The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-10-26


a cordial welcome.
That's a pretty little new wife o.
yours, Mr.. Aikin,'' said he. "And as
smai'tas steel. too, though she is nv
niecer'
YES, said Jonas, with modest ex.
ultation, II calculate she'll be helpful
like around the farm. We need stir.
ring woman at home"
"Not too helpful, lhope," said Uncle
Prickett.
"Eh?' said Jonas.
''Look here" said Uncle Prickett.
"Sir?" stammered Jonas.
"Fond of her, eh?" questioned Uncle
Pickett.
"You bet ami Jonas promptly re.
sponded.
''Then don't murder her!'
Murder herr'
"Look here again. And Uncle
Prickett drew Jonas towards the win.
dow. ''D'ye see the church-yard over
there on the hillp"
Jonas shivered little.
EYES," said he, II see it. Them
white stones gleamin' through the
trees. amt it?''
my wife lies there.'' said Uncle
Prickett.
'Indeed!" said Jonas, q little I'm.
easily.
~ killed her!'' said Uncle Prickett.
Jonas started back.
"Eh" he exclaimed second time.
Don't look at me that way" said
Uncle Prickett. II didn't stab her.
nor poison her. I loved her, young
man. just as well as you love your
wife. And yeti killed her. DO you
want to know how it was done?"
Jonas stared at him. Had the man
gone crazy?
"Work" said Uncle Prickett. lizard
work! We were proud of the farm
and of the dairy. We liked to add
premiums at the county fairs. We
added up our bank account every night,
Jenny was as anxious to save money
as was. She rose at three o'clock in
the morning, and sat up sewing until
eleven at night. Well, here's the farm,
and there's the bank account; but Jen-
ny lies buried under the biggest gray
shaft on yonder side hill. She died
the day before her twenty-ninth BIRTH
day, and l knew just as we'll as if a
coroner's inquest had said so that had
been her DEATH"
mo, no" pleaded Jonas. Don't say
hiczt!"
LAS true as stand here,'' said Uncle
Prickett. Il should have been careful
OF her. A woman amt an iron ma
chine. ! should have cherished her
amt that what the Marriage Service
says?-instead of letting her work her.
self into decline. What sort O. good
do you suppose all that money does me
'soaO? She amt here to share it with
me. Now you know what I mean young
man.
And Uncle Prickett turned O.. his
heel and went out of the room.
'tLetty," he said to his niece, who
was gathering the first ripe raspber-
rles that grew on the sunny garden
wall, 1--we been giving your husband
word of advice. I've been telling
him he muslin let you work yourself
to death, like your Aunt Jenny did"
600 you think he needs advice, Uncle
Prickett?''
"All young men do at one period or
another of their lives" said Mr.. Prick
EFT.
1t was of a Saturday night when 10.
mas brought his bride home. Mrs
Green, the nearest neighbor, had beer
helping around the house, ana had
prepared savory supper. The even.
ing meal was scarcely concluded, when
wagon drove up to the door, and out
stepped a stout Welsh girl, with a bun
die under her arm, and yellow cot
ton umbrella.
''Who' s this?" said Mrs. Akin, 7:aw-
ing the new arrival with disfavor.
''It's the hired help" Jonas an
swered.
The hired help! Why, 1 thought
you'd got may led to-
''The fact is, MOTHER" said Jonas.
kindly, "lve 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 if you hadn't stuck to it
you'd whitewash the cellar yourself
that damp spell in May. and 1 mean
Lefty shall start on different plat
form. We amt rich, but we can afford
to live comfortable, and l don't mean
my wife shall lose her round cheeks
and fresh color. She'll find enough to
DO. without turning into drudge; and
so I've hired Joan Llannis for year."
Mrs. Akin uttered a hollow groan.
81 do believe you've gone crazy"
said she. 1--WE shall all 20 to the poor
house together.''
But they did not. Joan Llannis
proved domestic treasure, especially
as nurse-in-chief to the poor old rheu-
matte invalid. Lefty was an excellent
manager. and Mrs. Akin was unwil-
lingly forced to confess that evory
thing throve under her administration.
and that the hired girls wages was the
best investment Jonas had ever made.
At the years end Jonas celebrated
the anniversary of his weddiug-day by
taking Lefty up to Prickett Falls again.
''Look at her, Uncle Prickett!' said
he. ''See her red cheeks and her
dimples. Haven't taken your ad-
vice?"
"You have" said Uncle Prickett,
''and I'm glad of it. And often think
OF two lines I once read in one of Jen-