Life at High Tide

When James Graham carpenter enlisted it was with the assurance that if he lost his life his grateful country would provide for his widow. He did lose it and Mrs. Graham received in exchange for a husband and his small earnings the sum of $12 a month. But when you own your own very little house with a dooryard for chickens (and such stray dogs and cats as quarter themselves upon you) and enough grass for a cow and a friendly neighbor to remember your potato-barrel why you can get along-somehow. In Lizzie Graham's case nobody knew just how because she was not one of the confidential kind. But certainly there were days in winter when the house was chilly and months when fresh meat was unknown and years when a new dress was not thought of.