Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-02
THE HUsBAND.s ssoN.
By MRS. &. A. SOULR.


L never did see such shiftless works" and the
speaker, strong healthy looking man, jerked
chair up To the stove and throwing himself
into it, buried his face in his hands, as though
he were deep in a sulky fit.
The wOman-the wife-fOr ii was she whom he
had addressed-sat on a low rocker, with q two
year old child folded to her bosom, to which She
was singing sweet lullabies, her foot meanwhile
gently touching the cradle in which. in what
seemed a ftfal slumber. lay q babe of six
months. Her dress Was pinned up about her
wide check apron nearly enyeiOped her delicate
figure, an old hood covered her head, her
sleeves rolled up, and her whole appearance in
dIcAted that she had just passed through day of
laborlOus toll. She looked very pale and care
worn, and even sick, and a close observer might
have seen tear-drOps stealing down her cheeks
at the rude speech of her usband
After about five minutes silence, Mr. Lee
raised his head and asked in that peculiarly
hateful tone which some men can assume whom
IL is their will, 'Are we to have any supper to-
night If we are. L would like to know when.
Ny business dOesn't allow mo to waste over an
hour at time waiting for my meals
Choking down the sob which struggled for
utterance, Mrs Lee answered very sueetly,
AS soon "a l can lay GeOrgie down, / will get
the supper the table lie has been very
WOrriSOme all the afternoon, waking up the babe
as fast a. | put her asleep, and I thought the
quickest way was to give him his supper, and
70 keep you Waiting
The same Old story" muttered her hus-
band. . / wonder what women would do, If
they hadn I child fora scapo-gCGt. / can't
Imagine what on earth makes our children so
cross 1 am sure they don't get it from my side
Vi the house. for l am always good -nstured my
self, except when things 90 on this way Mt home
and saint would swear then, i know"
Every word low as it was breathed sank into
the wife : heart; so deeply, too, that she had no
power to say, what was the truth indeed, that
her children were only eros. when she had to
neglect them, as she was obliged to on washing
days nor did she add, what she might with
equal truth have done. that if her husband
would only be the same good -natured and Obli-
ging man at home that he was abroad, her life
would be an anthem instead Of dirge, and his
n blessing where il was now too often a course
"GTGciOus ~ continued he, as opening the
sink-rOOm door. he spied a clothes basket full of
snOw-white garments just ready for the line and
n tub of calicOes In the rinse, ism I your wash
ing out yeti What on earth have you been
about, to day Seems To me you're growing
lazy you used to get through at noon. de-
clare, If things 60 on in this way much longer,
shall wish L had lived in my fathers time
when women were women and not doll babies.
know my mother never had her washing round
till dark night. It's enough to discourage any
man"
And again he jerked up his chair, threw HIM
self into it, and buried his scoWling face in his
hands
If Mrs. Lee had been what is called woman
Of spirit, she would have retaliated rOundly on
her husband. She would have told him that
his mother was a strong, healthy woman, with
never a day sickness to break down her con-
stitQtiOn. and instead of having three children
all babies tOgether-tO attend to. she was never
blessed with but one solitary child; that on
washing days his father or the hired man al
a
on her boiler, pounded the clothes, hung out the
line, emPtied the tubs, and took up with a cold
dinner and bread and-lnilk supper. But in
stead, the wife, who was one of those gentle
women who think submission to a husbands
will the wisest course, only nSwered calmly
that she had worked hard all day, but being
half sick herself, the children fretful, and Tie
wash unusually large, the baby having been
sick all the last week, and company besides, she
bad been unable TO get thrOugh with it, and she
was sorry 10 keep him waiting
. It's wasting breath to apologize for what
ClH be helped" growled Mr. Lee in an under
tone - Amt that child asleep yet p
The mother gently bent her face to the little
one, and having assured herself that the meas
ured breath Of slumber was stealing through
a.. rosebud lips she fastened TO carry il to It's
crib, and no woman similarly situated will
wonder that, as she pressed kiss upon its dim
pied cheek. she left beside il some pearl-like
drops, a little April shower, wrung from her
heart by its clOuded love.
But there was no trace Of emotion on Ler face
when she rs-entered the kitchen save only an
added paleness; and quietly and with that Co.
ler1ty that denoted practical house wife she
set about preparing the supper In ten min
utes time IL was on the table, and not even Mr.
Lee, cross as be was, could fud fault with it.
The cloth riyalled in whiteness tho snow-bank
that covered the grass plot; the stone china glis-
tened like porcelain; the knives, forks and
Spoons were miniature mirrors; the sugar bowl
Tss filled To the brim with tempting Jumps; the
cream pitcher was flowing with its luscious
draughti the butter was neatly stamped, and
golden IN hue; the cold beef, cured by the wife
own hands, was delicately tender and delicious
ly sweet; the smoking not biscuits were light
as feather the stewed pears and baked APP
pie. were beautifully done; while the pumpkin
pie was rich and yellow enough to suit the YER
lest ''do1H-easter." Ii did not look at nll like
a washing day e supper, and king might have
feasted there.
The tea-we had almost forgotten the tea
which could have brIbed into good nature the
cIeisest spinster, was served the little four-year
old dumping Of daughter, the eldest born Of
the household helped BY the mother t. a plate
ful Of goodies, as she termed the supper and
the weary woman had taken one sip from her
restoring cup, when thera was q loud, impa-
tent cry from the cradle.
- Don't, for goodness sake, let that child
GACtdlAcI DIT Lee. keep l6r
asleep, II you can; for if there anything hate
its child bawling when In eating
50 Mrs. Lee lett the table and sat down by
the little one. and by dint Of vigorous rocking
and many careful caresses, and much low hum.
ming succeeded in keeping little Nell asleep,
while her father took MS supper. As soon as
hs had swallowed the last mOrsel he rose and
seized his hat.
- 1 wish You would milk the COW tonight.
Gsorge, said the wife, tiInidly, " have 90
much 10 do yet
"Gracioas' amt that COW MIXED vet Rose
Why didn't you ask me when fret came in9
4 can't stop 70 milk her now, if she has to 20 till
morning. Shiftless works."
And be hurried OF.
Poor Mrs. Lee sighed and wiped her eyes
with her check apron. She had set the milk
pail on a side table before her husband came
in aud she knew be had seen it, and knew if
be had been good dnatured be would have taken
1t and gone ~ the cow without being asked