Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-04-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
Tom's Wife.

ON S WIre.
CA letter from Tom," said AIRS,
Merkle, opening the envelope she
had just received from a nefghbor
who had stopped on his way from the
post-ofIice. Well, it's time he
wrote. Dear! dear!''
For the letter read thus:
e Dear Mother: You'll be surprised
to learn that l am married. ] am
surprised myself. But she's the
incest girl you ever saw, pretty as a
picture, and a professional artist
paints portraits, and landscapes, too.
L met her in the way of business two
months ago, and now she is my wife.
I'm coming down with her in a week
or so, and she shall paint your por-
trait tand sketch the old place. You'll
love her dearly.
" Your affectionate son, Tom"
Mrs. NIerkle dropped the letter and
her spectacles, and pulled her hand
kerchief out of her apron pocket.
My Tom married!'' she ex-
claimed. f" Married Well, 1 want to
know! Married, and to such a person!
A gal that paints pictures for liv-
ing! What kind of a business is that?
Why didn't she learn the manty-mak-
ing, or be a seamstress or milliner?
What kind of wife will he have?''
Aud old Mrs. N1erkle sat down,
with her handkerchief to her eyes,
and lad what she called a good cry.
Finally recovering her composure,
she went TO the q secretary" placed
after the curious country fashion, in
dark corner behind the door, and
there penned an cpistle to her son,
which set forth her opinion of his
choice in plain Saxon, and ended with
these words:
I'd as soon you'd have chosen a
circus girl.''
She did not even give her new
daughtcr-in-law the expected invita-
tion. She considered herself n very
deeply injured woman, though why
it is hard to tell.
No answer came, and she began to
feel that she might have been little
too severe, when one day she sat on
the porch, knitting and fretting in
wardly, young woman opened the
gate and walked ina well-built girl
of twenty, with dark, waving hair,
and q pretty, smiling mouth, who
having asked if this was Mrs. NIerkle,
handed her letter.
Its from Mr.. 1Ierllle, your son, !"
she said.
And the old lady, opening it, read
these words:
Dear Mother: As you feel so
badly about my wife, I'll not bring
her until you ask me. Meanwhile, as
1 know you cannot find help to suit
you, let me recommend Jane jackson,
who is very Handy about house, and
will be glad to stay week or so
without wages for the sake of coun-
try air, if she is treated as one of the
family in all respects.
"Your son, Toar."
"Oh!" said the old lady, looking
up. Are you Jane Jackson?"
Yes, ma'am," said the girl.
Well, my son recommends you
much he knows about it-and | sup
pose 1 might as well try you. Have
you worked for him?"
Z" Yes ma'am," replied Jane again.
'' His new wife, now; she can't do
much, l supposc-about the house, 1
mean?''
!" All that was done, 1 did," re-
piled the pirI.
81 supposed So" said Mrs. Mer-
kle. t Poor Tom. You can make
bread, now, and cake, and milk /?
Well, since I've had rheumatism, L
do begin TO give up, but have been
awOrller. know what rs what. You
can stay. Trunk at the depot, eh?
Well, I'll have it fetched"
Jane Jackson, thus welcomed,
stayed, and fine helpful young per-
son she proved to be. Nothing about
house that she could not do. Her
cooking was perfect. Her laundry
work elegant. And yet she was as
ladylike as any one. The house
tidied, she made the old Iady's gowns
and caps and a thousand pretty
things for the old parIor.
f" You really are the smartest girl
1 ever knew" said Mrs. Merkle one
day. Poor you may be, but you'd
be treasure to any man; and there's 8
my son married to that painting thing
in New York. Starved and out of
elbows and all his buttons off by this
time, I suppose, while she daubs. %
Did you ever see any one paint?''
asked Jane.
"onIy the man that did the doors
and the window frames five years
ago." said Mrs. Merkle.
'' can paint little," said Jane.
& After everything is done I mean to
paint you picture if you'll let me. %
tI don't mind, . said the old lady.
Z" L believe you can do anything
Jane"
That day Jane produced from hel
trunk a sketchinp block and proceed.