The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-30

"How do you means He was always
good to her"
"Yes, in a way. But he let her work
and slave without ever trying to make
things easy for her. II / should say my
say right out ! should say twas that
pump in the shed that was the death o
Sarah Duffy"
"You don't mean It'll"
eyes, I do. I've seen her a-workin'
away at that old pump-stif and heavy
and hard and wheezy, till there didn't
seem a breath leftin her. Inever thought
much of it myself till ! went for q spell
down to my sisters in town and see the
way they have things fxedi Nobody in
that house O hers raises a drop O water
'cept to drink it. It all comes through
pipes and runs away through pipes. But
folks in the country don't have such fix
ms. They cost money, and fesh'n'
blood's cheaper'n money"
"But there's a new pump set in now"
eyes," with a short, mirthless laugh;
It'll make things easier for the second
wife,"
MI. Hill rapidly made his way out Of
reach Of the voices and found himself in
the current which passed on to the par
lor. Before he realized it hestood beside
the dead, and in one glance took in the
expression q. ineffable peace. But the
weary look had not been quite smoothed
out by the kindly finger Of death, and
sharply into his heart smote the idea that
it was like what he had seen in his wife's
face as he had furtively scanned it that
day. It seemed to rest there now as she
sat near the coffin. Making a signal to
her, he drew her out Of the house and
and toward the buggy.
"Ain't we going TO the cemetery,
James?" she asked, as he united the horse.
"No; l think / can give You a more
cheerful ride"
He drove home by a road she had al
ways liked, and on reaching home told
her to go and lie down. She laughed and
he went to find his daughters.
s'Girls, do you know mothers run
down and tired out, and that if we don't
look out she'll be the next one to go?'
1t seemed q cruel bomb to drop into
the light hearts.
"Why, father, is anything the natter
Where's mother?'
mo, stay here; there amt anything
the matter yet, perhaps. It's only l
want to have it stopped before the mat
ter comes"
There was q long talk.
Give begged mother time and again
to let me take the dairy work. said
Harriet. "She says it's too hard for
girls"
"We'l make it easier then. Well
make everything easier for You and for
her. We must get her away from home
for a change, girls"
"She won't 60"
"Let's go'n tell her she must. She's
lying down"
Lying down." said Janet with a
laugh. "Look there"
Mother in her working dress was walk
ing around the house to the dairy house.
Father took her arm and brought her in.
Mother" he said, 'Im going over to
Reuben's next week to see about that
business between him and me. I shall
have to again three weeks after. l want
you to go with me and stay between
whiles."
Mothers face flushed, but she shook
her head.
81 couldn't do it." she said. "I don't
say but what it would be pleasant te
make a good visit to Sister Ruth. but ]
couldn't take the time and ! couldn't bs
ready. l shouldn't want to go looking
shabby, and Idon't need anything new
for here at home. It's the girls time fol
wanting things"
sob, yes, yes" said father, half irri
tably, 'sbut it's the girls time for taking
care Of you, and they know it. Some
girls know it too late"
Don't bother now, father urged
Mrs. Fill. ut would take a week O.
fussing and hard work sewing for me tt
get ready, and would do more harm thar
good"
Another talk and a conspiracy against
mother was proposed, SO astonishing and
SO delightful that Harriet could not re
press a shout of laughter.
It'll cost money" she said
s'There's more valuable things thar
money, t" said father, taking out his pocket
book. And the girls grew sober, realizing
how strongly he felt all he was saying a.
he laid out one $50 bill, then another
saying: