know what plano
costs %
"No; Aunt Louise had one, you know,
ever since can remember. Bat | think
If we had pretty parlor to rest in In the
evening, could play for you and sing.
You never heard me play or sing?"
"I have heard you sing, but not lately, y
said John, rather gloomily.
"Oh, that was just humming around
the house. mean real singing. have
lots of music in my trunk"
"But you are oulT a farmers wife now,
Lima. I thought that you understood
when we were married that you were not
to have city hneries and pleasuresI"
$50 did, John. don't want fnery.
don't want any pleasure but your love,
John. Don't scowl up your face so. l
.m silly to think Of these at all. There,
kiss me and forget 1t. | am nicely rested
now, and III get your tea in 10 minutes"
John put her down with tender kiss
and straightway fell into rcverie.
Lima Rivers had been a district school,
teschcr in Scotticld just four months
whom John Reynolds offered her his hand
and heart. She was an orphan from in
fancy, but her fathers sister had adopted
her and educated her In life Of luxury,
end died without altering will made
wears before, leaving her entire fortune
TO charity asylum. Lima, left alone, had
thankfully accepted the position OF
country school-teacher procured for her
bv some friends, and was thinking life
hard burden when John came 70 brighten
It. She gave her whole gentle little heart
into his keeping at once, approaching ut
their full value his honest, true heart, his
frank nature, his sterling good qualities,
and looking with the most profound adj
mirat!on upon his tall, strong frame aud
handsome face
1t was perfect loye-match, for John
fairly worshippel the dainty, refined little
beauty ne had married. And, having
mrrricd her, lie teok her to his home and
In ali ignorance proceeded to kill her.
There was no blame to be laid upon
him. Living in :he old farmhouse wheTe
ne had spent his entire life, the one ambi-
ton OF bis heart was TO own land, stock,
barns and model farm. lie had seen his
mother cook, churn and feed poultry, and
drudge all her life-all the women he
knew did the same, and if Lima made edd
mistakes she put willing heart into her
work and soon conquered its difficulties.
Surely, he thought, il was an easier life
to be mistress of his home, with the STAN
Icy farm III prospect, than to toll over
stupid children in a district school. He
had never seen velvet carpets and lace
curtains, grand pianos, dainty silks and
other surroundings that were Lina's from
babyhOo1. He had never heard the won
derful music the little white hands, all
rough and Scared now, could draw from
the ivory keys OF an organ or piano, or
clear. pure voice in song. II was an uh-
known world to John, where his wifo's
memory fingered rs she secured tins,
strained milk and cooked huge dishes cf
food for the farm hands. He would have
thought it wicked waste, if not positive
insanity, 10 draw from the bank his hard
earned savings 10 invest them III beauti-
flying his plain. comfortable home.