Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-12-24
For Richer, for Poorer
49,

It was sweeping day, and Mrs. Bar
nard, warm, tired and discouraged,
sank down on the top step OF the STAIR
Way to rest a moment before attack
anR the upper rooms The view Of the
lower rooms, even from this lofty point
Of view, was discouraging. With the
rugs up and the pieces OF furniture
pulled away from their accustomed
places. the pitiless sunshine showed
clearly every break In the carpet and
sYery soiled spot upon the wall paper.
whats the use Of trying to clean
up, cover up, and pretend any longerY'
Mrs. Barnard said. bitterly.
"I believe that good things, when
Ehey do begin to show the effects of long
and rough usage, look worse than
cheaper ones; but if they hadn't been
good I don't know what we would have
done. for we've never been able to re-
place everything" and she sighed as
she looked at the expensive furniture,
now marred and scratched, and at the
carpets, still bravely holding to their
rich colorIng, although worn almost
threadbare.
Her gaze could not reach the dining
room, but she knew that the beautiful
but fragile glass and china with which
she had so proudly started house
Keeping had dwindled sadly, and the
costly linen was patched and darned in
many places. The bedrooms, still
awaiting the attack of her broom, were
all needing supplies.
Its the old story Of flying before
we learned to walk. Here we are, care
worn and old before our time, and in
such straits that we hardly know which
way to turn, and think of the start we
had! Our little fortune was a curse
instead of q blessing, for it gave us a
taste Of q life Of ease then left us to
be common drudges. If John had only
known how to manage, or if he could
only learn how to manage now like
other men, we might get even with the
world once more, but don't see much
hope. If 1 had a daughter, I'd edu-
cate her so that she might be able to
support herself, and teach her to let
married life alone. What right has any
man to persuade happy, care-free girl
into risking her happiness in his
hands :"
The town clock struck ten, and Mrs.
Barnard rose YEARLY, picked up her
broom, and adjusted the towel that was
wrapped abOue her head. The rooms
must be put in order before the noon
day meal, and many tasks were waiting
yet IN the lower part of the house.
The postman's whistle sounded at
the front door, and she went down to
receive from him two envelopes, each
addressed in the same handwriting.
One was n wedding invitation, and the
other a letter.
''Why, It's from Una, my little Una!"
exclaimed Mrs. Barnard. as she read
Dear Aunt Una-I am not writing
letters to send with all my invitations,
but wanted to write to you, to tell
you that you must come to my wedding.
1t would not be complete without you.
You know my first experience in church
weddings was when l was flower girl
Mt your wedding, and have never at
tended one since that was half so
pretty, nor have 1 ever been so much
impressed by any other ceremony as
/ was by that, young as was. l want
my wedding to be just as nearly like
yours as it can be, and oh, Aunt Una,
the Strangest part of 1t is, l am TO
marry John, too. You will remember
John Nelson. He was such q great,
gawky boy, and l never dreamed that
I would ever marry any one had al
ways known, but when you see him
you'll say he's a perfect dear. OF
course you will not think him half as
handsome as your John, and l know
! shall not be half SO lovely a bride as
you were, but we're very much in love,
and so happy! 1t will spoil all my
pleasure, though, if you fail to come
] want you so much. Your little
UNA.
"Why, she's only a child." Mrs
Barnard said rs she folded the letter
Then rs she thought of the fifteen years
that had flown since her nameSake had
been flower girl at her wedding. she
realized that the second Una would be
m older bride than she had been.
The letters had miscarried, and had
been on the road for some days. The
wedding was to take place next
Wednesday evening of the next week,
and this was Friday. How she would
have to hurry to get ready for it! She
must begin hurrying right away, and
she went tripping up the stairway like
girl.