Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-02-13
All In The Family.

Perhaps Jonathan Higgs did not kno"
he was a hard man with his family. 1t is
possible to look at things from selfish
angle so long that you grow blind to
everything except your own wants. One
day early in spring, when Jonathan was
ready to drive into town, his wife gave
him thirty-five dollars that she had been
saving for months from her butter and
egg money.
"Go 10 the furniture store" she said,
land get the new parlor carpet. They
know the one, for had them lay it away
for me month ago."
All day Mrs. HiggS went about her
work singing. But when Jonathan came
there was no roll Of carpet in the wagon /;
instead, hitched to the back ofthe wagon,
was new cultivator.
81 found just the cultivator needed, "
he explained, glibly. 81 didn't think |
could afford TO get it until you gave me
that thirty-five dollars "
"But my carpet2" His wife'S eyes
were wet, and she bit her lip to keep it
from trembling.
"Oh, the old one'll dol" he said, with
light contempt. "What's the use OF
spending money for carpet? 1t amt
good 10 eat, and it don't make you any
money. Now that cultivator will make
me a hundred bushels more corn"
but il was my money" Tears at her
disappointment and her husbands iniuS-
tice could not be kept back longer.
20 pshaw," said Jonathan, lightly,
"it's all in the familyp'
The old carpet was full of holes, so
Mrs. Higgs tore il up, and lett the floor
bare all summer. But Jonathan did not
mind at all. The crops were good, and
one day in the fall Mrs. Higgs and one OF
the girls went to town TO buy the weeks
supplies. All the men were busy owing
wheat.
The farmer wrote check for hundred
and sixty doll;r5, and gave it to his wife.
MARIA" he said, "get this caShed at
the bank then 60 to the hardware store,
pay them hundred dollars, and tell them
to send out that gasoline engine they
were showing me. II is too hard work
for me and the boys to pump water Tor
all the stock this winter. And stop al the
clothing store and tell Mr.. Jones 10 send
me that suit tried on. Get him to take
off two dollars if you can. And you can
pay that thirty dollar account at the gro
Gerry store, too"
1t was dark when Mrs. Higgs and Mary
drove up that evening, and when Jonathan
| welt out he was astonished TO see new
buggy trailing along behind the wagon.
And there were other things in the wagon
that gave him a further shock.
"Maria," he asked, sharply, did you
order that engine ?"
mo"
Ibid you get my suit p
"No." She handed the lines TO one OF
the boys. "Nor didn't pay the grocery
account" she said, coolly. "You can't
eat SUIT nor a gasoline engine nor re-
ceipted bill, and they don't make you any
money.
81 got new buggy to save wear on the
wagon, a new parlor carpet that will save
coal by keeping the floor warmer, and a
new range that'll cook food right. And !
got a new churn and lot OF kitchen
things TO help me and the girls do the
work-they will keep us from wearing
out, and save funeral expenses.
But il was my money, and ! told you
-" gasped the amazed Jonathan.
"Oh, yes" said Maria, lightly, "but
it's all in the family. Take hold here,
and you and the boys get these things
unloaded."
There was something so resolute in
her tone that he took hold, and held his
tongue.