The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-02-05

man who never went inside of one she'd
he false to her principles, for the Bible
says the righteous shall not be yoked to
the unrighteouS II know.
''Tom took it real hard ut first, but
he didn't bear Annie no i'll will, n
when she married Luther Beldon he
sent her handsome present
"Lu her, ne was really steady
young man, but somehow or other he
didn't lave no luck. He had good
farm, but work rs he might, he never
made nothin' off it more'n bare livin'
n Annie had to pinch n screw to keep
clothes to their backs. She was a
master hand at managin'. n she worked
like horse, but year after year went by
n they didn't get no better off Drought
n early frost, II too much rain KEEP EN-
alters behindhand, n Jest when they
was goin' to do better there'd come
somethin' that would put 'em buck
again.
Luther he got discouraged, but
Annie she never lost heart. Leastways
she never seemed to. When they'd come
over here n Luther he'd get to tellin'
how crossways things alters went for
him, she'd alters have somethin' cheer
full to say. She'd tell about it was q
long lane that had no turnin', N it was
alters darkest jest before the day, n
there was alters Il silver linin tosevery
cloud, till Luther he'd get pleasant
again n ready to laugh with her over
their troubles.
"' Amt [ got q treasure in my wife?'
he'd say. ''Long as frosts N mildew n
floods don't take her away from me, I
guess l can get along
"They were over here to take dinner
the day I was thirty. was wearin' for
the first time new black silk dress
which John had given me for birthday
present. It was thick n soft N mighty
handsome n Luther he didn't seem to
keep his eyes off It.
sci wonder when I'll be able to give
you black silk, Annie 2 lie said, put
ting his arm around her as she stood by
his chair. We've been married seven
years n amt been able to give you
nothin' better'n calico
al don't need silk says Annie.
sI've got the dresses I can use now
"Luther looked at her real steady
minute. Then he says, sorter slow N
quiet, For all that, I mean to get you
one, Annie. l want to see how you'd
look in it,
"' No better'n I look now in my blue
delaine, says Annie.
"'We'n see bout that, says Luther
L don't care how hard times are, mean
to live till I get you black silk dress
"She laughed n told him he'd make
peacock of her if he could; but for all
her brave words I knew she was down.
right fond of pretty things, n it really
hurt her to have to wear old faded
dresses, n bonnets five years behind
the style. But she never said so, n
she'd walk into church Sunday after
Sunday in her old blue delaine and
yellow straw bonnet, lookin' as sweet n
happy as if she'd been dressed like q
queen.
"Well, Luther he never came over
here after that without he had some
remark to make about my black silk, n
he stuck to it that he'd give Annie one
like it before he died.
"But year after year went by n my
silk was all wore out'n I'd got another,
n still Armies best dress was cheap
delaine, n it wasn't often she could
even afford to buy pair of cotton
gloves to cover her hands. Things
hadn't got better with Luther n they
had other things to sorrow for than
losin' their best horses n cattle n
their crops. They lost their six chill
dren, one after the other. Three of
them died in one week of scarlet fever,
n the others was sickly little things, n
went off in slow consumption.
"If it hadn't been that she had to
keep Luther up. 1 believe Annie'd have
give way many time; but for his sake
she didn't show one-half she felt. An
she never lost faith in the Lord. She
said His ways seemed hard. but that He
knew what was best for her.
"Well, time went on, n about five
years ago things seemed to take turn