The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-10-21

married--ordinarily, ofteuer than once
in time"
Mrs. Joe drew a long breath of relief
when she found herself out from under
the farmhouse roof.
"Joe," said she, 'I'm afraid I'm going
to be an awful disappointment to your
father"
Gas long as you're not disappolnt.
ment to me-" he retorted, laughing, "it
doesn't SO much signify"
"There must be deal of work In that
house--four cows, hundred turkeys, a
flock of sheep, a poultry yard full of
Leghorn fowls, butter, eggs, cooking,
washing, baking, scrubbing-"
"How do you know all this2" asked
he.
miss Stubs told me. Oh, Joe why
didn't you marry Berenice Stubbs2"
"Look In the glass, little girl, if you
want that question answered"
"But am so useless. You should
have seen Miss Stubs look at me when
/ said didn't know how to make bread.
and that never had done washing in
my life."
'You'll easily learn, Ellie"
'Do you think shall, joel" A little
cloud, "no bigger than mans hand"
came over the pearly frankness of her
brow. "Did your mother wash and bake
~ brew"
presumably she did. But 1 don't re.
member her; she died young"
"Was she your fathers first dear de.
ceased"
Joe nodded.
"What was the other one like9"
''Tall and pale, with a cough, and
a habit of taking wintergreen. scented
snuff"
"Would you like me to take to win
tergreen snuff" she queried.
He laughed.
at hardly seems, dear, as if you
could belong to the same race as those
two poor, pale, drudging woman" said
he.
"Do all farmers wives die early,
Joe2"
Joe did not answer. He was un-
folding the paper to read the latest news
by telegraph.
Cousin Simeon Aileshury was the vii
lage doctor, a pleasant old man with a
bald head and genial smile.
Ellen Ailesbury made friends with him
at once.
"You are very like your mother,
child, said he. "She always reminded
me of little mountain daisy"
Ellen's lip quivered.
81 am glad you speak so kindly to me,
DOCTOR" said she, "for-for somehow
since came to the old farm house feel
as if / were fraud"
ga fraud, my dearl"
The bright tears sparkled now.
III was brought up to teach" said
she. 81 can do nothing about the
house. And Joe's father seems to expect
me to be the maid -of-all- work. OF
course | can learn. I'd do anything to
please Joe. But it's hard to think one
is such disappointment"
"Humph" said DIR. Ailesbury, "I'll
speak to Joe about that"
And that afternoon when Ellen and
Mrs. DR.. Ailesbusy were gone to look at
a pretty cascade in the woods, the
old man had long talk with his cous-
ms son.
At the end of the week Joe went back
to the Ailesbury farm.
"Well, Pm glad ye've got through
gallivanting," said the old man, with a
long breath of relief. "All the farm
work is behind, and Berenice Stubbs
amt worth half what she used to be. I
hope your wife is prepared to take right
hold of the butter and the poultry
and"
"No, father, she isn't" said Joe, val
iantly. "Ellen isn't very strong, and
she has never been used to the hardships
of farm life."
"What did you marry her forG"
snarled the old man.
"To be my companion and friend,
father, not my drudge and servant"
"Your mother warn't above work."
"My mother was dead and buried, sir,
at the age of thirty-worn out, as all
the neghbors tell me, by the hardships
of her life. Your second wife, too, was
a victim of the Moloch of work. Idon't
intend to lay Ellen in the churchyard at
their side"
Mr. Ailesbury's brow darkened.
81 won't have no one in the house who
don't earn their board," said he.
every well," said Joe. "Well rent
the little Barrow house down Locust
Lane. 1t will be handy to my work at
the carriage factory, aud Ellen shall have
a strong servant to help her with the
house"
Old AilesburY started up forgetful of
his infirmities.
''Joe," said he, braidishing his crutch,
''if you've been such a fool as to marry
mere wax doll"
Just here his foot slipped; he fell, a
dead, heavy weight, his head against the
sharp edge of the table. The sentence
was never finished.
ga month";" cried the old man, in
cracked voice, ga month since l had
that fall Then must "a been out of
my mind. must have had fever"
"Well, guess you just have" said
Berenice.
"And who took care o. met"
"Mrs. Joe, to be sure. Night and
day. l amt no hand at nursin' sick |
people, aud there was a hull week some
4