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For Woman’s Work.
OVER AND OVER.
“Over and over, little lad,
The same thing over and over.”
So sings the robin from her nest,
Buzzes the bee in the clover.
“Every spring I build my nest,
Over and over bringing
I Tiny twigs and a wisp of straw,
,i Toiling and dreaming and singing.”
A “Every day I seek the flowers
. I To search out hidden treasure;
. JI Over and over, home at night,
IB I bring o’erflowing measure.”
Over and over, every day
"The sun bursts forth in glory,
Over and over, soft, warm winds
Have whispered the same sweet story.
/ Over and over, mother toils
/ And plans for one boy’s pleasure,
K i Over and over, bears with him
Jb / And gives love without measure.
JBL Jf So, weary not, dear little lad,
But bravely do your duty,
Over aud over; you will find
JWL The whole way bloom in beauty.
Florence A. Jones.
For Woman’s Work.
A MID-WINTER MARRIAGE.
BY MARY B. BTKLSON.
Lanesboro ; Feb. 2nd.
Miss Eveline Rogers,
Palatine, lowa.
my dear cousin :
We have decided to be mar
ried on the twelfth instant instead of June
next, as I wrote you last. Do not faint! Pack
your valise and come without delay. I need
help in my hasty preparations, and I know you
are always ready to assist the “needy and suffer
ing.” I represent the “needy”—hardly a swap
of sewing done. The family are the “suffering”—
to think that they must part with their dearly be
loved eldest born, who has not yet turned thirty!
But enough of this nonsense! We will meet
you at the train Thursday, if you do not disap
point me by writing to the contrary.
Yours lovingly,
Cora Colby 4
P. S.—l seem to hear you say: “Why this un
seemly haste?” It’s all Roland’s fault. He is
tired of boarding, and has at last overcome my
scruples against marrying young.
Again, I beseech you to come.
O • ''l
“That’s like Cora!’’ I exclaimed as I
read the letter to mother. “She and Mr.
Hunt have been engaged—how long? Five
or six years, I do believe. Now she will
be married in that old snuff-colored cash
mere if I do not go down in time to help
her make another dress. Mr. Hunt must
have the patience of Job, to have waited
for her this long.”
“She is worthy the waiting,” said moth
er, quietly. “How tenderly she cared for
poor little Amy I I believe she would
have been in a home of her own ere this,
had it not been for Amy. Now, that the
poor child has finished her sufferings, I am
glad Cora is to be married. She deserves
all the happiness we can wish her. You
must not disappoint her, Eveline.”
“No, certainly not. It is fortunate I
have that brown silk now. 1 will carry
that and wear my blue serge. I shall re
turn the day after the wedding, so that
you can go to Mitchell. You remember
Uncle and Aunt Barber’s silver wedding is
the fifteenth.”
“So it is. I had almost forgotten that.
We must decide upon wedding gifts.”
Thursday morning found me en route
for Lanesboro. After a two hours ride I
reached Moline Junction. It was bitter
cold, and the penetrating wind which
swept around the corner of the little depot,
set my teeth in a chatter. “W-when
does the tr-train go we-west?” I inquired.
“The passenger is delayed on account of
snow east. A freight starts in ten min
utes,” was the reply.
I purchased a ticket, found a seat in the
corner of the caboose, and was soon being
jerked toward the setting sun. Uncle
John Colby lived two miles from Lanes
boro, a small town on the D. and B.—
“Dead Branch,” as Cousin Walt appropri
ately styled it. Fortunately it was only
a sixteen mile ride from Moline Junction.
Before twelve o’clock I was seated in the
cutter behind Uncle John’s bay ponies.
“So glad you came, my dear,” said Un
cle John, as he wrapped the robes about
me and shook the lines for a start.
“The folks are so rushed they hardly take
time to eat or sleep. All nonsense, I say,
but women don’t use reason when there is
a wedding brewing. I tell your Aunt Su
san she is planning to cook enough for a
regiment. There will be quite a crowd,
though. Olive and Jim are cominng next
Tuesday. Walt will be home from school.
He is going to bring a chum of his—a
medical student —I forget his name; per
haps you have heard it; he is the one
who nursed Walt through the fever last
fall. Never mind; Cora will tell you.
Cora has so many friends about here, and
she wants to have them all at her wedding!
I don’t doubt she’ll write old Mrs. Austin
and Uncle Jake Pratt if Adah does not
object. Adah is more ‘high-toned,’ you
know. I expect we’ll lose her next.
The operator at Lanesboro—Allen Holmes
—calls over our way quite often of late.
But here, we are at home.”
J ust here let me give you a description
of Uncle John’s home and family. The
house, a Urge, square, two-story building,
stands back from the road, partially con
cealed by a forest of poplar trees.
The front door opens into a hall, at the
end of which is the stair-way. To the
right a door leads to the parlor, beyond
which is the parlor bedroom ; to ths left
a large sitting room. Beyond this is a
wing, containing a long dining room and
kitchen combined; then a bedroom, pan
try and a wash room. It is larger than
the average western farm house, but none
too large for the family which occupies it,
with their many comers and goers.
