Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-10-12

Mary made no comment, but set
her teeth tightly together when she
remembered that she had asked in
vain for something to make her work
easier. A seWing-machine had been
pronounced ''hurtful; better have
fewer changes of clothing than run a
machine, John had decided when
the subject was discussed; ''aclOthes-
wringer would constantly getting
out Of order. To bring the water in
to the house would be just to spoil
the water. Mother would never
have a pump in her day"
Ny mother used to say all men
are selfish; and begin to think she
was right, Mary muttered, as she
went to the kitchen for the plate of
hot biscuit John was so fond of for
his tea.
Her husbands appetite was good;
but from fatigue and OVerheating
herself Mary could not eat. His ride
and the society of the genial squire
had acted like a tonic in the air Of q
hot kitchen.
ga commonplace life, she said; and
tea-dishes, while John tilted back in
porch and talking over things with
neighbOr Jones.
''Why don't you buy Wilder
Patch's cranberry medder?' asked
Mr.. Jones; cit is going dirt cheap,
and you can afford it. The sum was
named, figures that astOnished Mary,
and she was more surprised when she
heard her husband say:
II have half q mind to buy it. I've
had an old bill paid in, and to tell
the truth, affairs in the money mar
ket are so squally 1 don't know Just
where to salt it down"
No tears came to Mary's tired eyes,
but her heart went out in one mighty
sob as she stood, dish-pan in hand,
before the disOrdered table, and
thought how cheaply she had sold
herself, really for her board and two
dollars a week, to q man who had
promised to love and cherish her I'M
til death. The beautiful piano she
had brought to the farm was never
opened, but looked like a gloomy
casket wherein was buried all thepOe-
try Of her life. The "clOsed parIOr'
had long since assumed the grimness
and mustiness of country best par
lOrs; of which in her girlhOOd days
she had made such fun. John
was a rich man; and in spite
Of his marriage vows and his glowing
prayer-meeting talk, was allowing
burdens grievOus to be borne,
to press on her slender shoulders in
order to 'salt down. his dollars.
Had she not o duty to perform?
Ought she allow him to preach and
never to practice? Had she not
rights to berespected which were not
by her husband? or, she reasoned, if
he allowed her to do what could be
done by hired woman at two dol
lars a week, then he rated her at
that price.
''Widder Patch has had tough
time ont, >" said neighbOr Jones, ''and
she's going out West to Tom, if she
can sell the medder, and Jane is go
ing out to work; she tried sewing but
it didn't agree with her. DR.. Stone
recommends homework as the
heaIthiest business"
g It's healthy business" chimed in
John, now my wife is a hundred
times better than when / married
her. Why, she never did a washing
in her life until she came to the farm.
L think washing and general House
work is much better than pianO-play-
ing and reading"
$50 say to the girls who poster
me to buy an organ; better play on
the dashboard, enough sight," was
the elegant response.
care you going to buy that cram
=, t.
as she saw her husband making
preparations to go from home.
''Yes-Why?"
"Can YOU afford it?''
GIVE shall have to figure a little
clOserin order to do it, but its going
cheap"
"You viii have to give up Tom
Birch won't you and do the chores
YOURSELF
Ihave thought oft; but Tom is
poor, and to give him home is a
deed Of charity. No, we viii save
some other way"
''HOW much do you pay TOm?"
''Three dollars and his board.
And, by the way, he says you didn't
wash his clothes. Washing and
mending was in the bargain"
I think Tom will have to go, for [
have hired Jane Patch She viii be
heretO-night. Two dollars aweek I am
to give her. You want to practice,
Bear ye one with another burdens
as well as preach from TIE text; so I
viii give you a chance. I will sit on
the cool piazza after tea with a neigh
Dor, while you do the chores. Think
the time has come for some of my
burdens to be lifted. By changing
Tom for Jane you viii have one dol
lar a week for thecranberry meadow.
You say strong active Tom is in