Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-01
BY An IRRITABLE MAN.
From the Home Journal
NTrRTuVR

BY An IRRITABLE MAN.
From the Home Journal.
NUMBER l.
"Do you hear that child cough, my dear p"
l asked the mother OF my children, as l
raised myself ON one elbow in bed, and lis
tened.
"NO," She said, awaking from her sleep, " l
do not
" Then you must be deaf" I cried. "Harkr'
The interesting woman lifted her head from
her pillow, united the strings of her bonnet de
aHt, brushed back a lock of hair from her right
ear, and listened attentively.
There" l said, as a harsh, discordant
sound broke the silence, " do you hear it now l'
" hear a singular noise, she replied, " but it
is not a cough"
Then should like to know what it is, % !
exclaimed
81 am sure I cannot tell, she replied " but
it is not a cough, that IS very certain
I" am not so certain, however, l said.
Il can't help it, she answered u am a
mother, and am presumed to know the sound CT
a child's cough when / hear one
"Well," l said, Il am a father, ! suppose,
and don'tsee why | can't tell a cough when
hear It. Listen"
MY dear" and my wife grasped my arm
nervouSly, as she spoke, lit proceeds from some
one trying to get into the house. That noise
comes from a file"
Nonsense, 1 replied q burglars wouldn't
think Of breaking in here"
" Hark,' she cried; " l hear some one on the
stairs
We both sat up in bed, with our eyes fixed on
the door. Again was heard the hard, harsh
notes that aroused me. There was no mistsking
the sound this time, and my wife said:
s. Il - +ha FEEL. hon ho vs.ank ont ton much
to-day, and though l tried hard to do so, l
couldn't keep him in
The door. opened at this moment, and Katy
entered.
"Oh, ma'am, the little boy coughs 50, and ]
don't know what to give him. l think he has
the Group, ma'am."
go back to the nursery Immediately " my
wife said, " and / viii be there in a minute
Nv wife rose, went 70 the closet, selected the
proper remedies, and opened the door 10 depart.
"Well," she asked, turning 70 me, are yoa
not going with me ~
What good can l do g" Ireplied Il don't
see why | should get up in the middle Of the
aight, and 90 trottiug around the house because
you DO. If | could be of any possible service,
would 60, of course
well, it would only look tatherly in You to
| do it, she answered. "Will you go!'
My dear" l said, I'll there be one thing ]
dislike more than another, it Is to get up in the
middle Of the night. III 90 If it be necessary
but don't YOU wait for me, for It viii take me
some time to dress, and the little fellow needs
you at once
Ny wife departed
l laid down, deciding to remain where ! was
rather than go where knew l should be in thi
way. Ten minutes passed, during which tim,
the little boy cougbed occasionally, but eacl
I g.. - 80 T.,-.- .nI no v.+rr-a1 1han
satisfied that he was improving under hi
mothers treatment, / resolved TO 90 TO sleep
Scarcely were my eyes closed, when Katy tapOe,
at the door.
" Come in l cried.
The mistress would like to have you com
to the nursery to see the little boy
How is he !' he asked. is he awake o
asleep 2"
"Gh, he is just sleeping nicely, aud be look
so purity, the mistress thought you'd like to Sc
him"
q Tonight, Katy. Tell your mistress +
see him in the morning
Then | turned over and closed my eyes again
l had gone Il little distance into the land Q
Nod, when my wife touched me On th
shoulder.
"You are a humane, afeetionate father, ain.
you - she said, regarding me with a sever
look.
a don't know anything to the contrary" Ir,
piled. do you 2"
Eyes, l do" she answered. and l must sa
| think your conduct tonight was a]trocioui
Not only did you let me go alone to the nursery
but when ] sent for you to come and see III
little boy, who, for ought you knew, was dying
you refused. You men are just as cruel an
hard-hearted as you can be. We women mu,
get up in the night and attend to the children
I IL xii. -.. 1.A- 80 -,v-alN-m-
there were no cares in the world
But, my dear, ~ | answered, Il was yer
!, weary, and wanted to sleep"
$50 did l." she replied; but no, I had
keep awake. If | hadn't, ] don't know whel
that dear little boy would have been by tn
time. 1t isn't owing to you that he is no
alive"
" Well, I should just ike to know / sal,
maliciously, " to whom it is owing, if not &c
tainly to me
We'll, l will tell YOU said my wife; cit
10 me and
"Who7" l asked, raising myself on one e
, bow, and regarding her closely, as she paused
moment, before uttering the final name.
Katy, to be sure she continued weren
we obliged, ] should like to know, to soak Il
little fellows feet, and rub sweet oil on his ches
and put hannsls, dipped into hot vinegar an
pepper, around his throat, and coax him TO tai
medicine ~
/, oh" / exclaimed, as 1 sunk down anon
the pillows, 81 thought
Never mind what you thought my wife il
terposed. "The truth is, you only think Of yol
own ease and comfort, and never care whether
enjoy myself or not"
my dear, - I said, " you must excuse me, b
3 | wish to 90 to sleep. l will hear the remaind'
I, of what You have to say in the morning b.
cause if there be one thing / dislike more tina
another, it is to listen to a curtain lecture
2 night
t 2 For a married man Of your experience,
I she said, it seems TO me You are vastly partr
Mar. Now il appears TO me that il / wished
@Lectpre vou-which, thank fortune, / do not
that the present time would be the most appr'
nriate. and also the least liable to interruption
Won cannot say, though, that | have ever coi
o descended to lecture you. | trust have moi
resrsct for my husband than TO utter a word
him which yould have the effect Of l0werin
0 him in my own estimation. / do think, how
ever, that you sometimes deserve a Tepnnan'
d although you do not get It,
2 OWN you oblige me, my love" ! said ten
DERBY, "by going to sleep!
Certainly, she answered. d,
There was a silence for three minutes and
half ] sunk into u doze. My wife startled II
by exclaiBaing; IN. j.
b not allowed to express an opinion Of my owl
e and when / Try to speak you endeavor to ste
. ma by telling me to go to sleep. IL was not
J once have seen the time when you were on.
b Too clad TO listen to whatever ! had to say an
would willingly sit up all night, to hear me tall
% n / would only let you. | don't understat
WHY you men change SO after marriage /
y certain have not altered in the least. What
n was, in disposition aud feelings, when a girl,
ann now; but no one would recognize you /
the amiable, snlooth-spoken young mln OF
how many years ago we're we married
O. am sure ] don't know and what is more,