The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-02-18

Bates exclaimed with more interest
than she had ever before dis,
played, How could you!
1t was when the convention was
held at Berkshire. | overheard your
husband sounding your praises.
Mrs. Bradley hoped at last that
she had found key to open this
closed heart, as a CLEAN of surprise
flashed for an instant on the worn
face of the farmers wife, so she
exerted all her power Of pleasing !;
she praised the flower garden, re-
marked on the fine chicken, and
admired the luxuriant vine which
clamered over the woodhouse, but
Mrs. Bates seemed absent minded
and less inclined to talk than usual.
There was silence Tor a minute while
she worked as If her life depended
upon getting done at certain
moment Mrs. Bradley was just
thinking how useless it was to try to
get anything out of such a wooden
woman, when suddenly Mrs. Bates,
without lifting her eyes from her
work, jerked out question.
Mrs. Bradley, l should like to
know--would you mind telling me-
what it was Daniel said that day up
to Berkshire?
Who2 Mr.. Bates? Oh, he said
he had the best wife in the whole
| country.
And then, searching her memory,
Mrs. Bradley gave a faithful report
of what she had heard.
| was curious to note the effect OF
her words in the light which came
into the sad eyes, and the faint flush
which stole over the faded cheeks.
Did Daniel say that!
The wisttul tone and the starting
tear were pitiful to the other women,
who affected not to see or hear any
thing. She broke a spray of flower
ing currant and said, as she tucked
it in her belt and moved away:
Yes, he did. and | quite agree
with him, and then remarked to her
self: Poor creature she has a heart
after all.
1t was an hour later, when Mrs.
Bradley sat alone on the front
piazza, that Deacon Bates, his chores
all done, came and sat on the upper
step. He was a man of much shrewd
intelligence, who read his weekly
religious papers from end to end,
and liked occasionally to discuss an
article on doctrine with a bright
woman like Mrs Bradley.
His wife was still busy in the
kitchen, as the rattling of milk pans
occasionally testified. Mrs. Brad
ley's thoughts followed the tired
worker; her kind heart longed to
make the weary life of this woman
different. If only somebody would
speak few plain words to her hus-
band, she reflected, and get his eyes
opened.
Why not do that yourself? said
her inner voice. She shrank from
that, though, telling her conscience
that perhaps she would sometime if
she got good opportunity.
The deacon, taking off his hat,
ran his fingers meditatively though
his gray locks, and opened up on an
article he had read that afternoon
on the comparative merits OF trade
or profession compared with farm
ing.
In my opinion, he declared after
descanting at some length upon the
subject, the farmer has the best OF 1t
every time; it's healthy, independent
sort of life, and he doesn't have to
work like slave the year round.
In the winter he can get time tc
tinker at odd jobs and do sight Of
reading besides if he's SO disposed
! Then Mrs. Bradley could not
resist saying:
And the farmers wives? They
too, have a good rest in the winter
fairly earned, aren't they?
Oh. no, there's plenty of work,
but it isn't hard, In the fall, after
the berries are picked and put up
comes the drying o! apples anc
pumpkins. Then there's sausage tc
make, and lard and tallow to fry out
When all that's done, there's lo
sewing and knitting and carpet rags
My wife makes her own carpets, ano
my clothes and the boys, all but
our Sunday coats. Then it takes
lot of cooking to keep three or tou
healthy appetltes going, and We
don't have any help in winter.
His listener could scarcely keeE
indignation from her tones as sh'
replied:
Is it possible that all this is addee
to the work of the summer? l don
wonder that according to statistics
large portion OF the women confined
in lunatic asylumS are farmers wltes
1t is dreary life, making a woman
into perfect drudge.
Well, | don't know, the farme
answered musingly, we must earl
our bread by the sweat of our brows
The Bible says that works goo'
f for us | guess it is, and a wise pro
vision of Providence. | don
knows it's any worse tor wonle
than it is for men. X
Bu2.,[2Sees Ae thatthe lot
fr s-s desirable tha
f. According t