5 3525 [67 N4 300 >py 1 - ~ ~ [a NEW VERSION OF AN OLD STORY - # 'Oie daffy work: was cfcnt And home came Karl » - : BY ELIZABETH MILROY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chap.Y Copyright No.. Shelf UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A NEW VERSION OF AN OLD STORY BY /' ELIZABETH MILROY THE Bbbey pnm PUBLISHERS 114 FIFTH AVENUE London NEW YORK Montreal JrU'O I-ibrary of Congrese Two Copies Received DEC 20 1900 1f r Copyrfght entry SECOND copy OaKwnsd to ORDER DIVISION JAN 8 1901 I T53fZf I if ft* jjfiO Copyright, fgoo, by THE Bbbcy press the United States and Great Britain. All Rights Reserved, SUNSHINE BOOKS (COMPLETE SERIES) i . Experience 2. Soul Growth 3. The Heart's Desire 4. Men, Women and Loving 5. Worry and Cheer 6. A Dip in the Pool A New Version of an Old Story. The daily work was done, and home came Karl, Worn and a mite too much in- clined to snarl. He found the supper got, the floor was swept, For careful was the wife, her house well kept. Now here is something queer beneath the sun; To thoughtless men, a woman's work when done, A New Version of an Old Story , As easy seems as rolling off a log. If you so think, good sirs, you're in a fog. But this mistake our honest farmer made, So when they down to supper sat, he said To Barbara, "Of women 'twould take ten, I'm sure, to do the work of two good men." Up spake the wife: "Now, father, let me go 8 A New Version of an Old Story. To-morrow in your place the field to mow, While you within the house my place shall take, To sweep and scrub and churn and stew and bake.' , The farmer laughed, "A fool- ish woman you; I'll rest me in the house with naught to do; Your brow will throb beneath the burning sun, Your back will ache until the day is done/' 9 A New Version of an Old Story. The morning came and up they rose. Then forth Went Barbara to the fields, and nothing loth, Karl set to work. The sweep- ing soon was done 'Mid clouds of rising dust. "Pho, this is fun, This keeping house; I can do it to a turn. Now, while I smoke my pipe, I think I'll churn." The churn was brought, the JO A New Yersfoa ol an Old Story. churn which Barbara's hand Had scoured as white as any in the land. But ere the day was done — loth am I to tell Of dire mishaps that churn that day befell. "Did he scald the churn ?" I hope he did, And that he washed the dasher and the lid. Yet while this hope in charity's expressed, II A New Version of an Old Story, I leave it to the conscience in the breast Of any man whoever yet kept house, To say, with hand on heart, he doth suppose 'Twas done. He churned and churned and churned, until He almost deemed he trod the treading mill; Nor yet discerned the golden butter roll. His mouth was parched, his face glowed like a coal. \2 A Ne w Version of an Old Story Quoth he, "I'll to the cellar's depths descend For a mug of ale, and that, perchance, will lend Me strength this tiresome, toil- some task to end." 'Twixt cup and lip are slips. Ere he had quaffed With wonted zest his favorite, foamy draft, He heard above his head an ominous sound, And rushing up the steps, to his horror found J3 A New Version of an Old Story* The churn upset and piggy paddling in the cream. Karl, nigh hysterics, scarce suppressed a scream. And now fierce anger burns within his soul, An anger he desired not to con- trol. He chased the pig from the churn and thro* the door, All round the room, o'er Bar- bara's snowy, sanded floor. u A N ew Version of an Old Story* The pig was fat, Karl lean; and tho' it feigned To run three ways at once, he vantage gained. His wrath grew fierce, his tem- per reached white heat, By one fell blow it lay dead at his feet. No time had he to think it ill or good That he had robbed himself of winter's food, Because in dumb surprise, the hapless man 15 A New Version of an CtS Story. Beheld too plain the spigot in his hand. More quickly than he came he hastened down The cellar-way, where he was like to drown Himself in tears and ale — 'twas all run out — A riddance good, say I. He looked about, And finding still another jar of cream, Carried it up and began to churn again. *6 A New Version of an Old Story. This time the farmer did not weary grow With his work, before he heard a gentle low From the back shed, where, waiting for her food The cow in ruminating patience stood. What could he do? A good half mile away, And high noon coming on, the pasture lay. The cottage close against the hill did lean, 17 A New Version of an Old Stofy* New turfed with sods which now were fresh and green With "rain upon the rocf." Couid he but lead His cow where she on that high grass might feed! Seized by this happy thought he led the cow To the well for water, but grown wiser now By late experience — well could he learn In that dear school — he shoul- dered up his churn A New Version of an Old Story* And carried it along. But oh, • alas, Dear me, what grief! for so it came to pass That when he stooped to lift the bucket o'er The curb, adown the well the cream did pour. To tear his