The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-14
ESSIE'S PIANO.
tIf I only had q niano. !"

6ClOuSlN, ~ HCl ipo, Aooie AAN" "D'ANs@ ~
blushcd deep crimson tint, and her shy
eyes looked out half frightened from
under her long lashes.
"A piano"
The death of sarcasm in John Trow-
bridges voice justified the shrinking OF
his little daughter-in.law.
"A piano! Wouldn't you like 4 dia-
mond necklace or carriage with four
horses? 4 piano! This is one of the
results of a plain farmer marrying fine
ladyH
81 was not Gnc lady when Harry
married me, only hard working district
school teacher" said Essie, land he was
kind and good, and never snecred at me
because loved music and pictures, and
and all the other pleasures had be.
fore my father died."
"Wcll, there, thcre-don't cry" said
the old man, hastily. 81 did not mean to
hurt your feelings. Harry was
"But there the father choked, too; for
was not Harry his only child, the very
idol of his old heart, lying in the church
yard, and the six months widow Sob
bing beside him.
She rose softly from her scat, and cross
ing to where her fathe r-in-law sat, said,
gently:
81 will not try you again by extrava-
giant desires. know how good you are
to me, and l will try to learn to be a
better farmers girl"
"You arc very good girl, very good
GIRL" was. the reply, land it is only nat
ural you should banker for what you've
been brought up to having. But pianos
cost hundreds of dollars, and | have
none to spare, Essie. can't get round
the farm as Harry did, and I have had
him to lean upon so long that things 60
crooked enough without him."
Essic sighed, caressing the snowy hair,
her shy. brown eyes full of trouble. She
knew that the farm was suffering for the
master hand and eyes, lying folded for
ever, and she longed to be of some use
to the father she hud promised to love
and comfort. .
But she was only twenty, city bred
and reared in luxury. Just one year she
taught district school after her father
died q bankrupt. Then Harry Trow-
bridge, the handsome, tender farmer,
who met her in the country houses where
she '.boardcd-round, told her his love
and won the sweet, pure hearts affec-
tion.
Only few months after the wedding,
when Essic was conqucring one by one
the difficulties of farm housekeeping,
Harry fell from hay-wagon and was
fatally injured.
In the few hours of life granted him,
his one desire was to keep his father and
his young wife together, to love and
comfort each other.
"You will give Essic homo when ]
am gonc,' he begged. when his father
bent over him.
"While have a roof to cover me, "
was the answer.
"You will not leave my father utterly
childlcssi" he whispered, when Essic
put her cheek to his to hide the tears
that would fall.
II will never leave him while my love
is any comfort" she answered.
And in the first days of mourning these
two were an unutterablc comfort to each
other. But as time wore on they found
many rough places in this life contract,
each felt so solemnly binding. John
Trowbridgc had a profound contempt
for all womankind who could not fill his
own rough ideal A woman who could
churn, milk. cook, care for poultry, keep
o house shining, wash and iron, and keep
in perfect, robust health withal, was n
woman after his own heart. A starving
mind, hungry soul, were problems he
had never realized as existing.
1t frettcd him when Essie, bravely
striving 10 do the work so new in her
experience, would faint at her post. 1t
reused his rough sarcasms when the day
closed upon duties unperformed, when
bread was heavy and cooking imperfect.
And Essic. hoping against hope to
grow stronger. made herself miserable III
the suppos,ion that she was useless
burden where she so earnestly desired to
be comfort and blessing. She stifcd
her own craving for the books and re-
fincments that had been second nature
and yet she could not fill the place they
had occupied by interest in chickens,
pigs and COWS.
1t added to her perplexties to know
that the farm had not paid its expenses
in the last year. Spring was still some
weeks away, and provisions were grow
ing scarce, while ready money was
dwindling down to q pile alarmingly
small. She felt like thief when baking
proved uneatable, or a dinner was
spoiled, and yet such disasters occurred
in spite of her conscientious efforts to
avert them.
1t had been drcarv day when her I'M
fortunate wish broke from her lips, aud
a sudden craving for the music that had
been her life's delight took possession OF
her. Her penitcnce for the words was
very humble, and she put away the de
sire with many another longing.
But John Trowbridgc had kind
heart under the hard crust gathered
over it in years of toll, poorly paid. The
longing of the shy brown eyes haunted
him.
81 s'posc it is like telling the birds not
to sing to shut her up here" he thought.
"But t. give her a piano. How in
the world"
Then sudden thought almost took
away his breath. He got up from his
chair, and. kissing Essie, went to the
door to think it over. The young
widow, warned that it was nearly tea
time by the clock, sped to the kitchen,
and did not know when her father in.
law put on his ovcrcoat and hit and
went down to the village.
lie came back with some great pro
jcct in every line Of his rugged, sun
Drowned face.
Tea was a success. The toast wa:
delicatcly Drowned, and the ham done
to a turn. When the meal was over, tht
old man said:
"l;ssic, do you remember the cross
you told me your father gave you for
birthday gift?"
"My diamond cross"
"You would not like to part with it
Perhaps it is your only reminder of YOU
father"
81 have many other gifts. Nothing
80 valuable as that. The gentleman
who took charge of my fathers affair:
told me l could keep all his gifts te
me-"
"You-you-would not like to give
mo the cross to sell. Essiea Our money
is getting very short"
4 kiss, tender and quick, stopped
the words that came 80 hesitatingly.
"You are gladly welcome to it, father
Iwonder did not think of it before"
So tile dainty bauble. lay in the farmer
horny palm, and while Essie cleared th'
tea-table John Trowbridgc went once
more to the village.
DR.. Reynolds, the only physician there
! Harry's fast friend for years, was IN hi
! office when the farmer entered.
There it is" said the visitor, triumph
antly. "You are sure it is worth TIT
money!
"Perfectly sure. And Mrs. Trowbridg'
wishcr me to invest the sum l obtain il
piano :,
BLESS you, no! that's my part Of it
| You see, the poor little soul tries to d.