Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-05-07
SILAS PETERS WIFE.

)
to hear the sermon You know Elder
Bishop is going to preach to-day"
II know all about that, but it's O'Clock
now, and with all have got to do can't
be ready to start by half-past ten"
LET me help you, Mandy. lean wash
the dishes and sweep"
"Yes, and make all the beds, get tho
children ready for Sunday school, clean
the stove. skim the milk, wash the pans,
pare the potatoes, get the meat cut and
into the spider, and lay the fire ready to
light when we get home, replied Mandy,
scornfully.
"I meant all right, said the crestfallen
Silas. Cant you leave the cleaning up
part for this time. and we can do without
potatoes for once? 1t will be change.
"If you want change so bad you had
better go and board with Mrs Russell
You'll get change there, l reckon.
"What do you mean2"
"Why, when l went over there the
other morning to borrow little -four,
they had just finished breakfast, and such
4 breakfast"
"What was it, Mandy" asked Silas.
his curiosity aroused.
"What was it? You'd better say what
wasn't it. There wasn't single bit Of
pie on the table, nor pickles, nor cheese,
nor Jelly, nor anything-much.
well, they had something fit to eat,
hadn't they 2" asked Silas.
Yes, they had bread and butter.
mashed potatoes, steak, oatmeal and
cream, cookies, and coffee, but not even
one smitch of pie, with sniff of scorn.
well, she's a good cook, for I've eaten
there. And don't see but what they
had as good meal as we have"
"Humph! Guess you'd better board
there for "a while, Silas," answered Mrs.
Peters, as she rose from the table.
ANY way" said Silas to himself, as ho
harm: ssed his horse for church. 81 I'd rather
eat bread and milk for dinner if Mandy
would so with me occ ,sionallv. Yes, and
for breakfast and supper too. he added,
herocAIly. "Ah. there goes Tom Russell,
with his wife and baby. How happy he
looks! His wife goes everywhere with
him. | do wish Mandy would so with
me. Its so lonesome" he unused, get
ting into the buggy with his two furbe-
lowed children, and chipping to the old
horse.
The women of the little hamlet of A sh-
Vile had followed strictly in their fore
'Alhrrs' or rather their foremothers foot
tps--tables crowded with everything
mt on promiscuously: for breakfast.
pickles. cheese, and pie; pie, cheese.
and pickles for dinner, and cheese, pick
les, and pie for supper. And at eacE.
society" or tea party that was held, eaci
her. If Mrs. A. had three kinds o!
cake and two of pie. Mrs. B, would
have five kinds of cake and three OF
pie; while Mrs. G. would by no means
diminish the quantity of pie and cake,
but would also add dried beef, jelly,
cheese, etc.
Elder Bishops sermon that morning
with perhaps the exception of Silas
Peters. He sat in his pew with his two
children, but his eyes kept wandering to
the Russell's pew.
shes almost as old as my Mandy"
unused he. "Mandys 80, and Mrs. Rus.
sell is just %. She doesn't look worried
no wrinkles OF lines. Poor Mandy!
Maybe haven't helped her as much as I
might. Mrs. Russell looks SO happy and
contented. Wonder if she had as much
to do as Mandy this morning?" as sud
den thought struck him.
After service he returned home to find
clean house, beautifully shining stove,
and deliciously cooked dinner, but
worried and irritable wife.
"It's been SO warm, she said, sit tires
me all out cleaning up. haven't sat
down a minute sice you left" with the
mir of amartyr who fancies duty at what
ever cost.
MANDY, why don't you let something
90 once in while and rest little. This
dirt fight will wear you out. ="
"Rest! Me? With all this work to do!
Leave some? Cleanliness is next to god.
liness, Silas Peters. "
"Yes, Mandy, next to godliness. Tho
godliness comes first, dear.
Mandy looked quickly up with a pinl:
flush on her face. When had he called
her dear before? Not since their old sweet
courting days. Somehow it touched
tender spot in her heart, and after the
dinner work was done up, as Silas sat on
the porch, she said softly:
"Silas, wouldn't you like to take me to
church tonight as you used to ?"
He looked up
Like tol Why, Mandy, you know
I've wanted to ever 30 long, but you arc
always so busy or SO tired. Will you
go?" with an eager light in his eyes.
IF you will take me-"
lie lookc'l at her moment, and then
Gail abruptly:
How pretty you look, Mandy! Why,
what makes your cheeks so pink? Yot
look almost rs you used to eight years
HG"." Then, with Il sudden daring look
III his eyes, "liave you heard how Tom
i;l sAl treats his wife,"
"Why, no, Silas Peters; he's kind to
her, I'm sure Er is. You needn't tell me
any bad st"ries about him know
h",lrr But what ln,"r you heard !?
How does he treat hrr =
Silas rose. alid going tn whore his wico
Was i"Iui"g a"a;;.st the lattice work. ho
'''"', hi, ari2 Hr"N:ii hcr sIrndct
w@.,t. whIie with his other hand IN,
( ~ h"r facr II? to his ami s,rliy
o.. -"i hrr. sa! in=:
&c. ii:i way. dear
.iy. ',d.,a!" And she burst into a
"a i ii Of Tears on his shoulder
Nj indy, | know haven't been very