Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-10-24
Ess1E's PIANO.


Even as the wish rose, almost uncon-
sciously, TO her lips, Essie Trowbridge
blushed deep crimson tint, and her
shy eyes looked out half frightened
from under her long lashes.
"a pianow
The death of sarcasm in John Trow-
bridges voice justified the shrinking Of
his little daughter-in.law.
"a piano Wouldn't you like dia-
mond necklace or carriage with four
horses A piano! This is one of the
results of plain farmer marrying a
fine lady!"
81 was not fine lady when Harry
married me, only a hard working dis
trict school teacher" said Essie, land
he was kind and good, and never sheer
ed at me because | loved music and
pictures, and-and- all the other
pleasures | had before my father died ~
"Well, there, there-don't cry" said
the old man, hastily. Il did not mean
to hurt your feelings. Harry was"
"Bat there the father choked, too
for was not Harry his only child, the
the very idol of his old heart, lying in
the church-yard, and the six months
widow sobbing beside him.
She rose softly from her seat, and
crossing to where her father iu-law sat.
said, gently:
II will not try you again by extrava-
giant desires. know how good you
are to me, and ] viii try 10 learn 10 be
a better farmers girl! r
"You are very good girl, a very
good GIRL" was the reply, "and it is
only natural you should banker fol
what you've been brought up to hav.
ing. But pianos cost hundreds of dol
lars, and | have none to spare. Essie
| can't get round the farm as Harry
did, and | have had him to lean upon
so long that things go crooked enough
without him."
Essie sighed, caressing the snowy
hair, her shy, brown eyes full Of
trouble She knew that the farm was
suffering for the master hand end eyes
lying folded forever, and she longed to
be Of some use to the father she had
promised to love and comfort.
But she was only twenty, city bred
and reared in luxury. Just one year
she taught district school after hel
father died bankrupt. Then Harry
Trowbridge, the handsome, tender far
mer, who met her in the country
houses where she boarded round" tolc
her his love and won the sweet, pure
hearts affection.
Only few months after the wed
ding, when Essie was conquering one
by one the difficulties of farm house
keeping, Harry fell from hay-wagor
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 Essie home wher
am gone" he begged, when his father
bent over him.
"While | have roof to cover me,
was the answer.
"You will not leave my father utterly
childless ?" he whispered, when Essi'
put her cheek to his to hide the tear
that would fall.
81 will never leave him while m,
love is any comfort" she answered.
And in the first days of mourning
these two were an unutterable comfoT
to each other But as time wore Oh
they found many rough places in thi
life contract, each felt so solemn,
binding. John Trowbridge had pro
found contempt for all womankin,
who cold not fill his own rough ideal
A woman who could churn, milk, cook
care for poultry, keep house shining
wash and iron, and keep in perfect
robust health wilhal, was a woman
after his own heart. A starving mind
a hungry soul, were problems he ha'
never realized as existing.
1t fretted him when Essie. bravel,
striving to do the work so new in he
experience, would faint al her post
1t reused his rough sarcasms when tn
day closed upon duties unperformeeI
when bread was heavy and cookin,
imperfect
And Essie, hoping against hope t
grow stronger, made herself miserabl
in the supposition that she was use
less burden where she SO earnestl,
desired to be a comfort and blessing
She stifed her own craving for tn
books and refnements that had beef
second nature and yet she could no
fill the place they had occupied by in
terest in chickens, pigs and cows.
1t added to her perplexities TO know
that the farm had not paid its expense
in the last year. Spring was still som
weeks away and provisions were grow
ing scare while ready money wa
llwindIi kdown to a pile alarmingl.
be felt like thief when bak
Auneatable, or a dinner wa
y vet snch disasters Oceurre,