West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-12

Massa Brown had taken The proceeds Of
Cuiico' s labor for his own without even
thank you for IL. True, when Cuilee
ate he had given him food when he was
sick he had given him medicine, and he
had clothed him, too, just as he him
self thought best. Mr.. Jarvis had mar
RED "A lovely, Conscientious woman, and
for fifteen years had appropriated her
labOrs. Her rccompcnse had been food
and clothes, such as he thought best for
her; "A little better than Ciliee's, per-
haps. but the similarity Of the cases did
not please him. lie had expected his
wife 20 DC very grateful for what he
had done for her, but now he wondered
that she had not rcbellcd long ago.
Had his life been "A mistake? Had his
wife no more money or liberty than
Cuflee had i'm bondage? Was Donald
Jarvis no better than Massa Brown?
His brain seemed TO be in Il muddle.
and he looked so strangely that his wife,
anxious 90 break the spell, took his
arm, saying: LET us 90 home, dear;
tea must be waiting for us" He put
on his hat in dreamy way aud
then walked home in silence The
children ran joyously TO meet them.
The yard was so fresh and green
and the flowers so many and bright
that he wondered that he had never
thanked Ncttic for them all. Hitherto
he had looked upon them as his, but
now he felt that his interest in them
was only n few dollars, that would not
have amounted TO anything without his
wiic's care. His children were tidy and
sweet, and everything around and in
the house had that CHEEKY look that
gIh Inn ,FN l. I'm
at the mill. They sat again mt the
table that had been source of comfort
and pleasure TO him for so many years,
and no wondered how he could have
enjoyed il so long without even thank
ing the woman who had provided it.
True, she had his money i'm bringing il
all about, but how else could his money
be of use TO himP Who else could have
turned il into just what he needed for
years. And he began TO have an unde-
fined feeling that it took moro than
money TO make home. He glanced at
his wite's face as he buttercd his last
slice of bread
IL was not that OF the fair, rosy bride
whom he had brought to the mills years
before, but at that moment he realized
II was Tar more dear TO him, for he knew
that she had given the bloom and fresh
ness of her youth to make her homo
what IL was His daughters had her
roSc-lcaf cheeks, his sons her youthful
beauty, all had her cheerful, winsome
ways, and comforted him now as she
had in those days when, hardly knowing
what care meant, she had lived for him
alone. And new thought came TO him:
WHO was comforting her now whom
she had so much carepn Was not that
what he had promised to do when he
brought her from her old homep He
sighed as he thought how far he had
drifted from her while in bondage equal
to Cutfee's. Nay, he felt that her chains
were far more binding than any which
had ever held n negro and that his
obligations to her were so much the
greater.
Something called the children out of
doors, and Mr.. Jarvis took his easy
chair His wife came and stood beside
him. 81 fear you are not well, Donald;
are You displeased with meP"
lie drew her into his arms and told
her how her words had showed him
what manner of man he was, and there
were words spoken that need not be
written, but from that day forth a diff
terent man was proprietor of the Jarvis
mills, and there was a brighter light in
Mrs. Jarvis eyes, fCl at last she had
something of her own, nor has she re-
GREETED that she applied for wages. -
PHTgnOIOgjcUI .I0U,.,1 ~