Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-27
ESSIE.
III I only had a piano!"

Even as the wish rose almost uncon-
sciously to her lips, Essie Trowbridg'
blushed deep crimson tint, and shy
eyes looked out half frightened from
under the long lashes.
"A piano?'
The depth 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
horsesP This is one of the results of q
plain farmer marrying fine lady,
Il was not fine lady when Henry
married me, only a Woodworking
district school teacher" said Essie,
land he was kind and good, and
never sneered at me because l loved
music and pictures, and-and-all the
other pleasures l had before my father
died!'
"Well, there, there-don't cry
said the old man hastily. II 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
churchyard, and the six months
widow sobbing beside him'
She rose softly from her seat, and
crossing to where her father-in-law sat,
said gently:
II will not try you again by ex'
travagant desires. know how good
you are to me, and l will try to learn
to be better farmers girl!'
"You are very good girl, a very
good GIRL" was the reply, land it is
only natural you should h,.nker fol
what you've been brought up to hav.
ing. But pianos cost hundreds OF
dollars, and l have mono 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 and eye, lying fold
ed forever, and she longed to be O
some use to tho father she had prom
ised Harry to love and comfort.
But she was only twenty, city bred
reared in luxury. Just one year sh'
taught district school after her fathel
died bankrupt. Then Harry Trow
bridge, the handsome, tender farmer
who met her in the country-house
where she ''boarded round" told he
his love and wen the sweet pure heart
affection.
Only few months after the weddin,
when Essie was conquering one by on
the difficulties of farm housekeeping
Harry fell from hay-wagon and wa
fatally injured.
In the few hours of life granted him
his one desire was to keep his fathe
and his young wife together, to Low
and comfort each other.
"You will give Essie home when
am gone,' he begged, when his fathe
bent over him.
"Nhile have q roof to cover me,
was the answer.
You will not leave my father utterl
childless?' he whispered, when Essi
put her cheek TO his to hide the teal
that would fall.
II will never leave him while m
love is any comfort" she answered.
And in the first days of mournin
these two were an unutterable con
fort to each other. But as time wor
on they found many rough places
this life-contract each felt so solemn
binding. john Trowbridge had a pr'
found contempt for all womankin
who could not fill his own rough idea
A woman who could churn, milk, cool
care for poultry, keep house shinin,
} wash and iron, and keep in perfec
, robust health withal was woma
: after his own heart. A starving mine
4 hungry soul, were problems he hs
{; never realized as existing.
, It fretted him when Essie, brave
striving to do the work 80 new in h
. experience, would faint at her post.
reused his rough saroasms when Il
day closed upon duties unperforme'
! WuCu OIcdO was ACo'y "AU SvOnAA
imperfect.
And Essie, hoping against hope
grow stronger. made herself miserab
in the supposition that she was US
less burden where she so earnestly d
sired to be comfort and a blessin
She stifed her own craving for Il
books and refinements that had BET
second nature; and yet she could n
ill the place they had occupied by i
terest in chickens, pigs and cows.
1t added to her perplexities to kno
that the farm had not paid its expens
in the last year. Spring was still son
weeks away, and provisions were gro
ing scarce. while ready money v
dwindlipg down to . pile alarming
small. She felt like thief when
baking proved UNBEATABLE. or dim
was spoiled, and yet such disasters 6
Cured in spite of her conscientio
efforts to avert them.
1t had been q dreary day when b
unfortunate wish broke from her lii
and a sudden craving for the mu!
that had been her ife's delight to
possession of her. Her penitence
tho words was very humble. and .
put away the desire with many anotf
. longing. :
But John Trowbridgs. though
Twas narrow.minded, and often rouf
had q kind heart under the hard on