The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1892-12-19
MY MONEY.
How I Disposed of 1t and All Ny
Troubles

of the six children in my father S fam
lily The others left home while ! re-
manned to care for our parents in their
old age. They both died within a few
months of each other, and at the death
of my father and the breaking up of
that household, Robert urged that we
be married at once, instead of waiting
as we had planned to do. Immediately
after the wedding we went west and
began life together. He was honest
and industrious, and possessed the love
and confidence of the people among
whom we lived.
One day, when Robert and had
passed the middle of life and were jog
cling along the down-hill road, still nm
conscious that we had started on down
hill. he came home looking pale and
pinched with suffering All that win
ter the pain came sometimes, but not
severe enough to convince him that it
was serious.
One morning in March he came in
looking i'll. He would rest little be-
fore breakfast" In five minutes break
fast was on the table and jamie called
him. He did not answer. His hat had
fallen over his eyes and his head had
fallen upon his breast. When we looked
into his face felt that life had gone
and that stood alone in the world.
The shock was terrible one to my
nervous system, and it was weeks be-
fore | rallied SO as to be able to look
after my affairs. We were counted, by
the rural people of our neighborhood,
as rich people. We had not thought
of ourselves as such but we had much
more than enough for our simple
wants. My own inheritance from my
father had been prudently invested
and allowed to accumulate; while Rob-
ert's unfagging industry had made for
us competence. He had long since
provided that this should all belong to
me at his death, save few legacies
which he bequeathed to the sons of
his only brother.
Alas had my husband foreseen what
all tins money would do for me | am
sure he would never have thus bur-
dened me. had the misfortune to
bear a very mild manner. My has
ness of will They each claimed at
once the right of caring for Aunt NAL
why. Robert, because he was my hus-
bands namesake; Frank, because he
was the oldest, and therefore the
natural representative of the family.
"Preposterous," | could imagine |
heard my husband saying, You never
yet could take care of yourselves.
Pretty subjects you to take care ofyour
aunt"
But my husband was not here to say
this, and was too i'll to say anything
Both ordered their trunks sent to the
house and took possession of the two
best rooms in the house.
My faithful jamie worked hard and
tried to save me trouble, but one night
she came to my room with tears in her
eyes 81 guess I'll have to leave you,
Mrs. Reed"
| was reused into energy by this.
"Janie, leave mel
I'm very sorry, Mrs. Reed, but
can't stand the work"
But, jamie, you have always done
the work and had plenty of time to
spare. Now, do you want to go when
am left all alone?"
That's it, Mrs. Reed. I'd be glad to
stay with you if you VISA alone, but
the two gentlemen in the house order
me about SO and make such looking
rooms that it takes every minute to get
through the work. Mr.. Robert says
am to have soup every day and Mr..
Frank says "A man as rich as Uncle Reed
should have more than one kind OF
meat at dinner, and they've sent in
so much victuals that it's just kept me
aopping to cook it and then k eep it
from spelling The cellar is full now
and things will spoil before they can
be half eat UP"
Well and this is what has been GO
ng on while have been staying in my
-oom trying to realize what has hap
pened. Evidently these worthy ncph-
ews have full and realizing sense of
what has happened
As ! sat in the moonlight that night
with my window raised to get the cool
uess upon my heated forehead heard
voices from the porch below
~ think Noah's ark h>s about served
It's time as n carriage and can be KEEP
now as curiosity. The new carriage
will be done next Wednesday. The
idea of as rich man as Uncle Robert
driving around in that old ram
shacl1le!"
My dear old comfort, the easy carry
al w';ia' could cay ny y or, ss.---
tive bac., withost Il j y, 10 b. "4.o.e
az curiosity" began to rea q
that had will While had leel
10 tenderly cared for first by my futher
and then by my husband, it had been
allowed to slumber Now could feel
it asserting itself and it BODIED no good
for the managers below stairs Still |
could not bring myself to turn them
out of doors and thus make talk" in
the neighborhood, Instead, J would
go away myself, and close the house,
taking jamie with me.
1t was all arranged with her very
ouietly that NIGHT when she came up