The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-09
VOL. XXIV.-NO. Is.


good cemented cellar underneath"
II never thought of that, said Hector.
"Well, what else ?"
"Where do you get your water p asked
Mrs. Perkins
"From the spring under the hill.
''Do you mean that your wife has to
bring all the water you use up that bill ~
Except the wash water That she dips
out from the hogshead under the caves,
explained Hector, rather discomfted.
"My goodness me, said Mrs. Perkins,
wringing her plump hands in comical dis
may; that's enough to break any woman's
constitution!
"Its what we've always done, said Hec-
tor. Il bring couple of pals in the
morning before | go to work and after I
come home, but"
Nonsense! a mere drop in the bucket"
said Mrs. Perkins. "What you want is a
sink, with water-pipes laid from the spring.
and good cistern, with pump in the
kitchen, and a washing machine"
"What's that? ?" said Hector
"We'll show you one if you'll come over
to our house?" said Luzen Perkins, cheer
fully.
"And stationary tubs in the cellar,
added Mrs. Perkins, ''and hot water boil
er back of the stove. That's the way to
break work down instead of letting it break
you down..
"Ill do it, said Hector; aTll have all
these things fixed up while Cynthia is at
her mothers if you'll just help me with
your experience
Mrs. Perkins nodded approvingly.
''It will add ten years to Cynthia life, !"
said she.
Old Silas shook his head more stren-
uousl ly than ever, when he heard Of these
new plans.
Hector, said he, ~ believe you gone
crazy The old ways was good enough for
your mother; should think they'd be
good enough for your wife"
But Hector was firm, and the old man
lost his temper at last.
IL cant stay here and see you maxim
ducks and brakes of the old place, said he.
'If you're goin' to set your wife up for an
idol and worship her, shan't stand by
and see it. I'll go to Ohio, and visit my
brother Elnathan's folks; and well see
where all these fine notions will bring you
up. Anyhow, you needn't look to my
money to get you out of the poor house.
'NO, father, I will not, said Hector.
And after he was gone, the repairs and
Improvements commenced in good earnest
Silas Bayliff had intended to stay year
in Ohio; but either the climate did not
agree with him, or he didn't agree with
brother Elnathan's folks, for he returned
home some months before he was expected
'There ain't no place like home, said
Silas. "And, bless me, how bright and
nice things do look here And | declare,
Cynthia, you're ike another woman! Your
cheeks are as red as roses, and you step
round as spry as any cricket
"Yes, father" said Cynthia, ''the i'm
provements in the house have made every
thing so much easier for me. I get the
work done in half the time, and with
quarter of the trouble"
Bayliff looked around
'The improvements, eh?n said he "But
they cost a sight o money"
ayes, they certainly did, owned Cynthia
"How much, now?" said Baylff, with
an interrogative upturning of the espectacles.
"Five hundred dollars, said Cynthia
Old Bayliff could not repress a groan
"The interest on FIVE hundred dollars, at
six per cent. is thirty dollars year," said
be. Thirty dollars year is a round sum;
anI I'll In ,nt, ,l,a S.,D,,,.I - 49,, ,,,.,-
say-in pipes and drainsr'
Not quite, father, said cheerful Gym
thia, opening the table drawer Look
here-my work is doneso easily and quickly
nowadays, that l have a deal Of time to
myself, and here is my work from the shirt
factory. n-hole-making and putting
on the finishing touches, you see. / take
it up when my dishes are washed and the
work is over. | haven't been at it half
year yet, and I've earned good deal more
than thirty dollars. Look here is my saw
ings book
sWell, / de-slarel' said Silas
Hector objected to it at first" went ON
Cynthia, 'but when proved to him that
l should still have plenty of time left to
read and garden, and walk with him, he
let me go on with it. So, you see, the inn
prOvements are really an economy"
"Well, de-clare!" said Silas II dunno
but what you're right, Cynthial''
He walked out TO the village burying
ground in the yellow flush of the twilight,
that evening, where the russet leaves were
drifting down on solitary mound, and
stood there silently for awhile.
Perhaps he was thinking of what might
have been, if he had been more considerate
in the years gone by to the poor woman
who lay there!
When he went back to the house, he met
Hector.
Hector, said he, ''you did right to fix
up the house to suit Cynthia"
Il am glad you think so, father, said
Hector Baylff.