The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-10-13
Selfff Sturu.
EssSIE.
"If I only had a piano {"

"It onlv.had piano
Even as the ~ish rose almost uncon-
sciously to her lips Essie Trowbridge
blushed q deep crimson tint, and shy
eyes looked ou, half frightened frotn un.
der the long lashes.
"A piano! ~
Tne depth ct sarcasm in John Trcw-
hridge's voice justifi d the shrinking OF
bis little daueh erin law.
"A piano! Wouldn't you like a dia.
mond necklace or a carriage with four
borses2 This Is one of the r, Suits of d
plain farmer marrying fine lady"
81 was not fine lady when Henry
married me-odly hard.w,rking dis.
trict school teacher" said Essie "and
be was kind and good and never sneered
at me because | loved mi sic and pictures,
and-and-all the other pleasures l bad
before my father died!"
"Well, there, tbere-don't cry" said
the old man hastily. 81 did not mean
to hurt your feelings Harry was"
But here the father choked, too for
was not Harry. his only child, the veiy
idol of his old heart, lying Id the church
yard and the six months widow sobbing
beside hims
She rose softly from her seat and cros-
ing to where her father-in-law sat said
gently:
II will fiot try you again BY exsrava-
CANT desires; ! know how good you are
to me, and l will Try to learn to be bet.
ter farmers girl!'
"You are very good g'fl,a ve'y good
GIRL" was the le ,ly. land 1t is only nal
ural that you 81 oud banker for what
you've been brought up to having. Bat
pianos cost hundreds of dolla' and I've
none To spare, Essies can't get round
the farm as Harry did, and | have had
him go long to lean upon that things GO
crooked enough without blm!"
Essie sighed garessing the snowy bair,
her shy, brown eyes full OF trouble. She
knew tlat the farm was suffering for the
master hand and eyes, lying folded for.
ever, and she longed to be OF sone use
to the father she bad promised Harry to
love and comfort.
But she was only twenty city bred and
reared 10 luxury. just one year che
taught district school after ber fatbe G
died a bankrupt; ;then Harry Trowbridge.
the handsome, tender farmer. who m Ell
her in the country hotses where she
.'boarded rodnd," told her his love and
won the sweet, pure hearts affection.
Ouly few months after the wedding
when Essie was conqnering one by one
the difficulties of farm hons keeping
Harry fell from hay wagon and was fa-
tally injured.
In iew hours of life granted him hi,
one desire was 10 keep his father and bis
Young wife together, to love and COM
fort each other.
''Yon will give E sic home when
am gone" he begged when his falhei
bent over him.
"Wb bile l have roof to cover me, "
was the answer.
You will not leave my father utterly
childless ~ be whispered when Essie put
her cheek to his to hide the tears that
would fall.
IL will never leave him while my love
is any comfort" she answered.
Aud in the first days of mourning
these two we're an unutterable com fort to
each other; but SO time wore on they
found many rough places 10 this life.eon.
tract each felt so solemnly binding. John
Trowbridge had a profound contempt
for womankind who could not fiji bis
own rough ideal A woman who could
churn, milk, cook, care for poultry, keep
house shining wash and iron. and Keep
in perfect robust health witha. vas a wo-
man after his own heart. A starving
mind, hungry soul, were problems be
had never real z,d 80 existing
1t fretted him when Essie, hravely stri
wing to do he work so new In her expe-
rience, would faint at her post it raised
his rough sarcasns when the day closed
upon duties unperformed, when bread
was heavy aud cooking imperfect.
And Elsie, hoping against hope to
grow stronger, made herself miserable in
the suppostion that she was useless
burden where she SO earnestly desired to
be cnm fort and blessing she stiff ed her
own craving for the books and refine
ments that had been second nature, and
yet she could not Ill the place they had
occupied by interest in chickens, pigs
and cows
1t aided to her perplexties to knew
that the farm had not paid It's expenses
in the last wear, spring was still some
weeks away and provisions we're glowing
scarce, while ready money was dwindling
down TO sum alarminsly small She
felt like thief when baking proved
unea'able or dinner was spoiled and
yet such disasters occurred in spite OF
her CO olscientious efforts to avert them.
| 1t bad been dreamy day when her
unfortunate wish broke from her lips and
su1den craving for the music that hai
heen her life's deligh; took possession oI
! her. Her peni,ence for the words was