National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-09-23
THE FIRST QUARREL.

Sakes alive what a looking room
declare, George Graham, II you arn't
enough to try the patience OF Job |
don't believe there Is another woman
#lvlng that has to bear what | do MhO Ii
#eyer think that | came IN here after
Il breakfast and worked good hour put
satlng things to rights Ana now, what uoes
1T look like p
n Tears stood i'll the little wife's eyes and
II her face heightened out till you would
II have thought she had Just heard OF Il
death.
h What is it, Susie ? What's up now :?
What does trhM look like p And MIR,
Graham turned carelessly, and good
q naturedly, too, from the dOuble-leaded
article on Reconstruction, which he had
i been so earnestly reading that though he
had heard, he had scarcely comprehend
4 ed IA word of the complaint
" That's just like You, George If /
were to tell you the house was on fire
you'd only look around and say, Where,
Susie z"
lie laughed, hearty laugh it was, too,
clear and ring ng, Il laugh that many II
wife would have treasured up us men do
pearls and precious stones.
1t nettled Mrs. Graham and she said
sharply
" II you'd open your eyes, you'd see
what does rhH look like.
He rubbed them brlskly, and then
peered around the room.
Il declare, Susie, | don't know what
you mean. The carpet is swept, the
furniture is busted, the fire bright-what
ts - | L..
1 thing wrong"
You can't, no of course you can't
See here, and there, and there" and she
pointed rapidly, her emphasis growing
more lnclslye each time, to his heavy
Il oyer-coat winch lay i'll tllmbled mass
on the lounge to his hat, which was
1 lodged unceremoniously in the middle
Il OF her work basket, to his rubbers, which
4 were roasting on the stove hearth, and tc
his gloves, which had demurely settled
\ themselves on the mantel-piece.
see, | see, Susie but then you
know I'm a careless, good-for nothing
sort OF fellow who never had bring
ing up, and you must make allowance
my dear ) and tossing the paper On the
table, he caught her hand and drew hen
gently upon his lap and said soothingly
as one might talk to fretful child
Don't be c,oss now, pet, because
didn't mean anything bad, You know
fut up your bps and let me kiss away
that pout.
But the lips were not put up to NEE
the touch Of those bearded ones. Instead
they assumed rigldity, squareness, i'm
mobility.
Must | have the lecture first, wife
before | can either give or claim ii kiss
Well, out with it then. The sooner In
whipped the sooner it will stop hurting
as | used to say to the boys when til,
schoolmaster was after me with the ro,
OF correction. But Susie, and here hi
tones, which had been iocular assumed
touching earnestness, s. don't like thl
beng scolded every time | come into tn
mouse. ! have born 1t so far patiently
nut 1t Is wearing out my temper. ! shan
be able 10 hold ont much longer In
afraid. | shall scold back, and the
well quarrel, and thcn-our home, bu
shall | say it, Susie what too man
houes are, nothing more nor less tina
cheap editions of hell itself.
But, George, how can help it Yo
do try me terribly
How, Susie ?"
Why, by never putting your thing
where they belong. | was brought II
to have place for everything, ana ever,
hing in its place and 1t does worry II
to come i'll from the kitchen, tired M
hot, and then find the sittmg-roo
looking so. like to have things ne
and orderly"
But you know we can't have ever
thing we want in this world, Susie ~
Is it worth while for you to fret your Ii
away because can't always think to p
my gloves i'll my pocket, and hang I
my coat and hat, and leave my rubbe
III the entry ?"
The word " fret" was an unfortuna
one; it stung her. and she said, bite
ly
" But you never think, George. "
come rushing in like II whrlwind, ~
you toss your things pell-meu eve
which way, and if they are ever pick
up and put in their place it is me- NJ
not you, that does it, and | am gcttil
tired of it. | can't and won't stand
any longer"
"What will you do, Susie ?" Tn,
was severity in his tone now.
Do Why, | won't stand it.
won't he any mans slave = and the bln
eyes flashed defantly.
." Did ever ask you to be my slave
The mans eyes were flashing now.
But whit else am | toll like q
from morning to night to do mp the We
and put things in order, and you col
N and undo it all, just as | have
through II is enough to make u sa
swear"