Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-27
DAMS WIFE.


his wife to the old farm house on Prospect hill,
that high ridge of good farming land which
on their side sloped westward. As Ann Parish
stood in her kitchen doorway to look out the
low sun blinded her eyes; the fertile fields
spread out before her like a dazzling green
carpet. She watched the road for minute
and could see no one coming then she went
back to her rocking chair. 1t creaked in a
querulous way as she moved, as If it tried to
express her own discomfort II don't knows /
care if their supper is spoiled" said the impa-
tient woman aloud. "Madam IL take her own
time. don't know as there's like to be such a
meal spread in this house again very soon.
She'll have to see to all those things for her.
self, and then therell be no fault fndin with
my old-fashioned ways" And the rocking
chair creaked more angrily.
The supper table stood in the floor laden with
the best that Ann Parish could provide. She
had made the sponge cake by famous ten-egg
recipe OF her grandmother's, and the short
biscuit were also of that noted housekeeper's
fashion There were some rich peach preserves.
the last jar of the last fruit which the old blood
peach tree bore before it fell; in fact this we'd
ding supper was like commemorative feast.
In memory OF past joys, and was offered more
for ostentation's sake than for loves sake
Mrs. Parish's family, the Kenways, were re-
tress of the Parish farm had fairly tired her.
self out IN this great effort to keep up her
famiys reputation. She had not been very
well IN the last year or two. partly from mis-
taken ambitions and overwork in her youth.
She farm had been weighted with a
mortgage when she came to it, and,
later, her only daughter. a quick scholar,
must be kept at school and gen
erously provided with what she needed, until
too much study and too little wholesome work
nVaI 1x.a,,1 4
sumptlve tendency 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 paid off the last OF
the mortgage after his fathers 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 miles away promised good market, his
mother would have kind daughter to help
her and he himself would have the dear sensi-
Die, loving companion. for whom he had
worked and waited patiently and had loved
with all his heart since they were at school to-
gether
While his mother was waiting and fretting 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 married. Their wedding was quickly
over, and Hannah Parish still held in one hand
shining new copy of the Scriptures which
had been the ministers gift. Early that morn
ing Dan had brought her trunk and box or
TWO ana a few pieces OF furniture 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 sakes. She and
Dan had been looking forward to this dav and
TINS very drive for a long time. No wonder
that the horse was lingering as he pleased. At
last the thought OF feed-time quickened the
good creatures steps
Dan and Hannah were having a 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 ii have to work hard some times to keep
pleasant, pleasant as you be- darlin', :" said Dan.
Il m taxed myself some days. l tell you, but
strive to reclect all poor mother has gone
through; how hard she had to work long o the
nrst 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 expense at the SEMINARY,
and then paying the doctors, and waitn' 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 don's she
always has DONE an some days when the Fur
Dish 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
pOol tnihbS peiIS eAptCttu Ol Her.
Don't you 60 an worry, DAN" said his COM
panion, placidly. Il expect women under
stands each other easier than mon reads EN-
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 gets
Jealous fits about the way do things and as
for me, hate to be stood over; but we think
sight of each other underneath. and 1 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 about
here; perhaps it's because she was your mother
that ] feel to like her. I'll study to please her
the best can, an if l can't, I'll stand by my
duty; and now I've got you to go to- and you've
got me, SO 'twon't go hard
Thin sharp-faced, anxious Ann Parish sat at
home in the creaking rocking chair. growing
more miserable every minute, and more sus-
picious Of the attacks that would inevitably be
made on her rights and comforts. Il expect
she be dreadful sweet long at the first ont"
grumbled the poor tired soul" ''Oh dear, this
day IL never end. was ~ 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. II s'pose you'll
say we've kept supper awaitin'." 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 managed
to say. II 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 Hannahs strong young arm
about her bent shoulders, while Dan hurried off
to the barn with his horse. He could not help
feeling that the homecoming was better than
he feared. His mother had a silent. disap-
proving manner sometimes that was very hard
to bear. To himself he spoke of it as the
that June evening that he feared nothing. Now
that his mother was going to live with Hannah
and know how good she was, she could no
longer keep her strange suspicious fancies and
jealous ways of speaking. The horses had a
double supper. the cattle had been MIXED
earlier by the hired man and turned out again
to pasture, Jakey had taken himself off to leave
the little household to itself for the great occa-
sion.
When Dan came In from the barn the even
ing meal was ready and they all sat down. Ann
Parish had, with ostentatiOus Weakness, given
up her own place, but the daughter-in-law had
affectionately reinstated her at the head of the
table. Hannah praised the short biscuit, the
preserved peaches, the cup of tea, and paid
everything highest tribute of eager appetite.
They were almost merry together and the
mother delighted her son by joining in the
cheerfulness OF the feast. Traces of the lost
beauty Of her girlhood came out in her face.
and the son was touched to see how carefully
she had dressed herself in her best and made
his wedding supper ready. Afterward he took
his mother in his arms and held her and kissed
her over and over again, as if it had been Ham
nah herself. He had not kissed her before
since he was bOy-they were of stern New
ENGLAND stuff ssVnu,v haan tbo ~ -. -.