The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-11-18
THE Two HOMES

iWo iaeh On tuciT way nome met Al
street crossing, and then walked on together.
They were friends and neighbors.
ssThis has been a very hard day." said Mr..
freeman, in gloomy voice. And as they
walked home ward they discouraged each
other, and made darker the clouds that OBJ
scured their horizon.
'Good evening"" was at last said hur-
riedly and the two men passed into their
homes.
Mr.. Walcot entered the room where his
family we're gathered and without speaking to
any one, seated himself in q chair, and
leaning his head back closed his eyes,
His countenance wore sad, weary, ex-
hsusted look. He had been seated thus for
only a few minutes, when his wife said, in q
fretful voice:
ssMore trouble again.
"What 10 the matter now?" asked MIR. |
Waleet.
.sJohn has been sent home from School,
said Mrs. w.
"What'" Mr.. Walcot partly rose from
his chair.
''IIe has been suspended on account Of bad
conduct"
ooh DEAR" groansd Mr.. W., "whsre is
he pn
Cup in his room; sent him there when
he come home. You'll have to do something
with him. He'll be ruined il he goes on In
this way any longer. Pm out Of oil heart
with him."
Mr. Walcot excited rs much BY the manner
in which his his wife conveyed unpleasant
Information, as BY the information itself,
| started up under the blind impulse OF the
moment, and going to the room punished his
| son severely, and this without listening to
| the explanation which the child tried to
make him hear.
"Father," said the boy, with forced calm.
ness, after the cruel stripes had ceased, 81
Vas not to blame; and II you will 20 with
me to the teacher, can prove myself inno-
Oont.,,
Mr.. WALDO. had never known his SON to
tell = lie, and the words fell with a rebuke
upon his heart.
| "very we'll; We will see about that.o he
answered with forced sternness, and leaving
the room he went down stairs, feeling very
much moro uncomfortable than when he went
up.
| Again he seated himself in his arm chnir.
and again leaned back bis weary head and
closed his heavy eyelids. Sadder was his
face than before. As he sat thus, his eldest
daughter, in her sixteenth year, came and
stood beside him. She held paper In her
hand.
s'Father - he opened his eyes !; sshere's nv
quarters bill. Can't ! have the money to
take to school TO- morrow ?o
"pm afraid not" he answered, half in
despair.
'sNearly oil the girls will bring in their
money Tomorrow, and it mortifes me to be
behind the Others" The daughter smoke
fretfully. Mr.. Waloot waved her aside with
bis hand and she went Of muttering and
pouting.
81, is Notifying" said Mrs. W., q little
sharply, sand don't wonder Helen feels an
noyed about it. The hill must be paid, and
! don't see why it may not be done as we'll
first a. last"
To this Mr.. w. made no answer. The
words but added another pressure 30 the
burden under which he was already stagger-
ing. After silence Of some moments, Mrs. |
w. said
"The Goals are nil gone"
"lmpossible {" Mr.. w. raised his head
and looked incredulous. 81 laid in sixteen
tons.o
81 can't help il, If there were sixty tons
instead Of sixteen they are oil gone. The
girls had hard work to-day TO scrape enough
to keep the Are in"
"Thers's been shameful waste some.
where" said Mr.. W., WI strong emphasis,
moving about the rooY with very disturbed
manner.
$50 you always 81 when anything runs
out" answered Mrs. :, tartly. "The bar
have done your part, with the rest, in using
1t ups
Mr.. W. returned TO his chair, and again
seating himself, leaned back his head and
closed his eyes as ut first. How sad. and
weary, and hopeless he felt The burdens
| OF tho day had seemed almost too heavy for
| him but he had borne up hravely. To gath
or strength for renewed struggle with ad-
verse circumstances, he had come hUme.-
Alas that the process of exhaustion rhould
! still continue--that where only strength
could be looked for on earth, no strength was
given.
When the tea bell was rung, Mr. w. made
no movement to obey the summons.
.Come TO supper" said his wife, oddly
But be did not stir.
"Are you coming to supper 20 she called
to him as she was leaving the room.
ii DON'T wish for aaything. Ny head aches
very much"
Sin the DUMPS again." muttered Mrs. w.
to herself. ssrts as much MS ONES Iife l.
worth TO ask FOR money, or to say that any-
thing is wanted" And she kept on her way
to the dining room. When she returned her
husband was still sitting where she had left
him.
"shall ! bring you q cup Of .eap she
asked.
'.No, don't wish anything
"What is the matter, Mr.. Walcot. What
DO you look 50 troubled about, as if you had
not friend in the ~orldf Wha. have done
to your
There was no answer, for there was not
shade OF real sympathy in the voice that
made the queries, but rather OF ouerulous
dissatisfaction.
few moments Mrs. w. stood behind her
bur band, but he did not seem inclined to
answer her questions, so sho turned away
from him and resumed the employment which
had Teen interrupted by the ringing Of the
/ tea bell.
/ The whole evening passed without the CO.
currcnce OF single incident that gave 4
heaithful pulsation to the sick heart Of Mr..
W. No thoughtful kindness was manifested
by any member Of the family; bat on the
contrary, . narrow regard for self and look
ing 70 him only that he might supply the
means OF self qualification.