Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-02-02


there when Mary was well, 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, AIR. 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 all, 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 forehanded and
have a 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 well"
I'm sleep with Mary tonight and
wait upon her." said Mrs. Morton to
Aunt vi, as bedtime came on, 'and
you can go upstairs and get good
nights rest"
Wen sleep together, Aunt vi,
added Mrs. Cramer, land keep each
other warm and have good visit be-
sides"
Was it all chance that the chamber
the two ladies occupied had in the
wall an open stovepipe hole leading
through 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?n
Mrs, Cramer was a lady who used
not only her eyes and ears, but her
brains as well. Being new to the
bingham house she saw it through
unaccustomed eyes, and she made up
her mind fully.
81 think" she said impressively,
st hat she is starving to death"
For the land sakesp' calculated
Aunt Vi, you don know what you're
talking about Such a provider as
| To,as u:r-b-v, 49, A1r-,,.. J1,,--s = =
flour 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 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
| wear round. He's always bringing
home honey and fruit and oysters
any luxury he appens to see. He's
too fond Of good living himself to
starve anybody in his housen
THE eating is a very small part of
true life" said Mrs Cramer, when
Aunt vi paused for breath. II can
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 deathr
-
said, Jonas bingham heard no more,
though he neither put his fingers in
| his ears nor rose and stopped the
| stovepipe hole. Mrs. Cramer's words
had opened his eyes 10 naked, I'M
palatable truth, and set him to such
serious thinking and plannings that
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 think your visit has done her
good. / tell you what, Mary" he
said, turning to her, II want you to
hurry up and get stro niger, so that
| the first mild, pleasant day can carry
you to your fathers to stay week;
believe the change would do you
good"
A warm, mellow day came like a
smile into the heart Of tine winter,
Jonas urged and Aunt vi seconded,
till between them they wrapped her
snugly, and, cushioned in the warm
est and softest of robes, she took a
sleigh ride to her fathers house,
where Jonas left her.
"And now, Aunt vi, he said, com
ing in on his return with his arms
loaded with rolls Of paper, II want
your help in conspiracy. The long
and short of 1T is that you and and
the boys and all the help we
need are going to work with paint
and paper and carpets and furniture
to make this house look SO Mary
won't know it at all W hen she comes
back"
The painters came the next day,
the paperers followed. Jonas brought
home nice carpets and women tc
make them. Loads of new furniture
came to the door, and new stoves u