The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-24
HE LOVED HIS WIFE.
A Little Lesson for Many Self
iSh Men.

Ism Men.
No one doubted that he loved her de
vOtedly, and yet-they had lived in the
same house for nearly forty years
Meanw hile he had become one OF ths.
richest men in Jakeville. He owned
and rented numerous dwellings with
all modern luNuries in the WAY Of steam
neat gas fixtures, bathroom. plate
glass windows, large closets. etc The
old home possessed none of these ad-
vantages- 1t was delightfully."- situated
and the garden surrounding 1t was
ideally beautiful Mammoth oaks and
wide spreading naples east deep shad-
ows upon the rambling structure in
which Mrs. Van Dyke spent her toll
some later years, and all the people.
who drove past We're apt To say:
There's fine old-fashioned sort of
placer
Mrs Van Dyke was accustomed TO
hearing praises of the trees: the nice
cool well water. 50 much better than
that which ran through the city pipes:
the soft light from sixteen kerosene
lamps. such a relief after Blinking
evenings of brilliant gas that was 50
trying to the eyes; the cheery comfort
of big blazing coal stoves in midwinter:
berries from the vines that grew 50 pro-
Iusely on the grand old Nan Dyke
premises Comments on the manifold
blessings enjoyed 10y the Van T. -zes
gave Mr.. Van Dyke unalloyed satisfac-
tIOn, for he WAS very proud of the old
home Two paramount attachmenls
were plainly manifested 1t ali timcs-
lie WAS exceedingly fond of the old
place" and, let it be remembered, lac
loved his wife devotejly.
She had borne him seven healthy.
affectionatc and duliiul children, all
of whom were married and settled in
different portions of the globe, and
who, with their various progeny. were
wont To flock To the ancestral domain
for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other
holidays, and on different anniversary
occasions Mrs Van Dyke was there
fore seldom alone. and almost never
care free for even one week of the year:
and. besides, Mr.. Van Dyke was natur-
ally inclined to extend off-hand invita-
tions to all his friends to put up at his
house whenever it suite their pleas
ure or convenience Not only was he a
very generous and entertaining host.
but, owing To Mrs Van l,y be's manage
ment, his house was 4 most restful and
of his relations
Mrs Van Dyke was a woman of I'M
varying amiability. She was patient
and kind and gentle beyond descrip-
ton. Throughout the long years of
their welded life, her loving husband
never heard her utter Il complaint She
was the last person to go To sleep IT
night. and the trst to wakeu. or at
least to rise in the morning. for forty
seasons. She planned breakfasts and
dinners and suppers innumcrable. was
often at the mercy of poor servants,
and was sometimes left for weeks at
n time with none at all: and yet the
lamps burned every night. and were
filled and trimmed every morning. the
buckles went down and up in the moss
embowered well, the ci>tcrn pump
creaked with unbrollen regularity, and
Mrs Van Dyke never SAID "a word about
all those rented houses where there
were no lamps used, where water
flowed freely by merely turning a
faucet. where hot baths could be taken
any hour without IA thought OF pumps
and kettles. and where women's cares
and responsibilities We're reduced 10 u
minimum
All. yes. Andrew Van Dyke loved his
fiding and tender creature. who always
looked upon him as a superior and who
never failed To meet him with 4 smile
IL not a kiss. when he entered the dear
old home No matter how larre the
grocery bill. it was promptly paid, and
unuucStioninuly. SO were the dry
goods bills. and the milliners' and up-
holstercrs' bills, and. finally. the doc
tors bills that Mrs Van Dyke con
tracted-
One day she casually remarked to her
devoted partner in lfc's joys: An
drew, did IL ever occur to You that our
trees have grown too large and they
shade the house too much? Would
You mind cutting some OF them down
and trimming others, SO rs To let IN
more sunshine? The Doctor says my
rheumatism would be less apt to
trouble me"
lie loved his wife d-votedly, so he
had several branches of maple and one
large oak limb cut immediately That
was not sufficient, however. Whole
trees needed to be removed from their
close proximity to the house. Inasmuch
as the tears We're seen TO fill his eyes
when even the few limbs We're severed
from their parent trunks, and he con-
iesSeu 10 q desire 10 OcE, pisiihi4NeiH-
oh woOdmau, spare that tree
Mrs. Van Dyke had not the heart To
suggest further clearing out Her
rheumatism grew worse and worse
The shade from the grove grew more and
| more dense Mr.. Van Dyke was only
at home nights and Sundays. bu. oh,
the blessedness of being screened from
busy world on hot Sunday afternoons.
| when ne sat behind the Shrubbary nm
der the broad sheltering tres, and.
yes, though they had been married SO
/ long, made love to his siIyer-haired
/ wifei
Dear" she said, softly. on one of
these occasions, why could we not
have city water put in our house? 1t