Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-01-21
"and John WON'T be a gentleman, but


l will try to pay my share of the
debts"
She had taken off her fiounces and
hat, and put on plain dress and large
check apron and was astonished to
find herself happier than she had been
since she returned home.
When John came to dinner he was
astonished to find Aunt Mary "quite
dressed up" as she blushingly said,
in clean print dress and white apron,
her dear old face showing no signs of
heat or WEAKNESS, while Daisy with
added bloom and bare white arms,
was carrying in the dinner.
"The new girl, at your SERVICE"
she said saucily, as she pulled down
her sleeves. "Dinner is ready, sir"
But her lips quivered as he bent
over and whispered, "God bless you,
dear! Forgive me if / was too hasty
this morning"
Dinner over, John returned to his
blowing, and Aunt Mary, firmly re-
fusing to sit in idleness, was allowed
to wash cups and saucers, while Daisy
made short work of the pots and
pans.
John said but little as the days
wore on and still found Daisy at her
post. And the young girl herself was
surprised to find how much she en-
joyed the life that had seemed to her
a mere drudgery.
With younger hands to carry on
the domestic affairs, they ceased to
engross every hour of the day, and
John encouraged Daisy in making
use of the stiff shut-up parlor as a
daily sitting room. A pair of muslin
curtains at each window were skill
fully draped to keep out the flies, the
center table resigned its gay vase of
stiff artificial flowers and stand Of
wax fruit to make room for dainty
work baskets and the periodicals.
Over the shiny horse hair sofa and
chairs pretty bits of embroidery were
draped, and fresh flowers were sup
piled each day.
And John, bringing to his task the
same will and brains that had carried
him through college, was inaugural
ing a new order of affairs on the farm
, and made work pay well.
, Once more came June day,
: when Daisy sat in the fields, and
, John stood leaning against the fence
) beside her.
-Four years of earnest work had left
traces on both young faces, ennobling
: them, and yet leaving to them all the
glad content that rewards welldoing
$ Many hours of self-denial both had
< met bravely; many deprivations
S both had borne well. Daisy wore g
black dress, and upon the hat on John
t was band of Grape, but through the
? sadness in their voices there yet rang
e tone of happiness.
/ "You love me, Daisy?" John haC
t said to her.
1 "When have not loved you ?" SHE
e answered.
"And you will be my wife? Oar
v ling have long loved you, but afte
t Aunt Mary was struck down will
/ paralysis l would not ask you to tax,
h up new duties. Now she needs you
h no longer, and you shall leave thu
If farm whenever you wish"
= "Leave the farm! Oh, John, mus
e we leave it? I thought it was your
h now"
d $50 it is"
"And you have made it so beauti
Ie full, as well as profitable! Oh, Johl
e why must we leave it?'
d "Only because l thought it wa
h your wish"
~ at would break my heart to 6
te away. l love my home."
2. And John, taking the little .figur
as into a close embrace, wondered if an
er city could produce sweeter, daintie
little lady than the one he held in hi
h. arms.
=
10 Electric Bitters.