The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-12-29


in case of sickness.
So through harvesting and the fall
house cleaning, the meat-killing and
the spring sugaring, up to haying
time, Mary's one pair of hands did the
work till-she broke down.
Jonas was worried about indoor
matters. Not that he was so miserly
he did not like to pay hired help, but
who was to take care and oversee it
all?
OF course the Mortons were as agi-
tated as Jonas himself, and as much
as they could came to the rescue; but
Mrs. Morton was growing old and
could not work as she once had done,
and Amy had made brilliant match
years ago.
Bessie was still at home and single,
but she had never enjoyed going
there when Mary was we'll, and with
Mary sick it could not be thought of.
: Jonas had bad luck finding capable
indoor help, and it was great relief
to them all when Aunt vi, Mr.. Nor
toms maiden sister, came from the
West, and not having any particular
home anywhere, willingly took the
leadership in the bingham household.
But somehow Mary didn't seem to
gain at ali, and Aunt vi told Mrs.
Morton that Mary seemed to have
Lost all interest in life.
Jonas is just as kind as can be and
the boys are all smart and bright and
fond of her; they are fore handed and
have good home, but it seems as if
she didn't care about living. l do
think if she had an ambition to get
well she would"
In the very depths of winter Mrs.
Morton's sister from Boston, Mrs.
Cramer, made flying visit in town,
her first visit to the place since
Mary's marriage.
"You must go to see Mary in her
own home, sister," said Mrs. Morton,
''but the poor child is too weak to
visit much. We will go there to-
gether and spend the day, and it will
crafty her, though she cannot enjoy
it as if she was we'll"
''I'll sleep with Mary tonight and
wait upon her." said Mrs. Morton to
Aunt vi, as bedtime came on. land
you can go upstairs and get good
nights rest"
"We'll sleep together, Aunt VII
added Mrs. Cramer, ''and keep each
other warm and have a good visit be-
Sides"
W as it all chance that the chamber
the two ladies occupied had in the
wall an open stovepipe hole leading
thr ough to the one where Jonas slept
with 5-year-old Teddy?
He slept soundly for awhile, but
perhaps it was his good angel that
woke him just in time to hear Aunt
vi ask, What do you think about
Mary?"
Mrs. Cramer was lady who used
not only her eyes and ears, but her
brains as we'll. Being new to the
bingham house she saw it through
unaccustomed eyes, and she made up
her mind fully.
81 think" she said impressively,
chat she is starving to DEATH"
"For the land sakes!" calculated
Aunt vi, ''you DOM know what you're
talking about. Such provider as
Jonas bingham is! Always buys his
-four by the barrel and keeps two
sorts, one for bread and one for
pastry; makes no end of maple sugar
and buys all the white sugar a body
has a mind to use; kills the incest of
pork and beef every winter, with tur-
| keys and chic kens and geese and
| ducks; lambs in the fall and the
beautifulest veal every spring; buys
fresh meat any time in the summer.
and of course they have milk and
cream and eggs of their own all the
year round. He's always bringing
home honey and fruit and oysters
any luxury he h appens to see. He's
too fond of good living himself tc
starve nybody in his house,"
''The eating is a very small part Of
true life" said Mrs. Cramer, when
Aunt vi paused for breath. Il car
see that Mary's mind and soul are
starving here in this bare house
where work and uti lily are the fore
most things and bea uty and pleasure
have no place. Her better nature is
being literally starved to death!'
No matter what further the ladies
said, Jonas bingham card no more
though he neither put his fingers II
his ears nor rose and stopped the
stovepipe hole. Mrs. Cramer's words
had opened his eyes to naked, un
palatable truth, and set him to sucf
serious thinking and plannings tina
he had no ears for an ything more.
"Mary looks brigh ter this morn
ing" said Aunt Cramer at breakfast
She certainly doe S." said Jonas
land 1 think your visit has done he
good. I tell you what. Mary" 1t
said, turning to her, II want you t.
hurry up and get stro niger, SO tina