We have already introduced you to Un
cle John, with his frank, common talk.
Aunt Susan is a fat little woman, with
a large heart. Always ready to take in
and “mother” not only the “world and his
wife,” but all their children if necessary.
Blessings on dear Aunt Susan ! Cora, the
eldest, is a plump little body, resembling
her mother in form, features and disposi
tion.
Olive has been for several years Mrs.
James Brown. They live at Cresco, thir
ty miles east of Lanesboro, which place
is also the home of our hero, Roland Hunt.
Walt, a merry fellow with ahead full of
wit, is a Sophomore at Cornell.
Rob, the steady-going lad, is his father’s
main-stay.
Adah is a tall, slender, black-eyed beau
ty, with quiet, precise ways of her own.
Lastly, little Sue, the pet of the family.
Amy, the tiny cripple, died a year pre
vious to the opening of our story.
Cora met me in the hall, with a hearty
embrace, and ushered me into the sitting
room, with its bright fire, where the fam
ily were gathered to welcome me.
I had not seen them for nearly a year,
and how we did talk I They must tell
WOMAN’S WORK,
me how hurried they had been since the
wedding day was set, how Ellen Ander
son, who had promised to help them, was
sick with inflammatory rheumatism.
They had succeeded, however, in securing
Kate Borseim, who was doing very well.
How glad they were that Walt could
come home, if only for two days. He
would be such a help. Here little Sue at
tempted to tell me of the doctor who was
coming with Walt, and how Walt had said
he would just suit Cousin Eveline.
“Do you think he will suit ?” she queried,
anxiously. This caused a ereat laugh.
Dinner was then announced, and Sue’s
question was still unanswered.
That evening, after the family had re
tired, Cora told me of her plans.
“We are to be married next Thursday
at one o’clock, have dinner, and take the
four o’clock train for Cresco.
“Roland and Olive have our house near
ly furnished. Isn’t that nice ? Roland is
to come on the morning train Thursday.
Ido hope it will not be delayed. I would
like to have him come on Wednesday, but
the head clerk is sick, so he cannot leave
the store for any great length of time.
“It seemed, after we made our plans,
everything worked against us. The clerk
was taken sick; Ellen could not come to
help in the kitchen, and I was disappoint
ed in getting a dressmaker; but now, that
you are here, that does not matter.”
“A bad beginning often makes a good
ending,” quoted I, cheerfully, “and I
prophesy that everything will be done in
the ‘niche of time.’ ”
How the days flew, and how we worked!
Cora and I sewed steadily, while the rest
scoured and scrubbed, baked and brewed.
Tuesday brought Mr. and Mrs. Brown
from Cresco, and Walt and his friend,
Donald Mcßandall, from Cornell. To
wards evening the snow began falling heav
ily, and by nine o’clock the paths were
filled.
“Looks rather dubious for a wedding,”
said Uncle John, as he came ia from the
barn.
“Roland will not venture to wait until
Thursday, but will come in the morning
if the trains are not blocked,” observed
Mr. Brown.
The next morning found snow still fall
ing, with a high wind which set it scam
pering in every direction. At times it
was impossible to see the barn a few rods
away. It was a genuine western blizzard.
Aunt Susan and Olive went on with
preparations for the morrow’s festivities.
“It may be a lovely day,” said Adah,
“and all the guests will be here.”
“Yes.” said Cora, dubiously, “but what
about Roland? The train will not run
for a week.”
“We could go after him, if necessary,”
said Walt, teasingly. “But why not have
a wedding without him? Here are Adah
and Allen Holmes. Wouldn’t take much
to persuade them to act in your places.
We might even fit out for a double wed
ding Here are Donald and Eveline—they
would make a steady, reliable couple. Eh,
Donald?”
“What nonsense I” laughed Mr. Mcjßin
dall, with a touch of embarrassment. For
tunately I was seated at one side, and by
bending over my sewing could conceal the
blushes which I felt creeping up to the
roots of my hair. Not for the world
would I let those teasing cousins discover
that this tall, brawny Scotchman, with his
merry blue eyes and quiet ways, was be
coming an interesting personage to me.
The blizzardy day drew to a close. Ev
erything was in readiness for the morrow.
Thursday morning dawned clear and
bright. The family were astir at an early
hour. The men shovelled the paths. Im
mediately alter breakfast, Walt, Rob and
Mr. Mcßandall started with horses, sleighs,
and shovels to break a road to Lanesboro.
“If we only had not invited such a
crowd,” Cora would exclaim. “But they
all will come in spite of the drifts, and if
Roland doesn’t get here, how foolish I
shall feel I”
Before nine, Allen Holmes drove up. “A
telegram for Cora,” cried he, cheerily, as
we met him at the door.
“Roland will be here yet. He left Cresco
this morning on the snow engine.
That will only come to Moline Junction,
but he will not mind walking a few miles
to attend a wedding.
‘•Walt sent word thatthey should go on
to Union. That will save five miles’ walk
for him. I must go.” And away he
dashed.
