Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-12-26

wife differed from Zeke Johnson's
stout helpmate, who took sort Of
triumph in wrestling with the weekly
wash.
So Lally did the washing as best she
could. The shirts were "cloudedn
and the calicoes ''streakyn that week,
but it was the brides first washing,
and she learned wisdom by expert
ence. Moreover. she took secret coun-
sci with old Aunt Sue. venerable
negroes who lived in an adjoining
cabin, and soon astonished Mrs. Vane
by the perfection of her triumph in
the art of laundry.
81 wM learn" said Lally to herself
and she told no living soul how she
lay awake at night with aching bones
and frame too weary to taste the sweets
of repose. Il mil be hOusekeeper
No one shall taunt Joe with the fact
that he has married a useless doll"
So when Miss Melissa came back she
cauld scarcely believe the evidence Of
her own senses. Lally's bread was
snow. her pies light us feathers. The
whole house was in wax-lil1e order;
the weekly wash and ironing could not
be outdone by even Chiuaman In
fact. Lally had learned the trade of a
first-class young American house
keeper.
II always knew my little girl had
the real metal in her, said triumph
ant Joe.
Il am so glad you are pleased.
whispered Lally, with crimsoning
cheeks.
But so gradual had been the change
that no one had perceived how white
and thin the young, wife was growing.
until one sultry summer day, when
she tainted away in the midst of her
washing.
The doctor was summoned, and came
promptly. He felt the pulse, listened
at the heart and shook his head.
81 can do no good" said he. The
time for interference has long since
gone by What have you all been
thinking about, to allow this frail lit
tie creature to work herself to deathP"
"EhP" said old Mrs Vane, while
Joseph stood, white and shocked, be-
side the bedside.
"She has been killing herself"
quietly enunciated the doctor. Like
all the rest of the American women,
she has tried to do the work of three
or four. Look at her. as she lies there,
like frai broken fiower,n he added,
sadly. 81 do no not say that she was
ever strong, but with proper care she
would have lived to a good old age
Now"
Doctor wildly burst in the young
husband, "she shall have proper care!
must have been blind mad besot-
ted But now | am wiser. Tell me
what 20 do. Shall take her to Italy?
Will European advice benefit herp For
Heavens sake. do not stand there so still
and sternr"
ut may sound harsh, said the doc
tor, "but truth is best. Your ques-
tions come too late. Not all the
medical skill in the two continents can
save your wife now. To all intents
and purposes. she is in her coffin al
ready"
So poor little Lally died. and in the
delirium of her last hours she looked
up into her husbands face and said,
smiling:
"He knows now that was not use
less doll; he knows am a good house
keeper"
And the words were like two-edged
daggers IN Joseph Vano' heart. for he
knew that this white lamb had been
offered up on the altar Of sacrifice to
that cruel Moloch which has devoured
so many American wives Work.
Not the hcalthful, hracing work
which is a healing angel in its proper
degree, but the drudging, tOilsome.
never-lifted work which grinds down
soul and body alike to the level of
mere machine. and transforms a valiant
young girl TO a mere worn-out wreck.
And Joseph Vane never married
again, but mourned to his dying day
the fatal mistake he had made in al
lowing sweet Lally to drift unrescued
out OF the haven of his loyal heart
But it was as DR.. Day had said-all
this agony of remorse came too late. -
Amy Randolph, in n. Y. Ledger.