The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-02-06
HIS SURPRISE.

IL
Adam and Eve were probably the
only welded couple Of whom nc one
ever said, 'How could he?'' or How
could she?''
Certainly, when the staid old bach
elor, Jonas bingham (''35 if he's
dayr' said the wondering 'other
cirls'), carried of Mary Morton. not
yet out Of her teens, right in the face
and eyes Of many admiring boys. great
many people wondered, How could
ehe?''
At home she occupied the sometimes
questionable position Of the middle one
in a family Of three daughters. Nobody
doubted that she was good and useful,
but she was not brilliant and fasciGat-
ing like her older sister, Amy, nor was
she a pretty doll Of girl to be petted as
everybody petted her. younger sister,
Bess
Amy had troops of beaux that she
wound around her finger and made her
most obedient slaves, but Jonas Hing
ham was Mary's first attentive escort,
and his devotion and sincerity carried
her heart by storm
Jonas pleaded eloquently for an early
wedding day, and Mary Was nothing
loatb, for life with Jonas and for him
seemed like paradise in anticipation.
He lived three miles away on a large
farm, his fathers and grandfather's
before him. His father mad been dead
several wears, and his mother, though
still active and industrious, was too old
10 work as she had always done.
Everybody knew the Hinghams were
forehanded. free from debt and with
money at interest The Mortons. on the
contrary, had always lived from hand
10 mouth, Mr Morton's trade never
having sGfficed TO do much more than
yroTide a home, with ample food and
clothing. besides educating the girls as
they wanted 10 be, with music and
painting and all the ornamentals which
girls in country villages sigh after.
1t Is safe TO say that Mary never
dreamed of the change it would be for
her TO go from her snug, pretty home
into that great. bare farmhorse-like
changing from soft, musical poetry TO
plain. dry prose.
Summer and winter the family had
always worked and ate and sat IN the
great kitchen, except when company
came. Then they rolled up the green
paper shades in the sitting room and sat
in there Everything was stiff. bare, Or
derly and scrupulously clean.
Stepping into Mother Hingham's
shoes" meant more real, downright hard
work than Mary had ever dreamed of,
bat she was young and strong and
would not finch when she saw that
both Jonas and his mother expected her
20 be the notable. Woodworking house
wife the elder woman had always been.
Her hands grew brown and hard, her
dresses grew old fashioned, and she had
neither time nor care to remodel them,
as she seldom went anywhere, except
occasionally to church and more rarely
still on brief visit to her fathers.
Then babies came as the years went
by-boys, always boys.
IF only had girl, - thought Mary
sometimes, ''she might grow up TO help
sne and do all the light and pretty
things that have forgotten how TO Go,
but these boys viii never care for such
things
Mother bingham lived but few
years after Nary came there. To the
last she was happy and content, fond Of
Mary and at home in the farmhouse,
still unchanged.
"Jcnas Will have TO hire help for his
wife, now that his mother is gone, -
people said.
But he didn't seem TO think OF that
As long as Mary did not complain he
never dreamed she was OVERRIDING or
necGed anything she did not have.
One OF the established traditions of
the house was that they must have a
hired girl through haying time, never
at any other time Of the year unless in
case Of sickness.
So through harvesting and the fall |
hOusecleaning, the meat killing and /
the spring sngarins. mp TO haying time |
again, Mary's one pair Of hands did the /
work till-she broke down.
Jonas was worried about indoor mat |
te.s, not that he was so miserly he did |
not ike to pay hired help but who was !
80 take care and oversee it all?
OF course the Mortons were as agitat- |
e1 as Jonas himself, and as much as 1
they could came 20 the rescue, but Mrs. 1
Morton was growing old and could not 1
work rs she once had done. and Amy /
had made brilliant match years ago.
Bessie was still at home and single, /
buJ had never enjoyed going there when /
Mary was well, and with Mary sick it /
could not be thought OF.
Jonas had bad luck finding capable /
indoor help, and ii was great relief to |
them all when Aunt Vi. Mr Morton's /
maiden sister, came from the west, and /
not having any particular home any |
where willingly took the leadership in /
the Hinghani household.
Bat somehow Mary didn't seem to |
gain at all, and Aunt Vi told Mrs Nor
ton that Mary seemed 10 have lost all |
interest in life.
Jonas IS just As kind as can be. and /
the boys a.e all smart and bright and /
fond Of her. They are forehanded and 4
have 4 good home. but it seems as if she |
doesii' care aoou: living ] do think il |
she had an ambition to get well she |
would. -
In the vgry depths of winter Mrs
fdorton's sister from Boston, Mrs Cra-
mer, made flying visit in town, her /
nrst visit 10 the place since Mary mar
Tiage.
''You must go 20 see Mary in her own
home, said Mrs Morton. bat the poor /
child Is too weak TO visit much. We /
viii 60 thore together and spend the
day, ard il will crafty her, though she
cannot enjoy it as if she was we'll
III sleep with Mary tonight and |
wait upon her, said Mrs. Morton to
Aunt Vi. as bedtime came ON, land you
can go up stairs and get good nights
rest >"
Well sleep together, Aunt vi"