A Country Idyl and Other Stories

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Bolton Sarah Knowles. A Country Idyl and Other Stories

A COUNTRY IDYL

THE SECOND TIME

FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS

THE RING OF GOLD

FOUR LETTERS

REWARDED

THREE COLLEGE STUDENTS

THE TWILIGHT HOUR SOCIETY

SLAVE AMY

LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS

TWO AT ONCE

THE HOUSE-WARMING

HANNAH AND JOE

BURTON CONE’S REASON

UNSUITABLE

PLAYING WITH HEARTS

DUTY

WAIFY

THE BLACK AND TAN

THE CHRISTIAN HUNTER

LOVE’S CHRISTMAS GIFT

AN UNFORTUNATE SAIL

A NEW KIND OF WEDDING

LOST HIS PLACE

STRUCK IT RICH

FOOD AT THE DOOR

HOW THE DOG TAX WAS PAID

THE STORY OF DOUGLAS

Отрывок из книги

THE HON. John Crawford had become a prominent man in his community. He had begun life in poverty, had learned economy early, and fortunately had married a girl with tastes and habits similar to his own. Both desired to rise in the world, and she, forgetting herself, bent all her energies toward his progress and success. She did her own housework for years, made her own clothes and those of her children, and in every way saved, that John might be rich and influential. Her history was like that of thousands of other New England women – she wore herself out for her family. She never had time for social life, and not a very great amount of time for reading, though she kept up as well as possible with the thought of the day; but her one aim was to have her husband honored.

John Crawford was a good husband, though not always considerate. He thought nobody quite so good and helpful as Betsey, nobody cooked so well, nobody was more saving, and he was proud to rise by her help. He failed sometimes to consider how large a matter that help had been in his life. If he had been asked who made his money he would have replied without hesitation, “I made it.” That Betsey was entitled to half, or even a third, would never have occurred to him. He provided for her and the children all they seemed to need. He was the head of the family, and that headship had made him somewhat selfish and domineering.

.....

“I have brought you back the ring, Mimosa.”

“And are you rich yet? You were to keep it till you were rich.”

.....