Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-12
DAMS WIFE.


home with his wife to the old farmhouse
on Prospect Hill, that high ridge of good
farm land which on their side sloped west
ward. As Ann Parish stood in her kitchen
doorway to look out, the low sun blinded
her eyes; the fertile fields spread out be-
fore her like dazzling green carpet. She
watched the road for a minute and could
see no one coming, then she went back to
her rocking chair. 1t creaked in a queru-
lous way as she moved, as if it tried to ex-
press her own discomfort.
81 don't know if care if their supper
is spoiled" said the impatient woman
aloud. "Madam'll take her own time. l
don't know as there's like to be such meal
spread in this house again very soon. She'll
have to see to all those things for herself
and then there'll be no fault-fndin' with
my old-fashioned ways" And the rocking
chair creaked more angrily.
The supper table stood in the middle of
the floor, laden with the best that Ann
Parish could provide. She had made the
sponge cake by famous ten-egg receipt of
her grandmother's and short biscuit were
also of that noted house-keeper's fashion.
There were some rich peach preserves, the
best jar of the best fruit which the old
blood peach tree bore before it fell; in
fact, this wedding supper was like COM
memorative feast, in memory of past Joys,
and was offered more for ostentation's sake
than for loves sake. Mrs. Parish's family,
the Kenwags, were renowned housekeeps,
and the deposed mistress of the Parish
farm had fairly tired herself out in this
great effort to keep up her family's reputa-
ton. She had not been very well in the
last year or two, partly from mistaken am
billions and overwork in her youth. The
farm had been weighted with mortgage
when she came TO it, and, later, her only
daughter, quick scholar, must be kept in
school and generously provided with what
she needed, until too much study, and too
little wholesome work and exercises and
outdoor air, fostered consumptive tend
ency, and brought her home to a long
lingering illness and early DEATH
Dan Parish had been eager to marry, for
his mothers sake as well as his own; he
had worked early and late, and had paid
off the last of the mortgage after his faith
er's early death, and now his life looked
bright and full Of hope. He could make
plenty of money off the farm; the rapid
growth of a manufacturing village only
three miles away promised good market,
his mother would have kind daughter to
help her, and he himself would have the
dear, sensible, loving companion, for whom
he had worked and waited patiently and
had loved with all his heart since they
were at school together.
While his mother was waiting and fret
ting the young couple were driving slowly
home in the late afternoon. They had
followed the simple country fashion of
going to the minister's house to be mar
ried. Their wedding was quickly over,
and Hannah Parish still held in one hand
shining new copy of the Scriptures,
which had been the minister's gift. Early
that morning Dan had brought her trunk
and a box or two and few pieces of furni-
ture from her sisters house to the new
home
Hannah had lived with this elder sister
of late years. and helped to bring up the
large family. She thought of them now
sitting down to supper without her for the
first time, but she was too happy to sigh
even for their sake. She and Dan had
been looking forward to this day and to
this very drive for long time No Won
der that the horse was lingering as he
pleased. At last the thought of feed time
guickened the creatures steps.
Dan and Hannah were having good
plain talk. Now that she was truly his
wife, he talked with perfect freedom about
his mother, as he never had dared to talk
or even think before.
"You'll have to work hard sometimes
to keep pleasant, pleasant as you be,
darlin'," said Dan. 'Tm taxed myself
some days, ! tell you, but | strive to
rec'lect all poor mother has gone through
how hard she had to work long o the first
of it, and father want one that took right
hold as her folks always done; and then
she set all her hopes onto poor Eliza, an
with workin' early an late for her ex-
pense at the seminary, and then payin' the
doctors, and waitin' on her all through the
consumption, we'll, you see, it broke
mother, an she amt what she would
been. She feels mortified to give up
doin's she always has done, an some days
when the Furnish girl was there this
spring, she couldn't suit her no way. As
I've told We, mother don't want to give up
to another, and yet she can't bear things
being expected of her"
"Don't you go an worry, Dan," said his
companion placidly. II expect women
understands each other easier than men
reads 'em. You forgit have been living
with sister Lyddy, and her being older
than / be, more like an aunt; and when
she's wore out she always got jealous fits
about the way do things, and for me, /
hate to be stood over; but we think sight
of each other underneath, and | always
tell her afterward, good thunder-shower
clears the air. I've always took to your
mother; she's got pretty ways above most
of the folks here; perhaps it's because
she was your mother that l fell to like
her I'll study to please her the best /
can, an if 1 can't, I'll stand by my duty !;
and now Eve got you to go to, and you've
got me, so 'twont go hard"
Thin, sharp-faced, anxious Ann Parish
sat at home in the creaking rocking-chair
growing more miserable every minute, and
more suspicious; of the attacks that would
inevitably be made on her rights and COM
forts. 81 expect she'll be dreadful sweet
long at the first ont" grumbled the poor
tired soul ooh dear, this day'll never
end. / was up before four and she sighed
and rocked while the sun went down. The
house seemed empty and sad this hour
was fated crisis. She began TO think
that something had happened to the young
people and went again to the door
They were just driving into the yard
"Here we be-" said Dan, cheerfully. al
s'pose you'll say we've kept supper a.
waitin" He helped his wife down from
the wagon, and they went together to
where the sad-faced woman waited on the
step.
Il give you welcome" Ann Parish man
aged to say. 81 hope you're goin' to be
happier'n I've been, Hannah. I've had the
best of sons" But here she broke
down, and went into the house with Han