St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-08-27
aflisttllanp.
MY Cruelty to My Relatives.

i
for the first time since my marriage,
and | don't know what evil genius
prompted the wickcdness l acknowl-
edge with tears in my eyes that it was
such) which perpetrated towards my
wife and my ancient relative.
"My dear" said to my wife, on
the day before my aunt's arrival, "you
know Aunt Mary is coming tomorrow;
well, forgot to mention a rather an
noying circumstance with regard to
her. She's very deaf and although
she can hear my voice, to which she
is accustomed, in it's ordinary tones,
yet you will be obliged to speak cx-
tremely loud in order to be heard. 1t
will be rather inconvenient, but know
:,. s,;ili do do &eyiervthinS y in your re"''
Mrs. $. announced her determination
to make herself heard if possible.
then went to John Thomas, who
loves a joke about as well as any per-
son know of, told him to be ut my
house at 6 P. NJ, Oh the following eve
ming, and felt comparatively happy.
l went to the railroad station with
carriage the next evening, and
when was on my way home with my
aunt, l said, My dear aunt, there is
one rather annoying infirmity that
Amelia has, which l forgot to mention
before. Shes 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 al
ford her great pleasure.
The carriage drove UPON the steps
was wife-at the window was John
Thomas, with face as utterly solemn
as if he had buried all his relatives
that afternoon.
| handed out my auut-she ascend
cd the steps.
81 am delighted to see you,' shrek
my wife, and the policeman on the op.
positc side of the street started, and
my aunt nearly fell down the steps.
Kiss me, my DEAR howled my
aunt and the hall lamp clattered, and
the windows shook as with the fever
and ague. looked at the window
John had disappeared. Human ma
ture could stand it no longer. ! poked
my head into the carriage, and went
| into ctrnno enuvulSippS
When entered the parlor, my wife
was helping Aunt Mary to take of
her bonnet and cape; and there sa
John with his face of woe.
Suddenly, "Did you have a pleasan
journey?" went OIL my wife like pis.
tol, and John Thomas jumped to Iii
feet.
Rather dusty" was the response
in war-whoop, and so the convcrsa
ton continued.
The neighbors for streets arount
must have heard it; when ! was il
the third story of the building, heard
every word plainly.
In the course of the evening, m.
aunt took occasion to say to me
"How loud your wife speaks Don't i
hart her 7"
told her all deaf persons talke'
loudly, and that my wife, being use'
to it. was not affected by the exertion
and that Aunt Mary was getting
along very nicely with her.
Presently my wife said, softly, "Ali
J how very loud your aunt talks !"
"Ycs," said |, "all deaf persons dc
You're getting along with her finely
she hears every word yon say" AM
rather think she did.
3 Elated by their success at bcinl
understood, they went at it hamme
and tongs, till everything on tn
5 mantel-piece clattered again, and
t was seriously afraid Of crowd co
d lecting in front of the house.
But the end was near. My aun'
J. being of an investigating turn of mine
Fl was desirous of finding out whcthe
g the exertion Of talking SO loud wa
: : not injurious to my wife. So sal
' she, in an uncarthly hoot, for he
It voice was not as musical as it wa
g when she was young, doesn't talkin
i i SO loud strain your lungs !" .
e at is an exertion, "shrieked my wifi
,r "Then why do you do it?" was II
answering scream.
4 "Because--because-you can't hcs
if DON'T" squealed my wife.