Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-07
HE LOVED HIS WIFE.
A Little Lesson for Many Self
ish Men.

NO one doubted that he loved her de-
votedly, and yet-they had lived'in the
same house for nearly forty years
Meanwhile he had become one of the
richest men In Lakeville. He owned
and rented numerous dwellings with
all modern luxuries in the way of steam
neat, gas fixtures, bathroom, plate
glass windows, large closets, etc. The
old homo possessed none OF these ad-
vantages. II was delightfully."- situated,
and the garden surrounding II was
ideally beautiful Mammoth oass and
wide spreading naples cast 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 were apt TO say;
There's a fine old-fashioned sort of
placc!"
Mrs. Van Dyke was accustomed to
hearing praises of the trees; the nice
cool well water, SO 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 gus that was SO
trying to the eyes; the CHEEKY comfort
OF big blazing coal stoves In midwinter;
the indispensable dcliciousncss OF fresh
berries from the vines that grew SO pro-
fusely on the grand old Van Dyke
premises. Comments on the manifold
blessings enjoyed 10y tho Van Dykes
gave Mr.. Van Dyke unalloyed satisfac-
tion, for he was very proud of the old
home. Two paramount attachments
were plainly manifested at all times
lie WAS exceedingly fond OF 1.-THE old
place" and, let it Gc remembered, he
loved his wife dovotcdly.
She had borne him seven healthy,
uffectionate and dutiful children, all
Of whom were married and settled in
different portions OF the globe, and
who, with their various progeny, were
wont to llocls 10 the ancestral domain
for Thanksgiving Christmas and other
holidays. and on different anniversary
occasions. Mrs. Van Dyke was there
fore seRlom alone, and almost never
care free Tor even one week Of the year;
and, besides, Mr.. Van Dyke was natur-
ally inclined to extend off-hand invita-
tions TO NIL his friends to put up at his
house whenever it suite1 their pleas
ure or convenience Not only was he n
fNi ENhNibho hih most,
but, owing TO Mrs Van Dykes manage
ment, his house was a most resttul and
altogether desirable refuge for many
Of his rclationE
Mrs Van Dyke was woman of un-
varying nmiability. She was patient
and kind and gentle beyond dcscrip-
tipn. Throughout the long years OF
their welded life, her loving husband
never heard her utter a complaint She
was the last person to go to sleep at
night, and the hrst to walen, or at
leust To rise In the morning, for forty
Seasons She planned breakfasts and
dinners and suppers innumerable was
often at the mercy OF poor servants,
and was sometimes left for weeks at
time with none at all; and yet the
lamps burned every night and were
filed and trimmed every morning, the
buckets went down and up in the moss
embowcred well, the cistern pump
creaked with unbroken regularity, and
Mrs. Van Dyke never said word about
oil 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 a thought OF pumps
and kettles, and where womens cares
and responsibilities were reduced to a
minimum.
All, yes, Andrew Van Dyke loved his
wife, She was n sweet, trustful, con-
fiding and tender creature, who always
looked upon him as superior and who
never failed TO meet him with a smile,
IL not kiss, when he entered the dear
| old home. No matter how large tho
grocery bill, II was prompt tly paid, and
unquestioningly So were the dry
goods bills, and the milliners' and up
holsterers bills, and, finally, the doc
tors bills that Mrs. Van Dyke con-
tracted.
One day she casually remarked to her
devoted partner in life's Joys: AN
drew, did II 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 as TO let In
more sunshine? The do,tor says my
rheumatism would be less apt TO
trouble me"
lle loved his wife devotedly, 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. lnasmuch
as the tears were seen TO I'LL his eyes
when even the few limbs were severed
from their parent trunks, and he con-
fessed TO desire TO beg, plaintivelyi
'oh, woodman, spare that treeln
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
nt home nights aud Sundays, but oh,
the blessedness OF being screened from
busy world on hot Sunday afternoons,
when he sat behind the shrubbery un-
der the broad sheltering trees and,
yes, though they had been married SO
long, made love TO his silyer-hAired
wifel
Dear" she said, softly, on one Of
these occasions, "why could we not
nave city water put in our house2 II
would save SO much strength"
NO water like that from the old
Well he replied, and enlarged upon II
Tor s"mA iimA AlenuantlE. '.RaHidaL u