Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-11-18
Zoe !: !; !;
Her Problems
The trials,
worries and
perplexities
of a wife and
mother.

81 have heard you speak of her
nut only in general way. Tell
me about her" Zoe answered.
"She was less than year older
than |, and our homes joined, ;"
said her mother l loved her as a
sister and as my own sisters were
so much older and she was an only
child we were almost constantly
together.
"She was bright, witty and
winsome, making many friends,
Although not much older she
was taller than | and had more
mature appearance. | was shy and
backward while she had poise and
self reliance. She took me in
charge and fought my battles
yaliently during our school years.
In return | was her satellite,
looking up to her as to superior
being. | could see no faults in her
although later | learned that she,
ike others, was only human.
"When Myrtle was nineteen she
married Rob Clifford. You have
seen Rob Clifford, Zoe?
'Not the milk hauler?" Zoe
exclaimed.
Eyes, and they were very we'll
matched" said her mother.
He was young man with very
good manners, jovial and good
natured.
Because he was not u man of
property her parents were not
pleased with her choice but made
the best Of it and put them on a
farm. Rob had the strength and
the will to work and they prospered.
"But life on the farm was not to
Myrtle's liking. She was gay,
fan-loving girl who, never having
had any cares or responsibilities,
knew nothing of the serious side of
of life, and as their family in
creased, for they had everal
children she became more and
more dissatisfied.
when her parents died she had
8 goodly inheritance for they were
,well-to do and she welcomed the
release from the uncongenial farm
life. The farm was rented and
they went to the city to live where
things would be more to her liking.
Rob was good farmer and city
life did not appeal to him but un-
der the existing conditions he felt
mat he must accede to her wishes.
Il never knew whether she really
enjoyed city life but her name was
often found in the society columns
OF the city papers and for several
years she seemed to be one of the
leaders in the social set.
1T takes money to mingle in So
elety and Myrtle soon found that
heir modest income was not suffi-
eient. There are always ways of
investing money with reasonable
prospect of augmenting it and she
lmslsted on making venture.
Then first investment which
consisted in shares in an oil we'll,
gave good returns.
'Then the farm was sold and the
proceeds invested in Texas land
under an irrigation ditch which
was in the process of construction.
The oil we'll proved a paying
Investment and they received large
returns, but after while it ceased
to flow and their income from that
source was cut off. Then it was
found that the mine in which they
had invested was only a pocket,
.nd it was soon abandoned.
'4But they still had their Texas
land and they found it necessary to
dispose of a portion of it to get
money for their immediate needs.
Rob went down to attend to it and
found that the land was worthless.
No irrigation ditch had been built
and the land was too high for water
from a ditch to reach it.
''By hard work Rob and his boys
have been able to furnish the fam