The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-17
a NEW ENGLANDFARMER's WIFE.
a Woman Who Gets Very Little Salts
faction cut of Life.

save that it was not so very long ago, / was
/ invited to spend e afternoon with the wife
of one Of the weaIthiest farmers in New
England. This meant, according to estab-
| lishished custom, going about O'Clock and
returning before 9 o'clock. Such hours
were very convenient aud very pleasant
for one whose principal endeavOr it is to
get all the sleep and rest possible from q
summer vacation. So at the time appointed
| sailed forth, my little workbasket on my
arm containing besides my own afghan strip
some pretty new patterns which | thought
my hostess might like to become acquainted
with. The afternoon was quite warm,
but nv route lay along a shady road
and when l arrived at the hand ONE
great farm house, l felt in just the mood for
good time. Tne piazzas were broad and
ON three sides Of the house, but | noticed
wi surprise and disappointment that there
was not hammock in sight There were
two uncomfortable, sIiff-backed setteeS
placed firmly against the side of the house.
and that was all. There we're wire screens
at every door and window and as rang the
DELL noticed that both light and air we're
still more effectualy shut out by means of
long, green Holland shades. Ny hostess
admitted me with a nervous 'Step in
quickly, please, on account Of the flies. You
see they are so thick that | have to fight
EN- from the time get up till 60 to bed
This was the oldest salutation l ever
received, and when sun-hat and parasol
were disposed Of l was given a chair by the
window; it might as well have been solid
wall. l wished from the bottom of my heart
that was on my own piazza with the flies
| took out my work, hoping that my com
panlon would have the common politeness
to offer at least TO turn the outside green
blinds trifle, but she was quite unmoved.
told her that | had brought her some new
crochet patterns, but sae shook her head and
said she had no time for such fol-de-rols,
and that her eyes were so weak that it was
all she could do to keep her family sewed
up. "Why, even have to wear glasses
when pick over huckleberries. she added,
pIantivaly.
Now. my afghan strip was pretty and
enticing, and, being very busy literary
woman, with little time at my disposal for
such artistic indulgence, naturally felt
defrauded. More than once half decided
to say that | couldn't remain. From
to O'Clock in a darkone1, stuffy parlor
while a refreshing breeze was astir outside,
aud one of the finest views in the country
to be- had for the looking, was too much for
my human nature. How could bear it.
"Mebbe you could wear my glasses" said
the plaintive voice of my companion, who
had drawn chair directly in front of me-
They may magnify a little too much, but
| don't suppose they'd do much harm for
one afternoon"
1t is needless to say that / declined the
spectacles, aud | am afraid with scant
tn t2ks.
"Don't YOU ever sit on the piazza7"
asked when | could sufficiently control my
voice as not to laugh in the poor woman's
face.
Mercy, no." was the Mortified e1clama-
ton. "he does, but lor sakes, he'd just as
leaf be fly bio yn as not" He was her
husband. faint likely that you'd ra her
st out there in that glare of light, sur
Founded by flies, than in cool, shady
parlorW
Il don't mind flies as much as you do,
think, and | am always OIt of doors all
summer, " replied, endeavoring not to let
my desire for freedom, light and air, mako
itself too dlSagreeably prominent. be-
cause regarded from christian standpoint
1t was quite as proper for me to be uncom-
Portable as for my hostess, and ] really be-
lleve one afternoon of sunshine and flies
would have male her dangerous. A little
later | found that she was particularly
anxious to talk about her complaints. grew
interested in spite of myself, for had never
listened to such a category of human
diseases. II there was a single organ per-
forming a normal work in this woman's
body, dou't know which one it could be,
for they all seemed equally off equiiit rum.
She ne ger lept more than four hours out
Of twenty-four, Was subject to dizzy spells
had had bad cough for years. weak
back, Varicose veins, and every possible
trouble known to her sex. How much of
exaggeration there was in this recital of
Woes l cannot tell, but it did seom imposli-
| BILE that any woman could suffer so much
and yet do all the homework, washing and
| ironing included, for nine persons, her own
| family OF three, and seven farm hands.
haY, e,,,1N IoFS 81
to 60 out and get tea felt as if l had been
| conversing with new order of being,
| knew that there was much ignorance in the
| world, and many fools among women, but
| had not the slightest conception that such
a state of things could exist among people
who claimed to be civilized. At the risk of
| offending the poor soul | did open that
door, aud slip out in the piazza. 1t guess it
| took me five minutes to undo the little
! catches and tiny Its which made me
J a prisoner, but it was lignt and
air or suffocatlon, mental and physical
| How could this woman live in sIch utter
| defiance of all common sense and hygiene
principles? Who was responsible for such
| dense ignorance. asked myself as | prom
! enaded the spacious piazza. A whole
souled, cherry voice broke in on my medi-
tation. "How-ie-do-mum, glad to see
you" il said. 81 told my wife that if she
managed to keep you cooped up in that
funeral parlor all the afternoon then
! didn't know human nature"
This was ''he," and o, l did enjoy him
| after three hours or deSOlation.
Well, we had for supper, cold tongue,
| cold chicken, pickles, hot biscuits, white as
snow, plum and peach preserves, besides
blackberries and raspberriei, pound cake,
cup cake, spiced caks and cup custards,
everything made by this invalid's hands for
me. How do you think | felt? The cake /
could only nib lie, the hot iscuits l knew
| better than to touch. Verify. how much
| better it would have been to have had the
raspberries and cream, some nice cold
bread. the cold chicken, the cup custards,
and one kind of cake, if she must have
| cake. The poor woman's distress was
touching when / refused her beautiful
poisons, but my martyrdom had been quite
sufficient without adding dyspepsia
He" hitched up and drove me home, and
we took the longest way round, too.
why does your wife work SO hardnr I
asked my companion.
| Because, he answered with elaboration,
'she is as set as the rock of Gibraltar, and
words are no account She has no need TO
do a stroke of hard work, and amt had for
years. I've had to stop fussing about it.
Say, amt that just an elegant sunSetm
ELEANOR KIRK.
Tacoma Leads Her Sisters
| From the Tacoma Ledger.