The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-04-16
5niSccllanenms.
SELFISH JOHN CLARK.

Inc meeting was SOOQ one. though
the heat was intense, and there was
more singing done by the mosquitoes
| than by the human species.
| John Clark sat by an open window,
where what breeze there was came in
and kept him comparatively comfort
| able, and he had on a clean linen suit
which his wife had washed and ironed
that day, notwithstanding that the
mercury mounted high in the nineties;
and its freshness was an additional
comfort.
His first crop of hay, much larger
| than usual, had that day been put in
his spacious barns without damage by
SO much as drop of rain. He was
well, strong, and therefore happy.
The ride home was charming, and
as the new horse took them through
Cairnley Woods with sure, fleet foot,
John Clark felt that life was bright;
aud as he thought of Brother Whites
| remarks about weary burdens and
feet tired with the march of life, he
concluded that the aforesaid brother
was not in the enjoyment of religion.
Johns wife sat back in the carriage,
resting her tired body, and turning
over i'll ermind the remarks her John
had.made at the meeting. .sifBearsye
one;anotferet bsfrd ensis ihadebeBnsthe
subject of the evenings talk and
Johns speech had been listened to
WEB evident rsl ls ts5s.,...,-.,.' -
n sf ii , 4 VA ss ss9ss s..
passHd shimson, tile swayaout. stsikllepes
we shall all heed his words"
Il think of hiring Tom Birch as a
sort of spare hand or call-boy general
| ~. | find this hot weather takes the
starch out of me-" John said, as the
horse trotted through the cool pine
grove. amid fuckers of moonlight.
will you board him - asked Mary
| Clark, i'll a constrained voice, with the
memory of her husbands exhortations
still in her mind.
"Of course | want him evenings to
| take the horse when we come home
! from meeting, or if | have Il friend
| out. 1t is rather hard to have to go
right to work directly one gets home. =
| You are going to hire him to help
bear some of your burdens" said
| Mary, in the same hard voice.
Just so, wife. 1t stands Inc in hand
to practice, if l preach. Don't you
say so ~
Il do am glad you are going to
| have help, as you say, it is hard to go
| to work the minute you get home. l
| have been foolish enough to have this
ride spoiled by thinking of bread to
mix, two baskets of clothes to fold be-
fore | sleep, for the ironing tomorrow,
and dinner to get for four hungry
men, and baby to care for"
Don't crowd to-morrow'S burdens
| into this present ride And it seems
| to me that it would be better to get all
! the homework done before meeting
time"
"IfI could, but that is impossible;
milk to strain, dishes to wash, Benny
and baby to put to bed-all these things
come together, and then l AIN tired
enough to go to bed myself"
Take it easy, Mary; keep cool,
avoid all the hot work you can"
81 wish ! could have girl, John"
Mother used to say girls were more
hindrance than help. | guess you
would find them so; and then they
waste and break more than their
| wages. | don't see how could afford
a girl. Do what you can, and leave
some things undone; that's the way to
| work it," and John sat back with
satisfied air, and Mary thought of her
| husbands glowing words in the pray
| er meeting.
Il will do what l cam" said Mary,
| in weary voice. what l am oblig-
| ed to do is beyond my strength. The
three meals come near together, wash
| ing and ironing must be done, baby
shall not be neglected, and of course l
must keep the, clothes all mended,"
lone thing at a time is the way to
| think of your dutiesas Pick up alltthe
comfort youe'caHs as yod go af6fgih l
have ade up my mind to do so in.the
c. future c06E nc trBh .3e11 ssgl1
80 see, by your thinking sofha'
- ing an extra hand.
"Yes, l feel that must take care {
my health for your sake and the chi
dren's."
'Certainly ~ Mary answered, in
sarcastic tone, chow thoughtful 20
are for us -
g John made no further comment, bu
inwardly wished that prayer meeting
did Mary the good they once had dom
and wondered why his wife was s
changed.
Il am going with Squire Towne t
see new reaper; he says he hardl
wants to buy without my opinion.
This was the next day.
John left his wife ironing with til
halfsick baby sitting at the table
re the company of an army of flies, an
in spite of the home scene, enjoyed h
ride along the pleasant shaded roa(
we'll pleased to be seen in compan
with the big man of the town. A
I supper time he came home with til
- new reaper behind the wagon.
by taking two we made hanC
I'd some saving, and, as intended TO bu
one, might as well take it now,n h
remarked by way of explanation. 81
r will save time and strength, and pa
for itself in a year"
Mary made no comment, but set he
N teeth tightly together when she r
membered that she had asked III val
for something to make her work easie
+ A sewing machine had been pr
nounced hurtful Better have fewt
changes of clothing than run nj
chine" John had decided when tt
subject was discussed. "A clothe
wringer would be constantly gettin