The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-08-09
TAKEN m TIME


why, without cutting that doorr
"Well, did mean rs much as could
be to have that door cut, and the hole
between the pantry and the kitchen to
put the dishes through without walking
round But you see the men have made
such good time that thought it would
be best to let 'em go, as it's Saturday
night, and not break into another week.
ayes, Of course" said Mrs Hill, with
the ready acquiescence she always gave
to her husbands decisions.
I'm going to have 1t done, though"
went on Mr. Hill with energy. "rve
promised it long enough and 1t ought to
have been done long ago. shall have
the men back here before long, for I've
about made up my mind to have wind
mill set this fall. Folks say it's grand
thing for saving work. The boys and
men are tired Of pumping water for the
horses, It's getting too late in the day
for such old fashioned methods l be-
lieve in keeping up with the times"
But she was SO entirely in sympathy
with all his plans and arrangements that
no thought Of complaint crossed her
around to the spring house. A beaud-
ful little rivulet which bubbled through
one corner of the back yard had been
turned to valuable use for dairy pur-
poses But the singular obtuseness to
all common sense convenience often
shown by old time country folk had led
the builders of the substantial farm house
to place the kitchen door on the other
side
''Wait, l hadn't got through yet"
said her husband, following her to the
spring house. "My, you have got lot
of nice looking butter there. Nowonder
your butter always brings the best prices
anywhere round. But I'm going over to
the funeral and guess you'd better go
long"
"Oh, can't, said Mrs Hill, shaking
her head very decisively. "Id like to
real well, but there's too much to do"
"Nonsense. Cali those big girls of
yours and let them take hold little"
"They do. They do all the sweeping,
but 1 can't leave the dairy work to any
one else. Poor Sarah Duffy Seems as
though l ought to go to her funeral"
"Go'n get ready, mother I'll call
Harriet"
ooh, never mind that They like to
have a little time for study and they
ought to. can leave it for while"
Hannah, then"
''No, she has enough TO do in the
kitchen"
He stood and watched her while she
put the finishing touches to the pats of
butter and then walked with her around
the house. Her step Jagged behind his
brisk ones, and MS she reached the back
porch she sat wearily down on the lowest
step.
81 don't know as I'll go, James, l
don't feel quite up to it"
"That's your mistake, mother. You
get yourself dressed and the ride'll do
you no end o. good.
Thus urged, Mrs. Hill, after fifteen
minutes, appeared at the door ready TO
take her place in the smart buggy which
her husband drove around. He talked
away in great animation as usual, but
before long seemed suddenly struck by
her unusual silence.
"Ain't you well, mother?"
ooh, yes, about as usual. seem to have
kind of tired feeling most of the time
lately, but l s'pose it's because I'm get
ting old. We can't always be young
you know"
"No, said Mr.. Hill But any com
plant from his wife was such a novelty
that he ceased his talk, and pretending
to look critically at the grain field of &
neighbor stole n few glances at her face
He was not an observant man; had
not, perhaps, in the daily round of har
mOnious home life taken keen look al
the face of any one there for year; ant
feeling Of dismayed surprise arose il
his heart as he marked the worn feat
ures, the depressed expression and tn,
thick sprinkling of gray in the soft hair
AREN'T you well, mother2' The ques
tion was repeated with more of meaning
in the tone.
"Why, of course 1 am, James. Dom
you know what a worker I've alway
beenY
At the gathering Of neighbors for th,
country funeral Mr.. Hill, leaving hi
wife at the door to make her way int
the gloomy parlor in which one NOR
pair of weary hands lay folded in rest
went to find place to tie his horse
Men talked in subdued tones Of crop
and stock until the signal came for tn
beginning of the service, when al
gathered as nearly as possible With
reach of the voice of the minister. Nh
Hill found himself crowded against
corner of the house close TO the end of
long porch which was filed with chair
occupied by women, while from an ope
window near came sounds which 500
told him that the children Of the woma
who lay resting We're within.
They We're of all ages, as he knew
There was the babble of a toddlin
child, happily too young to know whf
dread meaning lay in these strane
doings. And Mr.. Hills heart turne
sick at sound of the wailing cry of CIR
like his own. What if such thin
could come TO his home? How coul
any one have anticipated this of I'll
woman who had been such a power
her family? Who could have believe
that she was in need of this rest?
The short service ended, the neigl
bors were invited to take the last look
their friend AS Mr.. Hill stood waitiu
for the crowd about him to disperse a
undertone conversation between tW
neighboring farmers wives distinct
reached his ears through the low hum
"a dreadful thing for them poor girls
Eyes, indeed What'd she o. thougl
IL she'd had time to think of it,"
"Such an ambitious woman rs she q
ways was Never thought any work Il
hard for her"
"No, and I'm inclined TO think tha
where the mistake come in. / belle
Sarah Duffy'd a been alive today if tn
husband o hers had had a grain Of sen,
She KEEP on and KEEP on till she bro
down all at once"
s'How do you mean? He was alwa
. L. 80