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

The three meals come close together,
washing and ironing must be done,
baby shall not be neglected, and of
course must keep the clothes all
mended."
Zone thing at the time is the way
to think of your duties. Pick up all
the comfort you can as you go along.
l have made up my mind to do so in
the future"
$50 l see, by your thinking of hav-
ing an extra hand"
Eyes, feel that | must take care
Of my health for your sake and the
children's.'
Certainly" Mary answered in a
sarcastic tone, show thoughtful you
are for us!'
John made no further comment,
but inwardly wished that prayer
meetings did Mary thegood they once
had done, and wondered why his
vile was so changed.
Il am going with Squire Towne to
see a new reaper; he says he hardly
wants to buy without my opinion"
This was the next day.
John left his wife ironing with the
half sick baby sitting at the table in
the company of an army of flies, and,
in spite of the home scene, enjoyed
his ride along the pleasant shaded
road, we'll pleased to be seen in com
pany with the big man of the town.
At supper-time he came home with
the new reaper behind the wagon.
"By taking two we made hand
some saving, and, as / intended to
buy one, l might as we'll take it now,"
he remarked by way of explanation.
ut will save time and strength, and
pay for itself in year."
Mary made no comment, but set
her teeth tightly together when she
remembered that she had asked in
vain for something to make her work
easier. A sewing machine had been
pronounced hurtful. Better have
fewer changes of clothing than run
machine" John had decided when
the subject was discussed. "a clothes
wringer would be constantly getting
out of order. To bring water into
the house would be just to spoil the
water. Mother would never have a
pump in her day."
"My mother used to say men are
selfish, and begin to think she was
right" Mary muttered, as she went
to the kitchen for the plate of hot
biscuit John was so fond of for his
tea.
Her husbands appetite was good,
but, from fatigue and overheating
herself, Mary could not eat. His ride
and the society of the genial squire
had acted like tonic, but there was
no tonic in the air of hot kitchen.
"a commonplace life," she said;
and she sighed, as she cleared away
the dishes, while John tilted back in
his armchair on the cool, draughty
porch and talked over things with
neighbor Jones.
"Why don't you buy Widder
Patch's cranberry medder?" asked
Mr.. Jones. at is going dirt cheap,
and you can afford it," The sum
was named figures that astonished
Maryland she was more surprised
when she heard her husband say:
81 have half a mind to buy it. I've
had an old bill paid in, and, to tell
the truth, affairs in the money mar
ket are SO squally, l don't know just
where to salt it down."
No tears came to Mary's tired eyes,
but her heart went out in one mighty
sob as she stood, dish pan in hand,
before the disordered table, and
thought how cheaply she had sold
herself, really for her board and two
dollars a week, to a man who had
promised to love and cherish her I'M
til death!
The beautiful piano she had
brought to the farm was never opened,
but looked like gloomy casket
wherein was buried all the poetry of
her life. The closed parlor had long
since assumed the grimness and mus
illness of country best parlors, of
which in her girlhood days she had
made such fun. John was a rich
man, and in spite of his marriage
vows, was allowing burdens grievous
to be borne to press on her shoulders,
in order to "salt down" his dollars.
Had she not a duty to performi
Ought she to allow him to preach
and never practice9 Had she not
rights which were not respected by
her husbandi for, she reasoned, if
he allowed her to do what could be