The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-09-25

he was very much to be envied she was
his own always .t
And she thought, "Whnt good
gift is life and lovel There can't De
the unhappiness in the world people
are always talking of |"
Then they laughed and chatted, and
for once were perfectly content
- -
Five years had slipped by ; little
period, yet in it how many have passed
to that other country, how many
launched on life that may hold so
much or SO little in store In it cur
fondest aspirations nrc realized. or our
cherished idols shattered at our feet.
Five years had brought to Mary's
home an infrm old uncle of her
husbands, little waif of eight, whose
mothers dying request TO care for her
child. Mary could not refuse, and two
babies Of her own, for the elder was
little more titan baby. Time had not
touched her very lightly; there were
sad lines about the mouth, pitiful to
see, and now and then sore spirit
looked from the brown eyes. Evidently
life had not been quite so fair rs it had
promised ON that wedding day half o
decade before.
And yet they had prospered; Thomas
was one of the Substantial men of the
town, 80 the people said.
"Savin' an sharp. savin' an sharp.
Tom'll be rich man afore many years,
old Uncle Warren was wont to chucklo
from his corner by the great fireplace.
Then he would add with long-drawn
sigh, EFF his wife don't room him by
her extravaganza, putin cream inter the
biskits. an boilin eggs when eggs an
butter is high. My wife never put on
sugar for the hired men, nuther. Ny
wife and me was managers. Now, il
Tom'd only married Belindy Thompson,
the squares darter, she'd brought in
her husband good sum, an she's
savin', too"
Such conversation Mary was forced
to hear as often "a Uncle Warren could
find an unfortunate listener. Like
many people in this world, he was
happy when there was something to
worry about, be it real or imaginary.
He never minded that the kitchen door
WAS ajar, or windows open. so that
Mary could not choose but hear. "A
good thing for her to know my opinion.
md when OCCASION required he never
hesitated to deliver it first hand.
It's great expense to Thomas, you're
bein' SO sot on keepin' that child" re.
ferring to Mamie. "Ef you'd only
taken his advice an sent her to the
the country farm, an taken an older
girl that could earn her SALT" he
groaned. 81 never see sech an appe-
tite as she has! Why, yesterday it
took her jest twenty minutes by the
clock to eat her dinner. Thomas is
never more'n ten he knows the valoo
of time"
Such harangues would have had little
effect on Mary, but her husbands con-
versation was an echo of these. Slowly
but surely money-getting and money
earning was becoming his aim in life.
Mary saw with alarm the sinking of his
spirit to this sordid basis, and nil her
gentle nature rose to combat it, but so
far in vain. One or two successful ven
lures had raised this evil demon, and
now its hold was tightening till the
manly fellow who had won her babe
fair to be miser. So completely had
the desire for gain taken possession of
him that he saw nothing of the danger
to his better nature.
The hands of the clock moved steadily
on, and with dinner to prepare, the
beds to make, the milk to skim, beside
the wailing infant to still, and the yet
greater task of keeping restless little
Madge out of mischief, Mary was tired
enough by noon for bed.
Promptly at the stroke of twelve,
Farmer Tom. with three hungry men,
appeared. The cloth was not even laid
for dinner.
What, late again, Mary?" said her
husband, with slight frown. "You
know time is money to u.s."
With the heavy child in her arms,
she was endeavoring to prepare the
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