The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1869-05-21
A CROSS WORD.

on, wish you'd do it. 1 can't wait all
day."
Tom didn't speak cross, only emphatic /;
buf I was out of temper that morning aud
my head aohed from sitting up too late the
night before. Tom had gone to a supper
for the second time since our marriage
given by one of our bachelor friends. and
had come home very much the worse for
it. It bad provoked me intensely. So 1
had followed him to bed in silence, and
awoke none the better pleased after my
sleep on the morning alluded to. To make
the matter worse, just as he spoke to me
about the button, the knife l was cutting
the bread and butter with slipped, infict
ing a deep cash in my hand and the ba-
by awoke and sent up a sharp little cry
from the cratle, all in one and the same
moment.
"You can wait as we'll as l did last
night" replied sharply, really angry at
last. Don't hurry me. 1 do all 1 can and
more than 1 am able to do with one pair of
hands,"
Tom dropped his button aud turned to-
wards me with startled cry of why,
Lucy -
Don't Lucy me - re etorted, throwing
down the bread and catching up the baby,
while the blood streamed down from my
hand over her white Gock. You've done
enough. you've broke my heart. wish
had never seen you. wish 1 was back
with my father and mother
1 broke down with a hysterical burst of
tears, and seeing the blood on my hand.
Tom came 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 bind it up see
how it bleeds.''
He held out his hands for the baby, but
snatcbed her away, and went on sObbing.
Don't cry, Lucy !'' he continued, strOk-
ing the hair back from my forehead, "please
don't. know I've done wrong. dear,
but didn't mean it. 1 fell in with some
of my old companions and they persuaded
me against my will. But it's the last time,
Lucy, the very last time"
Why did, Mt turn to him, then and help
and encourage him? Because my mean
temper got the better oil my woman's heart.
"Oh, yes" said sneeriDgly, sit is easy
enough to make promises, you expect me
to trust you now, after last night -
Tom was spirited and quick tempered
great loving hearted men always are. He
sprang to his feet like fash, and before 1
had time to think or speak. had left the
room. 1 tossed the child into the cradle,
and rushed to the door, but it was too late,
he was gone. 1 just caught glimpse OF
him as he was turning the corner.
I went back to the little break fast room;
how blank and drear it looked, and what a
sharp singing thorn there was at the bot
tom of my heart I loved Tomaud he
loved me. We had been married only
eighteen months and this was our first
quarrel. sat down with my baby in my
arms. and fell to thinking. All the old
happy days came back and in particular,
when we sat in Dunbury Wood. 1t was
in autumn, and all the world seemed a
blaze of gold, as the sun sank down, and
as sat there, with the last rose of sum-
Ier in my hair. knitting purse for Tom.
Lucy" he said, as woVe in the last
golden stitches, you've knit my love-my
very life in that purse. Tell me now, be-
fore you finish it, how is it to be ? Am I
to leave you, and-and-oh 1 won't
think of it even-Lucy, it would be too
dreadful!''
mo. Ton," 1 answered, "you are to
have the purse and the hand that knit il
too"
Poor Tom he cried then just like lit
tie child-he, the bravest man in Maidstone
mo fault to find, only he's little toe
wild, too fond of gay company but you
must tame him as your mother did me.
Lucy
That was my old fathers advice on our
wedding day.
| Had done my duty? Had followed
the example of my mother who never lei
fall an unkind word My heart smote
me dreadfully, as called the morning tc
i mind.