Middletown transcript., 1897-03-27

4
nurse administered medicine occasion.
ally and In the morning grave old
doctor made his appearance.
Ididn't sat anything all day. she
whispered, sand l wanted to see the
|pictures and it was pay day."
"Oh yer, yes" exclaimed the doctor,
hastily, ''don't waste your strength
taking"
Jacob Berry finished his days work
and sat down waiting for his wife to
come home and cook him good, hot
supper TO make amends for his cold
dinner. The hours passed and finally
his indignation gave way to real alarm,
which was increased the next morning
by the reception of telegram sum-
moning him to the hospital. He en-
tered the huge building with awe and
trepidation, but when he saw his wife
alive and looking as usual, only a trifie
paler, he felt him.elf much-abused
man and as she told him of her visit to
the Art Museum a frJwn gathered on
his face and the alert nurse, seeing her
patient was becoming worried, ended
the brief interview.
''Just as l expected" began Jacob
in an aggrieved tone, as he entered tie
the DOCTORS Office. "She brought all
| this on traipsIng around after foolish
ness, and here's farm work coming on
and l don't suppose she'll be able to do
much for couple of weeks"
The doctor, busy cOmpouniing med.
.icine, ignored Jacot's complaints. Af-
ter q moments silence he remarked,
'syour wife is hard working woman,
her hands show it," For the first time
in Jacobs life, he felt ashamed of his
Wife's toil-stained hands.
SWELL" replied Jacob, somewhat
confused. ''me and my wife both work
hard and will have to as long as we are
in debt"
AREN'T your children old erough to
be of some help?" continued the doc
tor.
I'VE haven It any," replied Jacob.
"Then what's the use working SO
hardP" continued the doctor.
"Becanse we're in debit" reiterated
Jacob. 1.-THE Cummins farm joins on
mine and l bought it last spring.
"Ah indeedl'' exclaimed the doctor,
peering over his gold spectacles and
giving his medicine bottle shake, $50
you had one good farm clear before you
bought this last one, and I'll warrant
money in bank; too. | know the way
of these valley farmers. | was brought
up on farm not far from yours.
know all about the digging and pinch:
ing and saving; and you say you have
no children to work for, so it just
amounts to this: you are wearing out
your Wife's life and your own too, and
out of every dollar you both ssve, pos
sibly you may enjoy six cents year
and before long someone willhave your
money to spend. This rouble of your
wiie's has been com ing on long time
and was brought on by hard work. 1t
is fortunate for you both that this
breakdown occurred here where she
can be cared for properly. 1t will be q
good while before she gets up and she
will never be able to work hard again. /"
Jacob left the hospital. feeling very
uncomfortable. Evidently the doctor
considered him responsible for his
wife's condition.
: Time hung heavy on Jacobs hands |
in the long week that ensued. He had |
plenty of leisure TO think over the doc
tors lecture. The next Sunday he
was In his accustomed place in the lit
tie brick church. A stranger filled the |
pulpit, and bis text was, Lay not up
for yourselves treasures on earth" He
portrayed the character Of the hard
working congregation and Jacob con-
cluded that he, like the doctor, spokefrom
personal experience. He epondered up
on the DOCTORS talk and the sermon on
his way home. There was long Sun
day afternoon to be ..assed and Jacob
looked over his small collection OF
books with a view of selecting one to
while away the time. He took up the
Pilgrims Progress" there was a leaf
turned down at the chapter where the
man with the muck-rake was described
there were few blistered places that
showed someone had been crying over
It, and with sudden pang Jacob re.
nembered that Martha had been read
ng this book the Sunday afternoon he
bad told her Of his purchase of the
Jummins farm aud that the furnishing
Il the parlor, delayed SO many years,
must be postponed indefinitely.
The next week he. paid his wife a
Iisit. He was beginning to see b i'm
'eif in new light and cons equently
,e felt more tenderly towards her. He
lad vague feeling that be did not
understand her, he knew she did not
harein his love Of money; be wondered
yhat enjoyment she could find in look
ng at pictures and with q view to
making that discovery, be visited the
Art Museum. He could not help but /
acknowledge that he was interested
himself inthe novel sight, and train
ime came too soon. On his way to ,
he depot he stopped to look ut pic
ure In window; the proprietor Of
he store, espying him. andlessr ON the i
llert for customer, accDsted him, a
aging:
81 just LET let you have dot picture :
heap. only ten lOllar.a