The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-24
my WIFE LUCY"
A Bargain That She Insisted Should Bs
Lived IN To


New York state was a new country,
young man brought his bride to the
humble cabin home he had prepared for
her. The bride was young, tall, straight
and muscular, with fine head, bright
eyes and red cheeks Physically and
mentally she was strong She had been
raised" by thrifty mother and
taught to work in a sensible way. She
had brought to her husband good
settin out" Her own clothing and
household linen she had spun, woven
and made herself, and there was a good
ly amount of it. Her parents had given
her a huge feather bed and pillows, a
bedstead, three chairs. table, dishes
and hollow ware So when John had
finished his house. bought horse, COW,
pigs and chickens. they felt quite fore
handed" and were ready to marry.
When John Chalmers asked her to be
his wife, she had answered him in this
way: "We'll make a bargain first. II |
marry you, I'll do the cooking, wash
ing. scrubbing, milking. churning,
spinning, sewing, knitting, feeding the
chickens and keeping the house clean.
You'll bring in wood and water, make
the fire in the morning and do the rest
of the work. Is it bargain?"
Eyes, Lucy, it's bargain. -
''Then I'll marry you; but, John
Chalmers, remember bargains bar.
gain, and don't you never depend on
me to do your work, nor think of it
for you either, for l won't"
Two weeks after their marriage he
said to her one morning: Lucy. I'm
going to bring Mr.. Williams home to
dinner. He's going to be a great man
some day, and he's worth having for a
friend. Have tiptop dinner. Goodby,
dear" He gave her a hearty kiss, and
without waiting for an answer he
mounted his horse and rode quickly
away for the town. At noon he return
ed with his friend. Before they reached
the cabin he heard Lucy voice singing
merrily. and he caught sight of the
back of a short gown and petticoat sur
mounted by capacious splint sunbon.
net
Seemingly she did not hear them,
and John was about to call her when it
suddenly came to his mind that he had
brought in neither wood nor water that
morning. He had been forewarned, but
he had not profited thereby. Now he
must meet the consequences and settle
his own shortcomings with his guest.
He need expect no help from that indie
pendent young woman. His heart was
heavy and his stomach light as they APP
preached the cabin. He missed the ap.
petizing odors that were wont to greet
him, such as proceed from hot corn
cakes, fried bacon and eggs. The sweet
smell of baking potatoes and bread did
not greet him at the threshold as they
entered.
The teakettle hung from one hook on
the crane, but it was not singing. Al
iron kettle was suspended from another
hook. Two long handled frying pans
had corn cakes and thin slices of bacon
nicely arranged in them. Potatoes were
washed ready for roasting. Two loave'
of bread were in the oven and pie
was waiting for the fire. The room wa
J faultlessly neat. Her work was done.
John scratched his head thoughtful
ly. Then he burst into laugh that shool
the cabin and echoed and re-echoe(
through the woods Mr.. Williams join
ed, forgetting for the time that he wa
very hungry and had been invited to |
dinner which for lack of wood and wa
ter was not in tempting condition, al
though perfect of its kind.
| Turning to Mr.. Williams, John said
"My wife Lucy is smart woman, bu
she hasn't got smart husband. Pleas
sit down, Mr. Williams, and excuse IN
for awhile" He went out, but soon re
turned with wood and water. Afte
starting the fires and filling the teaket
| tie he sat down beside his friend ant
told him about the contract which h
had entered into before his marriage.
"Some women would have brough
wood and water when company was ex
pected, but not my wife Lucy. She's
woman to be proud of, she is.
As he said this Lucy appeared In tn
doorway she gave their guest heart
handshake and welcome. Then withou
apology she attended to finishing tn
work SO we'll begun, and later the hun
cry trio did full justice to deliciou
meal When they had finished. she sal
to Mr.. Williams:
Don't you think bargains bar
gain and ought to be stuck to whethe
it's made with man or with VIC
mani"
And Mr.. Williams answered wit
sincerity: