Catoctin clarion., 1885-01-01

wood was one of the things which
could be looked to at any time, and
Susan soon gave over reminding him
of it.
One day in September he came home
to dinner, and found cold lunch wait
ing him. The house was clean and
quiet and cheerless; no wife there, but
y written line, which ran:
DEAR JOHN: I am going to spend
the day over at Mrs. Carter's. Will be
home in time to give you a late supper
He Was glad to have her go, for she
had had busy summer aud needed
little change. But there was.a day out
the next week, md the next, and the
next, until he began to wonder at the
growing taste for gadding about. In
early October he came home to find his
woodward, which had still remained
empty, occupied by dozen Or so cords
Of first-class wood, with Sol. Carter
and his two boys busy at it, and they
worked until it was stored up as before
in the seed. And John felt cross, bat
asked no questions,
"Where's Mrs. Barker" said small
Carter boy to John, as he put up his
bars one evening.
"She's over to neighbor Grants. You
will find her there if you want hsr.'
1T ain no matter. You can tell
her here's the SEWN she's to do for
mother, and mother wants to know if
she can come and wash to our house
Tomorrow
"The-old scratch she does ?" ex-
claimed John, turning on the boy in
blank aTnazement, which rapidly grew
into anger. Mrs. Barker hire out to
do washin' and sewin'! What do you
mean by coming to me with such mes.
sage, you young rascal p
The astonished youngster dropped
his sewing and applied his knuckles to
bis eyes as John advanced toward him,
then ran with all his might as the bum
die came whizzing after him. And
Susan's lord and master strobe in dig
| nifed wrath down the road to meet
her.
"Susan-I don't understand this
there's been young chap talkin about
sewn and washin for Mrs. Carter
What in all the creation does it mean,
ia like to know ?"
"It's all right" said Susan, compos-
edly. what was the message?'
"Thunderation! You don't mean
to say you sew and wash for other
folks, do you?'
Eyes l do
"And for what? Is there anything
You want, Susan, that l doEt give
you ?"
"Yes, John. there is. want wood
can saw and chop, bat can wash
and sew, and 90 anything else woman
ought to do, and there's no blame to
NE for changing work | can do for
work l can't. I'm never Susan spoke
very firmly, without grain of irrita.
ton, going to put up with poor, badly
cut, green wood again as long as l can
turn woman's work into mans work -
Id rather wash for somebody every
week, it's half the comfort Of wom-
an s life. You've never had to wait
for your dinner with the wood sizzling
in the stove, and the fire not burning
since I've been providing the wood
John was dumbfounded.
And you've been working for Sol.
Carters wife these two years" he said,
with intense disgust.
No; my silk dress paid for last
years wood. l hated to let it itgo,John,
because You gave it to me, but Tilda
Carter took fancy to it. 1t was she
you saw wearing it. and Susan laugh
cd at his grunt Of dissatisfaction with
the whole business
You to 90 letting me down this way
before the Carters! he growled. And
if Mrs. Johns eyes flashed little who
can blame her, rs she answered:
IF there's any letting down to do its
your doing, not mineF
They finished their walk home in 81
lenee, and then John said:
Susan, will you leave the wood
business to me after this ?
I'll try you, john she said.
At wedding the bride was yonng
lady who had been a great firt. When