Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-01-17
SUSAN ANN'S METHOD.

fail to be what's put into my hand
My very best.
SUSAN ANN'S METHOD.
When Susan Ann Billion married
Joram Nellums she thought she was
doing big things, for Joram was very
forehanded, and there wasn't thrift
ier farmer in all Squan Neck neigh
borhood than he was. OF course, peo-
pie said Joram Nellums was so close
that a dollar couldn't be drug out of
his pocket with team OF cattle; but
Susan Ann said that was because they
hadn't so much as he had and didn' t
know how to accumulate AS far as
Susan Ann was concerned, she was an
old maid who took in sewing and
made enough by it to dress herself
we'll and live in the only hotel in the
town of Squan Neck. ltwasn't much
of hotel, as hotels 60 these days, but
it sheltered Miss Billion very comfort
ably, and, being an independent wo-
man who liked to have her own way
coming and going, she found it emf
nently satisfactory. 1t cost her posi-
bly, as much as 50 month more to
live there than if she had gone to Mrs.
Wiggins's clearinghouse, but Susan
Ann was not close when it came to
her own comfort and convenience. 1t
was great lift to her, no doubt, when
she married Joram Nellums, for now
she was to be mistress Of her own
house and the finest farm in the coun-
try.
Many younger woman than she
would have been glad to have become
Mrs. Nellums, and it cannot be de-
MED that on the first Sunday that the
new Mrs. Nellums walked down the
aisle of the church she carried her
head a few notches higher than the
meek and lowly doctrines taught In
the edifce every Sunday really re-
ouired of her. That was the woman
in her, however, and it may be ex-
cused under the circumstances. 1t
was a great thing to be Mrs. Joram
Nellums, and Susan Ann Billion was
not the only woman in Squan Neck
who thought so, although Susan Ann
was the only woman who knew what
it was from actual experience.
The happy couple went away on a
bridal tour to be gone two weeks, ano
it was a sore disappointment to Susar
Ann when Joram cut it Just half IL
two. giving as an excuse that the busl'
ness of the farm had very unexpect'
edly called him back. Like an obe'
dent wife she accepted his explana
tions and his promises that they woulo
go to the city as soon as the crops
were laid by, and they would stay
there as long as she cared to stay.
For a month after their return
Susan Ann laid great store by her ex
alted position in Squan Neck society
but somehow there was an ever presen
lack of opportunity to use it to excess
Joram was busy, or Joram was tired
or Joram had something else that pre-
vented, or forty dozen other obstacle
with Joram back Of them interfere'
with her plans. Thus year ran on
and by that time Susan Ann was dom!
kitcbenwork and housework and ther
was some indication that she would b
doing the washing next, with tai
prospect that tailoring for JOram an
one or two of the farm hands woul
be added IN her other duties. Occa
sionally Joram had something to sa
about economy, but he never accuse
her of extravaganza.
"You amt very savin', Susan Ann,
he said to her one day, "but I'm will
in to agree that you amt a grea
spender.
About this time the fact began t
dawn upon her gradually that ther
was a difference in the manner of Mr.
Nellums's everyday life and that {
Miss Susan Ann Billion. She woul
wonder sometimes if making dresse
and getting paid for them, with tn
privilege of spending her earnings
she pleased, was not in some parhc'
lars almost as satisfying as doing tW
women's work for Joram Nellun
without pay.
At the end of two years she di
covered that the wedding clothes th'
she had provided herself with ha
come to the ragged edge, and ne
dress, at least, and bonnet were abs
lntelv necessary So when Joram s