Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-29

as steel. too. though sho Is my niece!"
ultation, 81 calculate she'll be help'u,
like around the farm We need a stir
ring woman ut home"
mot too helpful. hspe. said Uncle
Prickett.
"Eh?" said jonas.
''Look here" said Uncle Prick ett
"Sir." stammered Jonas.
"Fond OF her, eh?" questioned Uncle
Prickett
"You bet ami" Jonas promptly re-
sponded.
Then don't murder her!"
"Murder her"
"Look here again." And Uncle
Pricketc drew Jonas toward the win
dow. "D'ye see the churchyard over
there on the hillp"
Jonas shivercd.
YES" said he. II see il. Them
white stones cleaning through the
trees. amt it?"
my wife lies there" said Uncle
PriciSett.
"Indeed!' said Jonas, a little UNI
easily.
Il killed her." said Uncle Prickett.
Jonas started back.
Ell" he exclaimed a second time.
Don't look at me that way" said
| Uncle Prickett. IL didn't stab her,
nor poison her. I loved her. young
man, just as we'll as you love your
wife. And yeti killed her. Do you
want TO know how it was done?"
Jonas stared AZ him. Had the man
gone crazy?
Work. said Uncle Prickstt
Hard work! We were proud OF the
farm and OF the dairy. We liked to
take premiums at the coan ty fairs.
We added up our bank account every
night. Jcnny was AS anxious TO save
money az was. She rose at s O'Clock
in the morning and sat up sewing until
| IL at night Well, here's the farm and
there's the bank account; but Jenny
lies buried under the biggest gray shaft
on yonder side hill. She died the day
before her twenty-ninth birthday, and
l knew just a. we'll as II coroners in
est had said so that had been her
| death"
mo. no." pleaded Jonas. Don t
say thatr'
LAS true as / stand here" said Uncle
Prickett. II should have been careful
OF her. A woman ain't a machine. I
should have cherished her--ain't that
what the marriage service says?-in-
stead of letting her work herse II into a
decline. What sort O. good do you
suppose all that money does me now?
She amt here TO share it with me.
Nov you know what l mean, young
man"
And Uncle Pickett turned on his
h eel and went out OF the room.
Lefty" he said to his niece, who
was gathering the first ripe raspber-
ries that grew on the sunny garden
wall. i've been giving your husband
word OF advice. I've been telling
him he mustn't let you work yourself
to death. like your Aunt Jenny did,"
''Do you think he needs advice.
Uncle Prickett?"
"All young men do at one periodor
another OF their lives" said MIR.
Prickett.
1t was OF Saturday night when
Jonas brought his bride home. Mrs Z.
Green, the nearest neighbor, had been
helping around tho house, and had pre-
pared savory supper. The evening
meal was scarcely concluded. when a
wagon drove up to the door, and out
stepped stout Welsh girl, with a
bundle under her arm and yellow
cotton umbrella
who's this?" said Mrs Akin,
viewing the new arrival with disfavor.
"It's the hired help" Jonas answer
ed.
THE hired help! Why, thought
you'd got married To-"
The fact is, mother" said Jonas,
kindly, "rve sort o'changed my mind
about some things. You've most killed
yourself with hard work. You never
would have got this rheumatism fast
ened on you il you hadn't stuck to it
you'd whitewash the cellar yourself
that damp spell in May and / mean
Lefty shall start on a different plat
form. We amt rich, but we can afford
TO live comfortable and l don't mean
my wife shall lose her round checks
and fresh color. She'll find enough to
do. without turning into a drudge; and
so we hired Joan Llannis for year. :"
Mrs. Akin uttered a hollow groan.
II do believe you've gone crazy"
said she. 1--WE shall go TO the poor
house together"
But they did not Joan Ll,nnis
proved domestic treasure, especially
as nurse-in-chiel TO the poor old
rheumatic invalid. Lefty was an ex>
cellent manager, and Mrs. Akin was
|