The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-19

Farmer snowden, welL-ied and rudy $1,000
hfs Icor one morning as Holt, his nearest
s.eigbbor. passed down the road hol' Eiofo o
= mule 80 thin and gannt thAe rs 'o n"i
almost pierced the skin. Inc "IetCneu an,
mai staggered uH'oi 'N0
'. ..Isn,t Jack overloaded a trinew Suowden
'" NO said Holt. "He's used 10 it. lie
likes it, e, I'll.
"That bents me" said snowden' lndlg-
rsntly. 80 his wife allow any Christian man
can work a brute to death can't understand
d s. nay basket ready, m0tner|
Mrs Sn6wden hastily finished packing the
basket OF sandwiches and pie for the luncheon
in the Geld, and gave 1t 10 her husband, VINO
followed the haymakers down the road.
The kitchen was in disorder. IL was
scarcely day. but Mrs. snowden had already
cooked breakfast Tor the hungry men. The
dishes must be washed, dozen pies made,
tle ironing done. aud the house set in ORDER
She began 10 work, but stopped presently
toprepare delicate breakfast and arrange II
rr6tniy upon a table in the parior. her
daughter, a victim OF some nervous aiineht,
came down, and languidly tasted It.
II have no appetite" she moaned. 81 think
perhaps / could eat bit Of broied chicken"
Mrs suOwden hurried 20 make ready the
new dish. When Laura had eaten it-and
sine finished every mOrsel-her mother helped
hor 10 creep out 20 the hammock In the cool
Shade. brought her book, fan, pillow and
"a dish of rult.
Laura spent the morning there, outot sight
of the kitchen. She was an educated girl,
fopd ~ painting aud all beautiful things.
She declared that the beat, the cooking and
fle work made her III. smother had been
used 20 IL all her life. She never tired OF IT,
she liked turmoil"
Presently Laura managed 10 walk as far as
the postofice and brought back letter. 1t
was from her brother Joe who was IN store
Sin Boston. and was full OF amusing gossip
about parties, club-meetings, and concerts.
In a postscript Joe said: "Ask mother if she
viii make me a set Of new shirts as soon as
POSSIBLE. To does not take her long 10 run
them OF ON the machine, and IL saves me some
dollars. Poor clerks in Boston have to look
after the penniesW
Mrs. snowden gave a wan smile as she re-
ctiyed the message. Il am glad Joey is so
saving" she said; but as she oiled her
machine for the work she sighed quietly. 1T
was harvest-ume. She was busy in the
Kitchen all day. The shirts must be made
after nightiall.
Day after day went by. The family and the
two hired men were fed, the house was kept
in order, the washing and ironing were done,
Laura was nlrsed and humOred-alI by the
one Qgdet, COUNT woman,
Wien night came, she sat down at the
machine 10 MAKE lAc Bill Us WIN wing
thoughts of her boy.
-Ile doctor says that ! need exercise"
said Laura, feebly, one day. Il shall try
ridlng horseback, / think"
Joe. when he received the shirts, merely
wrote back that "They were not as neatly
finished as those I'm the shops. Mother
machine must be wearing out"
He often spent in a supper, given to bis
friends. more money than would have bought
the shirts.
When the harvest was done, Farmer Snow
den CONGRATULATED himself on his profits.
some of his neighbOrs he said, hired help in
The kitchen during harvest But told them
mother undertakes 10 al herself. She is used
90 work. She likes it,
He took pleasure in abusing Holt, who had
worked his mule almost 20 death. But when
he saw his Wifes face grow more lean and
sallow each day, it never occurred 20 him nor
20 his children % consider the drudgery, the
dullness. the absence Of hope, amusement
and cheer from her life, or 10 think that they
we're urging her, step by step, each day nearer
70 her egaye.-l Outh's Companion.