The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1865-08-12
A CROSS WORD.
AND
WHAT CAME OF IT.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

"Lucy, you mean to SOW this button
on, l wish you'd DO it-I can't walk all
day"
Tom didn't speak bit cross, only EN-.
phatic but l was out Of temper that
morning, and my head ached badly
from sitting up late the night before.
Tom had gone to superior the second
time since our marriage given by some
of his bachelor friends, and had come
home the worst tor it. 1t had provo.
ked NE intensely. SO 1 had followed
him to bed in sullen silence, aud awoke
none the better pleased after the sleep,
on the morning alluded to. To make
the matter worse, just as he spoke to me
about his button, the knife with which
| was cutting bread for his lunch, slip
ped inhieting deep cash on my hand,
and the baby awoke, and set up her
sharp cry from the cradle all in one and
the same moment.
"You can wait as we'll as I did last
night, reckon" / replied sharply, real
ly angry at last. "Don't hurry mel
do all l can with one pair of hands"
Tom dropped bis button and turnsd
toward me With startled, "Why,
Lucy"
"Don't Lucy me" retorted throwing
down the bread and catching up the
baby, while the blood streamed from my
hand over her white gown. "You
have done enough-you have broken
my heart, wish was back with my
father and mother"
l broke down with burst of hysteri
cal tears, and, seeing the blood of my
hand, Tom came over and knelt down
beside me. "Why Lucy" he said, his
voice and eyes full of tenderness,
"you've cut your hand. Why didn't
you say so Here give me the child,
while you bind it up-see how it
bleeds ~
He held out his hands for the baby,
but snatched her away, and went on
sobbiag.
| "Don't cry, Lucy" he continued,
stroking the hair back from my forehead
-"please don't, / know I've done wrong
dear but l didn't mean it. l fell in
with some of the old boys, and they
persuaded me against ny will. But it:
the last time, Lucy-the last time"
/ Why dida't l turn to him, then, aad
J help and encourage him Because my
mean, tyrannous temper gothic better o
my woman's heart
"Oa, yes!" I said, sneeringly, "it il
easy enough to make fine promises-yor
told me the same thing before. How
can you expect me to trust you now 7"
Tom was spirited and quick temper
ed-great loving hearted men Away
are. He sprang to his feet like flash
J and before had time to think or speak
had left the room. ! tossed the chilC
into her cradle, and rushed to the door
but IL was too late-he was sopo.
just caught a glimpse Of him turnin!
the corner.
went back to the little brealfas
room; how blank and drear it look
ed, aud what a sharp, singing thor
there was in the very core of my heart
l loved Tom, and he loved me. We ha
been married only eighteen months an
this was our first quarrel. sat dow
with the baby in my arms, needless {
my morning work, and fell to thinking
All the old, happy days came baak ; an
the one in particular, when We sat
Dumberry Wood 1t was in Autumn
and all the world seemed in a blaze {
gold, as the sun slid down, and tt
squirrel chatted overhead, dropping
ripe nut, now and then, into my lap,
| sat there, with the last rose of SUNNI,
in my hair, knitting purse for Tom.
"Lucy," he said, as | wove in the Ia
golden stitches, ''you've knit my love-
my very life-up in that purse. TIE
me now before you finish it how it is
be J.? Am l to have you and--and=
Oh I won't think Of it even, Lucy,
would be too dreadful !"
a9 oe "No, Tom," l answered, "you are
* have the purse and the hand that ku
20 it tCo."
u y Poor Tom, he cried then just like
: little child-he, the bravest man in tt
;; village,
" "N0 faSlt to find, only a leetle t.
~ II! wild-too fond of gay company b
J., Is you must tame him, Lacy, as yo
ys' mother did me-"
'e That was my old fathers advice
our wedding day. My heart smote L
dreadfully as l called it to mind tn
morning. Had done my duty? H
p followed the example of my moth,
!" who never let fall an unkind word ?
ii But Tom would be home to his d
IT. IT. ner! The thought brought me to my fe
zen l did pp my work briskly, and We
for about cooking Just such a dinner as
of kneB he liked. The FlQm padding v
'S So, done to perfection tbs baby ia Gle
'He slip, and myself all smiles to receive h
ty when the clock struck one. But
% didn't come