Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-09
The Stnrp Teller.
HIS LESSON.
John Reynolds Learned that Money is Not
All of Earth.
"What is the matter, little woman?"

u Cullu llS huCC. '" "Aeso Aic''o wv
been doing to tire you?"
''Only the days work. Don't worry,
john" for a shade passed over the kindly
face.
IT don't worry; but can't see what
makes YOU complain so often of being tired.
I am sure the housework amt much.
Other women do it"
There was just little fretfulness in Johns
tone, though he did not mean to be unklnd.
81 know they do. Mrs. Harper has four
children and takes care of them in addition
to housework, besides doing piles Observing:
Perhaps, John, it is because have not had
experience in country work, and don't man
age we'll. will learn better after awhile.
Now tell me what you did in town."
81 did quite we'll. Sold the whole CROP. of
wheat at a good price, and put another IN.
stalment in the bank for the Stanley farm" !"
"Your heart is set on that farm, john"
''Indeed it is! Let me .once own that
clear of debt, and shall be happy man.
It is the best land in the country, and the
house 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 timidly, 'don't
you think if you spend part. of the money
on this house we might be very happy
he-o?"
"Spend money on this house?' cried the
astonished John. "Why, what on earth
ails this house?"
81 mean in things for it. Now, the par
lor looks so stiff, and is always shut up.
was thinking if we had pretty carpet and
some curtain of white muslin or lace, and
set of nice furniture, and--and-a piano.
Oh, John ! if could have piano"
John Reynolds looked al his wife as If
H. loI fo him IN huxr tho
crown jewels of Russia.
"a piano! Do you know what a piano
costs?''
"No. Aunt Louise had one, you know,
ever since can remember. But I think if
we had pretty parlor to rest in in the even
ing, / could play for you and sing. You
never heard me play or sing, john" -,
~ have heard you sing, but not lately"
said John rather gloomily.
ooh! that was just humming around the
house. mean real singing. have lots OF
music in my trunk"
'tBut you are a farmers wife now, Lima.
I thought you understood when we were
married that you were not to have city tinery
and pleasures"
$50 did, John. I don't want finery. I
don't want any pleasure but your love,
John. Don't scowl up your face so. | am
silly to think of these things at all: There,
kiss me and forget it. I am nicely rested
now, and I'll get your tea in ten minutes"
John put her down with a very tender
kiss, and straightway fell into reverie.
Lima Reynolds had been district school
teacher in Scottfeld just four months when
.J5hn REYNOLDS offered her his hand and
heart. She was an orphan from infancy,
but her father'ssister had adopted and educa-
ted her in life of luxury, and died without
altering will made years before, leaving
r1r fN ohnri Inn
Lima, left alone, had thankfully accepted
the position of country school teacher procu-
red for her by some friends, and was think
ing life hard burden, when John came to
brighten it. She gave her whole gentle
little heart into his keeping at once, appre-
ciating at their full value his honest true
heart, his frank nature, his sterling good
qualities and looking with the most pro-
found admiration upon his tall, strong
frame and handsome face.
It was perfect love match, for John fair
ly .worshipped the dainty, refined little
beauty he had married. And, having mar
ried her, he took her to his home and, in
all innocence, proceeded to kill her.
There was no blame to be laid upon him.
Living in the old farmhouse where he had
spent his entire life, the one ambition of
his heart was to own land, stock, barns and
model farm.
He had seen his mother cook, churn, feed
poultry, and drudge all her life; all the wo
men he knew did the same: and if Lima
made odd mistakes she put willing heart
into her work and soon conquered difficult
ties. Surely he thought, it was an easier
life to be mistress Of his home, with the
Stanley farm in prospect, than to toll over
stupid children in district school. He had
never seen velvet carpets and lace curtains,
grand pianos, dainty silks, and other sur
roundings that were Lina's from babyhood.
He had never heard the wonderful music
the little white hands, all rough and scar
red now, could draw from the ivory keys of
an organ or piano, or the clear, pure voice
in song. 1t was an unknown world to John
where his wife's memory fingered as she
pans strained milk, and cooked huge dish
es of food for the farm hands. He would
have thought it waste, if not positive in
sanity, to draw from the bank his hard
earned savings to invest them in beautify
ing his plain, comfortable home.
And Lima lashed her conscience sharply,
telling herself she was ungrateful, repining
and wicked. Was not John tender, true
and loving? Where among city friends
was there heart like his? Had she not
known he was only farmer?
And so the loving little woman had toiled
and slaved, undertook tasks far beyond her
strength, worked early and late, until, just
one year after his wedding day, John Rey-
nolds, coming home to his tea, found lying
upon the kitchen floor little senseless fig
ure, with face like death, and hands that
sent chill to his very heart.
The doctor, hastily summoned, looked
grave, and advised perfect quiet and rest
A 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 the 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 a
strong one," he said; twill you let me tell
you few truths!'
"Yes. About Lina?"
"About Lima. You remember, do you
not, the tiny antelope you admired so much
in the menagerie we had here last sum-
mer?"
"Certainly," said John, looking more
puzzled than ever.
"Suppose you had bought that little crea-
ture and yoked it with one of your oxen to
a cart to do the same work."
''I'd been fool" cried John; "that little
thing couldn't work. 1t was just made
pretty to look at and play with"
'That's it, John. Now, l don't think
God ever made woman to look pretty aId
play, but he made some for the rough work
of this world and some for the dainty
places, some to cook and scrub, and some to
draw mems souls to heaven by gentle love-
illness. Your wife is one of the latter. If