The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-08-20

Mira John Bakers eyes wandered 10 dis
may sround the unpromising looking wood
gard. Tvo or three green logs lay there,
isgAinss shich an AZ leaned 10 cleft form
] si by store length being half chopped
of Her husband aud bis hired help.
consisting OF man aud boy, had lnst
gone 10 their work on distant part OF the
farm, and she knew she should see neither
OF them before dark.
Whist should she do' Halt impasiensly
she turned toward the house. add then.
with thought OF the pan Of light dough
waiting inside. she began to gather some
OF the chips which lay around, only to
fling them down again.
Its no use. cant bake bread with
these. know shst IN do
She Jqahki, .Sasbsa m liAnsra dishes
with the already cooling water. and then
I vent 10 the stable. iu which. with hands
l'dextrous b. practice in such work. she
had soon hArnessed one OF the horses to
buggy.
| Mother and the girls will think I'm
crazy. she said to herself. "but ! can't
help that. swung an axe once and ached
fora month to pay for it, so I'm not going
TO do il again. M "a
She brought out her pan OF bread wrap.
lped in large cloth, and, setting Il in the
bottom Of the buggy, sprAss In hersslf,
and had soon driven the two miles which
lay between her own house and her moth.
er's Arriving there she carried in her
pan and set it down with laugh. a|
| There mother. I've come to bake my
bread. John and the others went Of with
out leaving me sny wood. and had TO do
il or let IL spoil. Men will forget you
know"
She was not going to blame him to 9th.
ers, nor let them imagine how often since
she had gone asa bride 70 John Bakers
new house only last spring, she had had
the same trouble about wood.
That's right. Set il right down there
by the fire. Susan, so'tll get bet up before
you knead it into loaves. Yes, you will;
and il any mans to be excused for not
kcepin' wood on his mind it's John Baker,
II there's anything in blood, and say
there is. His father was just so-a real
fore handed man, good provider, and took
proper pride in having things spick and
span about him, but never seemin' to think
what bother it was 70 the women folks
not to have their wood handy. Many and
msny's the time I've dropped in to tea with
Johns mother and see her have the great
est time scrapin' mp few chips or shakiu'
the snow off sticks OF miserable green
wood"
Johns wife turned her face ss she took
Of her things. for fear her friends would
see in her face how nearly her own expe-
rience was already becoming Ike that Of
Johns mother.
II used TO tell her" went on her moth
or, "tha. she'd ought to trained him bet
ter when he was young Now, like as not
John takes little after his father nobody
could wonder at it-and / wish father
could haul you load or two Of his good
seasoned wood. Suppose twould do-eh,
Susan?"
mo. 'twouldn't do. mother thank you
oil the same"
Twilight Of the November day was shut
ting in when John Baker, returning TO his
house, missed the accustomed fire-glow in
the windows.
whats up? No fre-no wife! MOI
wonderl' he calculated again, as he went
out and took view Of the wood yard.
Z .Akef fifteen Minutes work with his axe,
hs carried in az armfulSf wood and kind
lings, and had bright FIRE cracking and
snapping in the stove by the time his wifss
CHEEKY voice was heard.
eve had real ffblc, john" she said.
Juggling 10 basket. from which she laid
out several loaves Of bread and number
Of light, puffy biscuits. II couldn't find
any wood, SO just hitched up old Bill
and went over TO mothers to bake my
bread
There was not the slightest shade OF re-
proach in her tones, bat John felt tingle
OF modification at what had occurred, and
resolved that it should never happen again
and so he assured Susan with great fervor.
And the next day he went vigorously TO
work to keep his word. Logs. some fresh
" felled, others which had fallen through
decay. we're hauled from the piece Of tim.
Der land belonging to the farm. aud for .
week all hands sawed aud chopped with
will. Then the results we're flung pell 4
nell into the wood shed, and John, who
had never learned at home to look far {
enough ahead TO think OF providing ses-
soned wood from year to year, felt proud ,
,f having done bis duty like man.
And Susan. as she worried through that
Tiuter with wood green or decayed, too
Ihort or two long for tie stove. made up
,cr mind, and she had good deal OF Il
mind OF her own. TO make up. that she
Hould never worry through such another. /,
some sensible advice her J
'ensible and energetic mother had given
,er when she had left home. !
Bear things, Susan. There's lots Of
hings has TO be borne in this world. aud
hem that learns 10 bear them best's the
,eat Of oil. Men will be trying. and II
vouen cant BE- patient its apt TO make
seubls. Bat mind-vhen Isy bear. !
mean there's reason 10 all things. and
iont mean thss you should bear things
bats oai Of al reason. II vomau'll
., herssif be- tFod on. and she's sure to be
rod on, aud them that does in never .