Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1901-03-07
A NEXT BEST THING,
by CHARLOTTE LAuRENop.

by CHARLOTTE LAURENCE.
Allne Plummer had risen with all the
aches and pains listed in advertisements of
patent medicines-or so it seemed to her
Tor, in addition to her regular duties, she
had been saving what wood she had used
Tor the last three days.
oh, dear" she thought, "can ever get
through this day? -Four hired men to feed.
cheese to put in press, those berries to can,
and all the regular work besides!" There
was momentary silence, while she flew
| about the kitchen, and then, as her shoulder
gave her an extra twinge, her thoughts were
AGAIN put into words. "Pll never saw or
| split another stick of wood 1t isn't wom-
ans work, and Ezekiel has no right to expect
| it of me-
While Aline sputtered, and that was all
her scolding usually amounted to, she was
vusy getting breakfast-a task made more
aiihcult because she must constantly re-
plensh the lire from a basket of chips which
stood near the stove. The coffee was made,
the potatoes fried a delicious brown, and
the corn bread hot from the oven when
Aeklel came in with two pals of foaming
mix he washed himself at the long sink
IN the pump-room, then entered the kitchen,
clubbing and glowing, ready to do ample JUS
ace to the appetizing breakfast set before
him. 49,
Allne was as silent as a craven image, but
her husband did not observe it. He ate
steadily and heartily, and finally pushed
back his chair with satisfied "there!" ex-
clamatlon, and reached for his hat.
Ezekiel, said Aline, in sharp, decisive
tones. Il have no wood"
Well, you must pick up something to-
day. I'm off for the hay field"
L We picked up something for so many
days that there is nothing left I've sawed
and split wood until my shoulder is so lame
can hardly move my arm. shall not do it
any more"
Can't you use chips? I'll try to split up
some wood for you tonight"
"Chlps!" The tone was that of woman
who had received the last straw. "'Zeziel
Plummer, look out in that wood yard! Can
you see a chip there the size of a 5Ocent
| piece?"
We'll, can't stop now, Aline The hay
is waiting"
What shall get dinner with?'
L don't know; do the next best thing!"
and Ezekiel took hasty departure. He had
faith in his wife's resources. His dinner had
always been ready on time, and he saw no
reason why he should worry about it to-day
Aline sat down utterly discouraged. Her
shoulder ached furiously, and for a moment
1t seemed that life was not worth living. She
and Ezekiel had been married five years.
They had worked hard and now owned nice
little farm and were free from debt. But
looking back over the years of her married
life, she could Sc that much more Of Ezekiel s
work had been transferred to her than
c hn rof hNrp 1frht III j
self. She had begun to do these things, not
because he asked her to, but because she
had liked to help him. and after time they
had both seemed to forget that it was his
work, not hers, which he now required of
| her.
There will be change from this day."
she said, with sudden determination. 81
have been wrong and so has Ezekiel; |
have learned my lesson and he must now
learn his"
| Full of this new idea, Aline did all her
work that could be done without fire, then
seQmbed her hair prettilys and put on be-
coming gown of blue lawn.
! 1T seems odd to be doing this in the
morning." she said, as she fastened rose
bud in her hair, "but it is pleasant" TAX
| ing her sewing, she found a shady place on
the veranda, and there she sat when Ezekiel
| came home to dinner with his four hired
men. Her heart beat faster as she saw them
coming and pink color rose to her cheeks
| which served to add to her attractiveness.
| AS Ezekiel passed the veranda, he caught
| sight of his wife and smiled to see her look
ing SO fresh and dainty. She had tried to re-
| turn the smile, but the attempt was faint,
| for her heart was pounding away like trip
hammer. She heard the men in the pump
room, getting ready for dinner, heard them
come into the cool diningroom, where the
table was daintily spread with all except
food which required cooking, and then
heard 'Zekiel's exclamation of establishment.
"Aline," he called. "Why, where's the
dinner?"
I'm afraid it isn't done yet" she re-
piled, pleasantly. "Please go and see! You
will find it out on the back steps"
"On the back steps," he repeated, in vague
astonishment as he turned to do her bid
ding.
There, on the door stone, in the full glare
of the hot, blazing sun, stood a large kettle.
| Lifting the cover he saw potatoes, carrots,
beets, turnips and meat-a regular boiled
dinner-but unboiled! He stood with the
cover in his hand, the mystifed haymakers
| beside him, when his wife appeared on the
scene.
"You told me to do the next best thing"
she said, quietly, "and that was all | could
think of. You know [ have no wood"
Ezekiel enjoyed a joke, even though it was
on himself, and he burst into a hearty fit of
laughter, in which the haymakers joined.
''Well, boys" he said, 81 guess if we want
any dinner, we'll have to chop some wood"
An appetizing lunch was soon prepared,
which, with the good coffee, prevented the
men from going back to the field hungry,
and in the evening they enjoyed the dinner
which they had missed at noon. 'Zekiel's
lesson did him good, for now he never tells
his wife to do the next best thing.-House-
| keeper.