The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-11-12
A MEAL OF POTATOES.

yet the parents were not wholly that,
for Laura, the daug hter, mad become
attached to young man OF the
neiehborhood of whom the parents
did not wholly approve.
He is good enough, Laura, in his
way, but he has no calculation and
will always scratch poor mans
head as he lives, said Mr.. Chalmers
one evening after Lem Heskitt had
lett.
But he says he can lay up money
now, father, that he has me to work
for, says, Laura, pleadingly.
I'd like to know why he hasn't t
laid up i'll expectation of this day.
He might known it would come,
the father sharply returns.
Because he was young and foolish.
He'll do so differently now, | am
sure; and I'd much rather share a
crust of bread with him than marry
any one else, and the last word
ended in sob.
Foolish, foolish child! exclaimed
the exasperated father. Mark my
words, Laura! The time will come
when you will be glad to come back
home for meal Of potatoes-yes,
that time will come, and at no dis
tant date, | reckon, and with wave
of his arm he left the room.
Laura was much like her father.
Had she her mind once made up no
arguing could convince her to the
contrary. So the wedding day was
at an early period. But before she
became the wife of Lem she told
him what her father had said. He
only laughed. and clasping her to
him, said: Well show him, Won t
we darling?
They were married in September
and the next month saw them NOV
ing their small possessions up into
the lumber regions of Maine.
The day after their arrival they
were fortunate in finding place
where both we're needed, she as a
cook and he as "hand" in a lum-
Der camp. They hired out for a
year, receiving good wages for their
work. At the end of that time,
Lem took the joint earning of both
and selecting thickly wooded piece
of land, bought it and built log
hut thereon. With the furniture
and bedding brought from home,
they began housekeeping in this
little hut. Only one payment was
made on the land-enough to hold
it-yet it took about all their ready
money, for good wages for those
days were little compared with our
wages ofto-day.
Seeing a fine mill site on the river
which ran by his home, he felled
trees and built saw mill, then
bought the necessary machinery on
time, and began work. He tolled
early and late and in Laura found a
true helpmeet. They were very
happy. Living far from neighbors
as they did, they necessarily clung
closer together. Within year a
little son came to brighten the little
home, then a daughter, and thus at
the end of five years we find them
more contented and happy as each
year left them.
We will leave them and pay a
visit to the old home in Vermont
The five years have left lasting foot
prints upon Mr.. and Mrs. Chalmers.
Both are more stopped and much
greyed, yet we find them still
mourning over Laura's foolish choice
and her departure from civilization,
although her letters have, woman
like, been full of his praises, and the
happy days spent with them and the
children. During these years,
nothing but the tardy letters kept
either family informed of the others S
welfare, for in those days travel was
accomplished laboriously and visit
to another State tedious even to
think of.
Mrs. Chalmers sits by the western
window, her attention bestowed alike
upon her darning and the bit OF
road visible between the two tai
trees standing in the yard. As the
moments pass and her husband does
not come, the look OF care upon her
face gives place to one of anxiety
and soon the bit OF road receives
more than It's share OF her attention
Finally the darning drops altogether,
and leaning her elbows upon the
sill and her head upon her palms
she thinks over the doings OF the
last few weeks. Gradually the looE
OF care rests upon her face again
and mingled with the anxious lool
makes her show her age indeed!
There have been dark days fol
the old couple of late, and today the
husband has gone to the village tc
try and adjust matters satisfactorily
1. all came upon them by Mr.
Chadmers signing his name to ;
note of considerable amount for hi
sisters husband. Neighbors nodded
their heads and said: He NIGH
have known better, and 1 shoulc
think he'd soon learn Jack Upton
but Mr.. Chalmers being a kint
hearted man and in way veal
one, could hardly refuse the request
when by Jacks plausible words tn