The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-02-16

~@,>"|> POD was a tarmer,
hence Sarah Marpod was farmers wife;
both hard. working, unsophisticated
people, conscientiously pursuing the
straight path of life, while, on the other
hand, little keener insight into human
nature and its motives might have
shielded them from many blow, and
materially aided their right economy.
In spite of hard work they advanced
slowly in the acquisition of home COM
forts. Disappointments aud misfortunes
accumulated with pitiful rapidlty and
troze the fountains of domestic happi-
ness. Before marriage the happiest of
couples, they looked with sanguine hope
to the future, not expecting great re-
wards, but trasting in Providence and
loving each other fervently.
They never had lovers quarrel and
the idea of post-nuptial disagreements
dawned not upon their youthful imagi
nation. A comfortable home, content
ment and love was all they bargalned
for; all they sought, and surely fate
might yield this to any one who means
we'll and thinks honorably.
Thus they thought, and thus they ex-
pected it would be, but the path of life
runs continually into the dark. What
jagged rocks may pierce the feet OF the
traveller on this highway no one can fore
tell. We can only judge by the light OF
the past, and to people of limited ex-
perence this light is line so narrow as
not to reveal the rocks aud thorns on
either side.
Luke Marpod was simple, honest ard
narrow minded. Mrs. Marpod was
was simple, honest and narrow minded
also, and perhaps the trouble lay in this
very uniformity of tastes and tempera-
ment.
Luke's little farm was mortgaged at
the outset, and the few hundred dollars
that Sarah RECEIVED from her father
disappeared in twinkling and lett no
trace or footprint. Their first season
was bad one; crops were general 1al'
ure aud weeds and creditors arose on
every side.
The neighbors, who always liked
Lukes conscientious good nature, began
to look askauce at him, for they saw the
tables turned, aud, paradoxical as it may
appear, found it much more convenient
to be Luke's creditor than his debtor.
As time passed without bettering their
condition and creditors became impor-
tunate, Luke and Sarah took to brooding
over their troubles and occasionally find
ING fault with the ways and means OF the
other, which might never have led to
anything serious had the second years
crop proved good one and helped to
make up for the deficiencies of the first.
This, however, was not the case, for,
whereas, the year before the drought nao
baked the soil and scorched the growing
blades of wheat and rye, the second year
it began to rain in April-a very good
procnostication, everybody thought, oi
bountiful harvest, but Pluvus, having
other aims in view, refused to recognize
limits and give the farmers time TO pow
and SOW. Through April, May and June
the rain poured down incessantly' day
after day, until at last all hopes were
abandoned and the Marnods entered
upon their second year OF iniehclty' :,
Luke, who began to think tnat lho
cause of all his troubles lay in his mar
riage, was rash enough one day 10 h,nI
the same, and received e retort from ms
spouse that reused his latent dignity Oh
marital lordship. Words were ex-
changed, and the result OF their hIst pro.
nounced disagreement ended by Luxe
slamming the door behind him, md 60
, ing hastily across the lot after the oowS, Sat
, That night he whipped the dog ior ,h iet,
| ting the brindlc heiier escape tArouSn
the bars into the corn6eld' had tfouo'e
with the same member ot the ooSin0
genius at milking time, and rose wra.n W.
fully to his feet after extrcatlng .no
cows hoof from the milk pail, 10 Swo"l M
an unmistakable oath for the lrSI '-ln9
in his life. Then be beat tue aniua' "n~ ~
made such hubbub that Sarah cauo -
hot haste to remonstrate on ms oru'"'l.y, :;
''Shut up; mind your business w". fha
you2r shouted Luke. as he hurleu 'n'