hair Karl's ringers fairly ached; That sweet relief stern Fate denied. He lacked The time; besides 'twas slip- pery, full of cream J9 A New Version of an Old Story. Which down his spine ran in a trickling stream. And now, the transit of the cow to aid, From hill to cot a short wide plank is laid. Then coaxingly, o'er this im- promptu bridge The wondering beast he led, quite to the ridge Of cottage roof, and then on festive thoughts intent, His steps he to the nether re- . gions bent. 20 A New Version of an Old Story* Arrived, a new dilemma he confronts, A quandary, which more than all the brunts He yet had borne did poor Karl disconcert, For here is truth which none may controvert; This thought, it oft perplexes womankind, But yet does seldom cross man's stronger mind. "What shall we eat this day? What drink?" 21 A New Version of an Old Story Dismayed, he scratched his head to help him think. No butter could he have, that well he knew, But could he not within the minutes few That yet remained, one whole- some dish prepare? And that his board might not appear too bare, That dish he'd flank with side supply of jam, Preserves and pickles, apple sauce, sliced ham LofC. 22 A New Version of an Old Story* From thrifty Barbara's store. So said, so done; Good haste he made to hang the kettle on The crane. And now the por- ridge must be made, Then next, and quickly too, the table laid. But fearing lest the cow should idly stray From pasture field and wander far away, To cottage roof he clambered toilsomely, 23 A New Version of an Old Story* Tied round her horn a rope) secure, which he Into the chimney dropped, then going down, Fast to his leg the other end he bound. Sore pressed, he preparation made to dine And "dragged at each remove* ' a tightening line. Meanwhile the wife toiled on. As Karl had said, 24 A New Version of an Oil Story* The sun beamed down upon her bended head. Upon her heated brow, in beaded drops, The moisture lay as she with steady steps And swinging arm, the cool, crisp grass laid low. And now the dew has dried some hours ago. And passed the freshness of the early morn, And with it friendly Robin's cheery song — 25 A New Version of an Old Story* From somewhere in the vault of blue around, Or near or far, rang out the dissonant sound Of weary locust's arid rune. Now wound The curling smoke from cot- tage chimney-top, Of dinner Barbara cherished sanguine hope; Tho* with pinchings of a healthful appetite 26 A Ne v/ Version of an Old Stoty. Was mingled soon the fear that all's not right With yon housekeeping man within the home, Else, why to dinner doth not summons come? Around the field another swath she laid, Then, anxious, saw the smoke from chimney fade, But no, it rises now anew in jets From either side. Ah, some- thing surely frets 27 A New Version of an Old Story. The fire. Across her shoulder then her scythe She deftly flung, and stepping free and lithe, Soon reached the house, but paused in dire affright Confronted by a most astound- ing sight. Adown the cottage wall poor Bossy hung, Suspended by a rope in mid-air swung. She looked in vain for Karl, no Karl could see; 28 A New Version of an Old Story* No time to look for Karl, yet where was he? Oh, haste! with one sweep of the gleaming scythe She cleft the rope on which the cow did writhe. Karl downward dropped. His heated head he laved In porridge pot. Be glad the oatmeal's saved By absence! The water, long since cool, Refreshed him as 'twere sylvan shaded pool. 29 A New Version of an Old Story* With vision cleared forever- more, he went To his work next day, forever- more content. 30 Here is the end of A NEW VERSION OF AN OLD STORY, by Elizabeth Mil- roy, which is printed tor The Abbey Press and published by them at One Hundred and Fourteen Fifth Avenue, New York, and in London, Mon- treal and elsewhere. 3J SOME ABBEY PRESS PUBLICATIONS TRANSVAAL TROUBLE, THE. By John Hays Hammond. The American view of the British-Boer War in South Africa. The author is a financial magnate, thoroughly familiar with the whole subject by personal residence in the Transvaal, and who speaks with authority because he knows whereof he speaks. Cloth. Twenty-five Cents. PEOPLE AND PROPERTY. By Edwin B. Jennings. An animated, logical dis- cussion of the question of corporate rights versus human rights. Lincoln said that " when a dollar comes in conflict with a man he sided with the man." This book is timely, able and interesting. Cloth. Fifty Cents. DEMOCRACY AND THE TRUSTS. By Edwin B. Jennings, author of " People and Property." The author shows that there is an irrepressible conflict between these two. They are, or must soon be, locked in a deadly conflict, and if one is to survive, the other must perish. Mr. Jennings' style is trenchant, and his arraign- ment of trusts in the interests of democracy must be read to be appreciated. Cloth. Fifty Cents. H4 FIFTH aVE'iUE, HEW YORK l©< a >9C Jan - 12 1901 DEC 20 1900 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS iiiiiiiiiiiiuniiiiiiiiiL. O 015 873 703 6 *