River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-10-06
THE DEACON'S WIFE.
How Mrs. Bradley Helped to End
Her Drudgery.

Her Drudgery.
Mrs. Bradley had come IN to Berk-
shire with her husband and many Others
to attend the annual convocatiou of
their church. While she rested in her
room after the morning session she
heard conversation which interested
her, between two men on the veranda
!ust under her window
Through the half-Open blinds she
recognized one Of them as Deacon
Bates, a strrdy farmer delegate who
had shown much good sense in the few
words he had spoken in the business
meeting.
w hether farming can be made To pay
or not depends good deal upon the
sort Of a wife man has" Deacon
Bates was saying, and this was the sen
tenee which arrested Mrs. Bradley's
attention.
IF he has 10 run the farm and the
house too and depend upon hired help
he can't lay up anything. One Of my
ueighbors Is in that FIX: his wife don't
know how Co work herself; she trusts
every thing TO help and she spends her
time gaddIng about. Things 20 at skies
and sevens: their butter and poultry
are the poorest in the market / am
sorry for him ! believe I've got the
best wife IN the country, myself he
went on, tipping back his chair against
the house and claspiag mis- hands over
the back of his head. she beats every
thing there Is going for work. She
tends 10 everything herself; IS M at
daylight aud sometimes before. and
her butter is tiptop; we get tn. biggest
prices going. She's a splendid cook.
too. ] never need - away from home
20 get good victuals. now / tell Won.
Well, the fact - Size IL as smart as a
steel trap a anything she takes hold
Of She makes all her own clothes and
most Of mi-e and boards the farta
hands and once ia awhile takes some
city bOardcr-. 7 never would a been
81 forehaudsj i il hadn't "a been for
her. And she's always at home sum
irrr and winter; 7 don't b-lieve shes
been off the pace only 10 GO 20 church
these twenty wears"
Poor drudge Mrs Bradley ex-
claimed to herself as the dinner bell
put an end To the conversation
Il 81 happened that in the course Of
that summer Mr. and Mrs. Bradley.
wishing to find comfortable quarters
for few weeks in the country. near
enough 10 the city 50 that Mr.. Bradley
could 30 in End out conveniently. were
directed 20 Berkshire and to the house
of Deacon Bates.
T.
the tea table in The cool dining room Of
the Rates family one July evening
that Mrs bradley identified the deacon
as the man with an extraordinary wife.
Mrs bates did not look in the least
like the hUsv. busting worker Mr.
Bates had pictured. She was a small.
pale woman with rrav hair and visit
ful brown eyes Her iow-spoIlen
words were few, AMI her manner aua-
thetic. as If life had lost lis flavor if ii
ever had amy.
During tire next few weeks 3Irs.
bradley had opportunity - prove that
Deacon Bates had spoken truly Of his
wife. Her huuSe was a model Of neat
ness. her ''victUals" were truly deli
cious. and each day she turned of an
amount of work, assisted only by one
other pair 0f hands. which was truly
Incredible. - working machine. q"
Mrs Bradley Thought - she watched
the trcadmilI POUND ~ Swimming milk.
churniur, baking, dressing poultry.
washing, ironing. cooking and wash
iug dishes beginning a. sunrise and
not by any means concluded at sunset.
Sometimes iu the twilight the tired
woman rested few minutes. then
Mrs. Bradley. pitying the marrow. life.
would try 70 awaken her interest in
an article IN the newspapers. or bit
from an amusing book. but the weary
listener usually nodded in the midst
Of it,
One evening after tea. rs Mrs. Brad
ley wandered about the place, she
came upon Mrs. Bates. who wa. out
under tine apple Tree engaged in pick
ing chickens.
You are n it early and late. aren't
yOua Mrs. bradley said, as She watched
the swift fingers travel over the plump
chicken. Il heard tina; vou were per
fcctly remarka Ole, but I had not ima-
gined that one so pcrsistently indus
triOus existed
-'1ou heard that Of me2' Mrs Rates
exc. aimcd. with more interest than she
had ever before displayed. How could
youe'
1T was when the convention was
held az Berkshire I happened 20 over
hear your husband sounding your
praises.
Mrs. bradley hoped that at last she
had found a KEY To open this closed
heart. a. a CLEAN If surprise flashed
for N instant on Tie worn fal. ~ the
farmers wife. 50 She excrted all her
powers ~ pleasing; she praised the
flower garden. remarked on the fine
chicken. and admired the luNuriant
vine which clambered over the wood
house. bUt Mrs. Bates seemed absent
minded Snt less inclined 20 talk than
usual There was silence for "a minute.
while she worked a Il her life DEPEND
e. upon getting done at certain mo-
ment. Mrs bradley was Just "a mixing
how useless IL was 70 try 10 get any
thing ont ~ such a wooden woman.
when suddenly Mrs. Bates, without
lifting her eyes from her work. jerkcd
out 4 question.
Mrs Bradley, should like 70 know
would vou mind telling me-what
it was Daniel said that dag up 70 Berlx-
shire2"
'.Who2 Mr. Bates? oh he said he
had the best wife in the whole coun-
try
And then. searching her memory.
Mr. Bradley gave a faithful report Of
what she had heard
II was curious To note the effect of
her words la the ligh, which came into
the sad eyes. and the faint flush which
stole over the faded cheeks
Did Daniel say that2-
The wistfu3 t1ne and the starting
tear were pitifnl t. the other woman,
who affected not n see or hear any.
thing. She broke of spray Of flower
ing currant and said. as she tucked il
in her belt and moved away:
'.Ies. he did. aud quite agree with
him." and then remarked 20 herself:
''PoOr creature. she has a heart after
all"
II was an hour later. when Mrs.
Bradley sat alone ON the front piazza,
that Deacon Bates. his chores all done. I
came and sat ON the upper step He
was a man OF much shrewd intel
l.