At twelve, the guests began to arrive,
and at one o’clock the house was well filled.
Cora was dressed, looking very lovelv in
her blue velvet, but with an anxiows look
in her gray eyes as she gazed from an east
window of her room.
No one in sight. The tables were laid,
and tempting odors came from the dining
room, whenever the door was left ajar.
Two o’clock, and no bridegroom.
The guests chatted and tried to appear
as if they were not longing for the cere-
mony and the dinner which was to follow.
Three o’clock, and yet no bridegroom.
The children, for Cora had invited
young as well as old, were quieted by be
ing taken to the pantry and fed. Aunt
Susan waylaid Uncle John in the wood
shed with a biscuit and a cup of coffee, for
“fasting always brought on one of his
headaches.”
Four o’clock, and still no bridegroom.
An anxious half hour dragged wearily
away, when there was great shouting and
rejoicing. The snow-shovellers had ar
rived, bringing the belated bridegroom.
But where was the minister? He was
to have come on the morning train from
Hampton. Lanesboro did notafiord a res
ident minister. After some discussion it
was decided that Mr. Barnes, a justice of
the peace, who was present, should be in
vited to perform the ceremony.
This he did to the best of his ability.
The ceremony was legal, no doubt, but not
impressive.
Roland, being a heavily built man, unac
customed to vigorous exercise, looked in
tensely weary after his twelve miles walk
through the drifts. The guests mercifully
made their congratulations short.
The dinner was excellent in spite of its
long delay, and the guests did it ample
justice.
After it was over, the next question of
absorbing interest was: “How are we to
reach our respective homes ?”
The “Dead Branch,” as Walt said,
might not be used for weeks.
The only way would be to break a road
to Moline Junction.
Before we separated that night, it was
decided that the available men and teams
of the neighborhood should be pressed into
service, and it was hoped that before eve
ning of the following day we should be in
Moline Junction.
During the night many of us heard the
wind roaring through the poplar grove,
and so were partially prepared for the
fierce blizzard which we found raging the
next morning. There was little hope
of reaching our homes that week, so every
one tried to forget that there were any
reasons for so doing. The old farm house
had never, on its most festive occasions,
held a merrier crowd than during that
snow blockade. Music, charades, recita
tions, and games of various kinds were
the order of the day.
The following Tuesday found us in Mo
line Junction, awaiting our trains. I will
not linger over the cold, tedious ride
through the drifts. Suffice it to say, none
of us were frozen, and “all’s well that
ends well.”
I do not mind telling you, in the strict
est confidence, that this marriage, with its
attendant blizzards, brought about a love
affair which will, no doubt, end in a wed
ding. Donald and I are agreed, however,
that it shall not take place in mid-winter.
nmvni rTOANYß<iv«R«mLrnrr
M■ 0 WI ■ under 18 years o f age who will work for Mlf M M
mill 111 I üßufterwhool. NO MONEY NEEDED.! Bill
M! W IW Hend thi „ uA . cu RTlfl to co.,
■■■■■MHMk 46WE8T QUINCY BT., CHICAGO, ILL.
■ a We want a live and wide-awake
I l| 1 111 A* representative in your locality
vl 111 rKm t 0 re P resent us - With “Vim,”
taflUlaaV vigor, pluck and push you can
make money. For particulars send self addressed
stamped envelope to Crescent Toilet Co.,
South Bend, Indiana.
Ip LEGANT CARDS. Fine as engraved. 50 for 25c.
H. Talmadge, West Union, lowa.
NEWMAN’S MANDRAKE LIVER PILLS CURE
II Indigestion, Constipation and Sick Headache.
Purely vegetable. Never gripe. By mail 25c. New
man, 17 Park St., Canandaigua,N. Y.
A WORLD’S FAIR
Gov.) sent by registered mail, and $5.00 worth of
music of your own selection, from our No ioc cata
logue, for $2.50 Catalogue Free. HUYETT MUSIC
CO , 269 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO, ILL.
The liaoy’t* Comfort.
The Mother’s Friend.
SLa •• Dr. Fahrney’s
TEETHING SYRUP
.For all baby ailments;
. JR .f ■. prevents Cholera Infan-
turn; pleasant to take
* / > / I and perfectly harmless.
>' i 25 cts.. at Druggists.
~ AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN
y.gK says that he is using in his
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xjjffiVVX j\ X ‘-otenge for Dyspepsia with
It! I I t * le most happy results, where
T all other medical agents
v—.-.lMWlllfflKß proved unavailing. Every
druggist and storekeeper should keep them. Price
50c. a box by mail. Agents wanted. J. F. Truitt,
Bridgeport, N.J.
NATIONAL SURGICAL INSTITUTE.
ATLANTA, « i.,
I f Treats Deformities and
W Chronic Diseases, tuch as
/ J Club Feet, Diseases of
/ A4E f the Hip,Spine andJ< hits,
fg B W > Paralysis, Piles, I istula,
r W f Catarrh, Female and
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r S | Diseases of the Urinary
Sr&J Organs, etc. Send lor il-
WBBN lustrated circular. Name
this paper.
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