The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17

done by dn ignorant hlred woman at
two dollars week, then he rated her
at that price.
"Widder Patch has had tough
time ont" said neighbor Jones; "she
is going West to Tom, if she sells
the medder, and Jane is going out to
work. She tried sewing, but it don't
agree with her. DIR. Stone recon-.
mends homework, as it's a healthy
business"
"'Tis healthy business" chimed
in John. Now my wife's good
deal better than when l married her.
Why, she never did washing in her
life until she came to the farm. l
think washing and general homework
is much better than piano playing
and reading"
$50 say to the girls who poster
me to buy an organ; better play on
the wash board, enough sight" was
Gue eleSduI response.
"Are you going to buy the cram
berry meadow, joint" Mary asked,
as she saw her husband making prep
arations to go from home.
"Yes-why?"
"Can you afford it,"
I'VE shall have to figure a little
closer in order to do it, but it is going
cheap"
"You will have to give up Tom
Birch, won't you, and do the chores
yourself?"
81 have thought of it, but Tom is
poor, and to give him home is a
deed of charity. No, we will save
some other way"
"How much do you pay Tom?"
Three dollars and his board. And,
by the way, he says you didn't wash
his clothes. Washing and mending
was in the bargain"
81 think Tom will have to go, for 1
have hired Jane Patch. She will be
here tonight. Two dollars a week |
am to give her. You want to practice,
Bear ye one another's burdens as
we'll as preach from the text; so l will
give you chance. l shall take my
turn in sitting on the cool piazza after
tea with neighbor, while you do the
chores. l think the time has come
for some of my burdens to be lifted.
By exchanging Tom for Jane, you
will have one dollar a week for the
cranberry meadow You say strong,
active Tom is in need of home; he
can make one for himself anywhere.
1t is deed of charity to give Jane
home, and an act of mercy to give
your wife little rest"
Before John could recover from his
establishment, Mary walked out of
his sight, and, taking the children,
went to the shut-up parlor. Throw
ing open the windows to let in the
soft summer air, with the baby in her
lap, she sat down at the piano and
began to play ''song without
words" piece John had loved to
hear when he used to visit her in her
home when she was petted girl.
The song crept out through the open
windows and around to John as he
sat on the porch, and memory COM
PEELED him to give the song words.
Not musical poetry, but rather SOM
Der prose, wherein washing and iron
ing, hard days at the churn, hours of
cooking for hungry men, stood out
before his minds eye in contrast to
the fair promises he had made the
pretty girl he had won for his bride.
Jane Patch came that evening, and
at once took upon herself many of
Mrs. Clark's cares, and no one greet
ed her more cordially than the mas
ter of the house. Nothing was ever
said about her coming, and Tom
Birch did not go away; so Mary knew
that her husband could we'll afford
the expense.
She told me how she helped to
make one man thoughtful and I'M
selfish, as we sat on her cool piazza
one hot August night; and | was
glad one woman had "grit" enough
to demand her rights. If John Clark
had been poor man, his wife would
have borne her burden with patience;
but she had no right to help make
him selfish At least, that was her
view of the case. Who will say that
she was not right?