Nevada County picayune., 1888-12-12


 Benny and baby to put to bed--all these duties come together: and then am tired enough to go to bed myself"
 Take it easy. Mary; keep cool |; avoid all the hot work you can."
 Il wish conld have girl, John. !"
 Mother used to say girls were more hindrance than help. I guess you wobld find them SO; and then they waste and break more than theIr wages. don't see how l can afford d girl. Do what you can and leave some things undone: that's the way to work it :" and John sat back with q satisfied air, and Mary thought of her husbands glowing words in the prayer meeting.
 II will do what I can," said Mary in a weary voice. What 1 am obliged to do is much beyond my strength. The three meals come to- gether almost. washing and ironing must he done, baby must not be neg lected, and of course l must keep the clothes well mended."
 "One thing at time is the way to think of your duties. Pick up all the comfort you can as you go along. l have made up my mind to so in the future"
 ''So l see; you are thinking of having an extra hand"
 Yes, feel l must take care of my health for your sake and the children.
 "Certainly,' Mary answered in a sarcastic tone; ''how thoughtful you are for us.
 John made no further comment, but inwardly wished that prayer meetings did Mary the good they had done once, and wondered why his wife had so changed,
 
 II am going with Squire Town to see new reaper; he says he hardly wants to buy without my opinion, " This was the next day,
 John left his wife ironing, with the half sick baby sitting at the table, in the company of an army of flies, and , in spite of the home scene, enjoyed his ride along the pleasant shaded road, well-pleased to be seen in com pany with such big man of the town. At supper tune, he came home with the new reaper behind the wagon.
 By taking two, we made a hand some saving, and as l intended to buy one, thought l might as well take it now" he remarked, by the way of explanation. Ut will save time and strength and pay for itself in year.
 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 "hurtfuli" better have fewer changes of clothing than run a machine, John had decided when the subject had been discussed; "a clothes-wringer would be constantly getting out of order. To bring the water into the house would he just to spoil the water. Mother would nev- CT have pump in her day"
 My mother used to say all men are selfish, and begin to think she was right" Mary muttered, as she went into the kitchen for the plate of hot biscuit John was SD fond of for his tea.
 Her husbands appetite was good but from fatigue and over-heating herself Mary could not eat. His ride ana the society of the genial Squire had acted like a tonic; but there is no tonic in the air of hot kitchen.
 "A commonplace life," she said ; and she sighed as she cleared away the tea-dishes, while John tilted back in his armchair on the cool, drafty porch, and talked over things with neigohor Jones,
 Why don't you buy Widder Patch's cranberry medder?" asked Mir. Jones; "it's 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. Pve had an old bill paid in, and to tell the truth, affairs in the money mark ' ,t o,o pn onnally don't Euow in f