The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-03-26
NUMBER 10.


cided whcr the subject was discussed;
"a elothes-wringer would be constantly
getting out of order. To bring the
water into the house would he Just to
spoil the water. Mother would never
have pump"
My mother used to say all men are
selfish; and | begin To think she was
right" Mary muttered, as she went
to the kitchen for the plate of hot
biscuit John was so fond of for his
tea.
Her husbands appetite was good: but
from fatigue and oycrheatinr herself
Mary could not cat. His ride and the
society of the genial Squire had acted
IKE tonic; but there Is no tonic in the
air of Il hot kitchen.
"A commonplace life" she said: and
she sighed, as she cleared away the tea
dishes, while John tilted back in his
armchair on the cocl, drafty porch
and talked over things with ncighbor
Jones.
why don't you buy Wilder Patch's
cranberry medder?" asked Mr.. Jones;
1T 5 going dirt cheap, and you can
aitord It," The sum was named, figures
that astonished Mary, and she was more
surprised when she heard her husband
say:
Il have half mind to buvit. I've had
an old bill paid in, and to tell the truth.
ailalTS IN the money market are so
sqnally don't know just where to salt
it down"
No tears came to Mary's tired eyes, but
her heart went out in one mighty sob as
Sne stood, dlsh-pan in hand, before the
dlsordered table, and thought how
cheaply she had sold herself. for her
BOARD ana two dollars week, to man
who had promised to love and cherish
her until death, The beautiful piano
she had brought to the farm was never
opened, but looked like a gloomy casket
wherein was buried all the poetry of her
life. The ''closed parlor'' had long since
assumed the grimness and mustiness
of country best parlors, OF which in her
girlhood days she had made such fun.
John was rich man; and in spite of
ms marriage VOWS and his glowing
prayer-meeting talk, was allowing bur,
dens grievOus to be borne, to press on
her slender shoulders, in order to salt
down his dollars.
Had she not duty to perform? Ought
she to allew him to preach and never to
practice! Had she no rights to be re-
Spected which were not by her husband! !
for she reasoned, if he allowed her to do
what could be done by hired woman at
two dollars a week, then he rated her at
that price.
"Nldder Patch has had tough time
ont, said neighbor Jones, ''and she's
going out West to Tom. if she can sell
the medder, and Jane is going out to
work: she tried sewing, but it don't
agree with her. DR.. Stone recommends
houseworK as the healthiest business"
lis healthy business chimed in
John; now, my wifc's a hundred times
better than when | married her. Why.
she never did washing in her life until
she came to the farm. | think wash
and general housework is much
better than playing the piano and
reading"
$50 | say to the girls who poster me
to buy an organ; better play on the wash
board, enough sight" was the elegant
response.
Are you going to buy that cranberry
meadow, John?n Mary asked. as she saw
her husband making preparations to 90
from home.
"Yes-why?'
"Can you afford it?"
I'VE shall have to figure a little
| closer in order to do it, but it is going
cheap
YOU will have to give up Tom Birch.
won't you, and do the chores yOurself?''
II have thought of it; but Tom is poor
and to give him a home is a deed of
charity. No, we will save some other
way
How much are you going to pay
Tom?'
"Three dollars and his board. And.
by the way. lie says you didn't wash his
clothes. Washing and mending was in
the bargain"
II think Tom will have to 90 for |
have hired Jane Patch. She will be here
tonight. Two dollars week / am to
give her. You want to practice Bear We
one another's burdens as well as preach
from the teXt,sO | will give You chance
| will sit on the piazza after tea with a
neighbOr, while you do the chores. |
think the time has come for some of my
burdens to be lifted. BY exchanging
Tom for Jane you will have one dollar a
week for the cranberry meadow. You
say strong, active Tom is in need of n
home, he can make one for himself,
anywhere. 1t is deed of charity to give
Jane a home.and an act of mercy to give
your wife little rest
Before John could recover from his
astonishment Mary walked out of his
sight, and taking the children went to
the shut-up parlor. Throwing open the
windows to let in the soft summer air.
with baby in her lap, she sat down to
the piano and began to play a "SOng
Without Words" piece John had loved
TO H., L., 4 : L.
own home, where she was a petted girl.
This song crept out through the open
windows and around to John as ne sat
on the porch, and memory compelled
| him to give the song words; not musical
| poetry, but rather sombre prose, where
in washing, ironing, hard DAYS at the
| churn. hours of cooking for hungry men,
stood out before his minds eve in con
trast TO the fair promises he had
made the pretty girl he had won for his
| bride.
Jane Patch came that evening and at
once took upon herself many of Mrs.
| Clarll's cares, and no one greeted her
more cordially than did the master of the
| house. Nothing was ever said about her
coming, ond Tom Birch did not go away;
so Mary knew her husband could well
afford the expense.
She told me how she helped to make
one man thoughtful and unselfsh, as we
set on her cool piazza one hot August
night, and | was glad that one woman
had grit enough to demand her rights.
If John Clark had been poor, his wife
would have borne her burden in patience /;
but she had no right TO help make him
selfish and Indifferent as to her health
and comfOrt.-ErchdHye.
-
Why suffer sieepless nights when