South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-09-02
DEACON Bates WIFE.

Mrs. Bradley had come mp TO
Berkshire with her husband and
many others to attend the annual
convocation OF their Church. While
she rested in Ler room after the
morning. session she heard a con-
versation which interested her, be-
tween two men on the veranda Just
under her window.
Through the half. open blinds she
recognized one of them as Deacon
Bates, \ sturdy farmer delegate who
had shown much good sense in the
few words he had spoken upon one
Of the resolutions in the business
meeting.
"Whether farming can be made
to pay or not depends a good deal
upon the sort of wife a man has"
Deacon Bates was saying. aud this
was the sentence which arrested
Mrs. Bradley's attention.
elf he has to run the farm and
the house too AMI depend upon hir-
ed holp he can't lay up Anything.
One of my neighbors is in that fix /;
his wife don't know how to work
herself; she trusts everything to
help and she spends her time CAD
ding about. Things go at skies and
sevens their butter and poultry
are the poorest in the market. l
am sorry for him. i believe I've
got the best wife in tho country,
myself" he went on, tipping
back his chair against the house
and clasping his hands over the
back of his head ''she beats every
thing there is going for work. She
tends to everything herself; is up
at daylight and sometimes before,
and her butter is tip-top we get
the biggest prices going. She's a
splendid cook too, | never need go
away from homo to get good VIC
tuals, now l tell you. Well, the
feet is che is as smart as steel trap
at anytaingFshe takes hold OF. She
m axes all her own clothes and most
of mine and boards the farm hands
and once In 8 while takes some CT
ty boarders. Ipever would "a been
so forehanded il it hadn't "a been
for her. And she's always at home
summer and winter don't be-
lieye she's been OF the place only
to go to church this twenty yeDrs."
Poor drudge" MIS-. Bradley
exclaimed to herself as the dinner
bell put an end to the conversation.
1t 80 happened that in the course
OF that sa.1 .ner Mr.. and Mrs. Brad
ley, wisaug to find comfortable
quarter ,r a few weeks in the coun-
try, re = enough TO the city 50 that
Mr.. Eredley could go in and out
were directed to Berk-
shire aud to the house of Deacon
Bates.
1t was not until she was seated at
the tea table in the cool dining room
OF the Bates family one July eve
ming, that Mrs. Bradley identified
the deacon as the man with an ex-
traordinary wife. Mrs. Bates did
not look in the least like the busy
bustling worker Mrs. Bradley had
pictured. She was a small pale NO.
man with grey hair and wistful
brown eyes. Her low-spoken words
were few, and her manner apathet-
ic, as il life had lost its favor il it
ever had any.
During the next few weeks Mrs.
Bradley had opportunity to prove
that Deacon Bates bad spoken tru-
ly of his wife. Her house was a mo-
del ofneatness, her sevictuals" we're
truly delicious, and each day she
turned of an amount of work, as
sisted only by one other pair Of
hands, which was truly incredible.
"a working machine" Mrs. Brad
ley thought as she watched the
tread-mill round ofskimmiBg milk,
churnIng, baking, dressing poul-
try, washing, ironing, cooking, and
washing dishes, beginning at sun
rise and not by any means conclud-
cd at sunset.
Sometimes in the twilight the tir-
ed woman rested a few minutes,
then Mrs. Bradley, plying the mar
row life, would try to awaken her
interest IN an article IN the news
paper, or a bit from an amusing
book, but the weary listener usual
~ nodded in the midst OF it.
One evening after tea as Mrs.
Bradley wandered about the place,
she came upon Mrs. Bates, who was
out under the apple tree engaged
in picking chickens.
"You are at it early and late.
aren't you 20 Mrs. Bradley said az
she Watched the swift fingers tray
81 over the pump chicken. Il
heard that you were perfectly re-
but / had not imagined
that one 50 perfectly industrious
"'You heard Of MOI" Mrs. Bates
exclaimed with more interest than
she had ever before displayed. -
How could you 2"
"It was when the convention was
held at Berkshire. j happened to
1verhear your husband sounding
your praises"
Mrs. Bradley hoped that at last
ihe had found q key to open ihis
closed heart, as o CLEAN Of surp~is
"