The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-12-29
My Cruelty to my Relatives.


had an aunt coming to visit me- for
the first time since my marriage, and
don't know what evil genius prompted
the wickedness q acknowledge, with
tears in my eyes, that it was such, which
I perpetrated towards my wife and my
ancient relative.
''My DEAR" said I to my wife, on the
day before my aunt's arrival, "you know
Aunt Mary is coming tomorrow; well, /
forgot to mention Il rather annoying cir
cumstance with regard to her. She's
very deaf; and although she can hear my
voice, to which she is accustomed, in its
ordinary tones, yet you will be obliged to
speak extremely loud in order to be heard.
1t will be rather inconvenent, but know
you will do everything in your power to
make her stay Agreeable"
Mrs. S. announced her determination
to make herself heard, if possible.
l then went to John Thomas, who
loves joke as well as any person l know
of, told him to be at my hsuse,at p. M,
on the following evening, and felt compa-
ratively happy.
I went to the railroad station with
carriage the next evening, and when |
was on my way home with my aunt,
said:
'My dear aunt, there is one rather an
noying infrmity that Amelia has, which
I forgot to mention before. She's very
deaf; and although she can hear my
voice, to which she is accustomed, in its
ordinary tones, yet you will be obliged to
speak extremely loud in order to be heard.
I'm sorry for it..
Aunt Mary, in the goodness of her
heart, protested that she rather liked
speaking loud, and to do so would give
her great pleasure.
The carriage drove UPON the steps
was my WHEAT the window was John
Thomas, with face as utterly solemn as
if he had buried all his relatives that af-
ternoon.
l handed out my aunt-she assembled
the steps.
"I am delighted to see you," shricked
my wife; and the policeman on the other
side of the street started land my aunt fell
nearly down the steps.
g Kiss me, my DEAR" howled my aunt;
and the hall lamp clattered, and the win
dow shook as with the fever and ague.
l looked at the window-John had dis
appeared Human nature could stand
it no longer. | poked my head into the
carriage, and went into strong convul-
sions.
When l entered the parlor, my wife
was helping Aunt Mary to take off her
bonnet and cape, and there sat John with
his face of woe.
Suddenly; " Did you have pleasan
journey" went off my wife, like pistol,
and John Thomas jumped to his feet.
Rather dusty" was the response, in
a warwhoop; and so the conversation con-
tinued.
The neighbors for streets around must
have heard it, when / was in the third
story Of the building l heard every word
plainly.
In the course of the evening my aunt
took occasion to say to me, " How loud
your wife speaks? Don't it hurt her p
I told her all deaf persons talked loud
ly and that my wife, being used to it,
was not affected by the exertion, and
that Aunt Mary was getting along very
nicely with her.
Presently my wife said, softly, calf,
how very loudly your aunt talks!"
eyes," said |, call deaf person do.
You are getting along with her finely;
she hears every word you say" And l
rather think she did.
Elated by their success at being under
stood, they went at it hammer and tongs,
till everything on the mantle-piece clat-
tered again, and was seriously afraid OF
a crowd collecting in front Of the house.
But the end was near. My aunt, be-
ing of an investigating turn OF mind, was
DESTROYS of finding out whether the ex-
ertion of talking so loud was not injurious
to my wife. So, said she, in an unearth,
ly boot, for her voice was not as musical
as it was when she was young, doesn't
talking so loud strain your lungs 2"
''It is an exertion;" shrieked my wife
''Then why do you do it ?" was the an
swering scream.