Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-11
Vol. 65.-3317. No. 20.

dinner"
"Well, ! like that! Where's the beef
and vegetables | sent home, and the pudding
you psomised 2' cried John, rushing to the
larder.
q" | hadn't time to cook anythingi meant
to dine at mothers. I'm sorry but | was
so busy y"-and Meg's tears began again.
John was a mild man, but he was human ;
and after long days work, to come home
tired, hungry and hopeful, to find chaotic
house, an empty table, and cross wife, was
not exactly conducive to rcpose of mind or
manner. He restrained himself, however, and
the little squall would have blown over, but
for one uulucky word.
ats a scrape, acknowledge but if you
will lend a hand, we'll pull through, and have
good time yet Don't cry dear, but just
exert yourself a bit, and knock US up some
thing to cat. We're both as hungry as hunt.
ers, 80 we shan't mind what it is. Give us
the cold meat and cheese. We don't ask for
Jelly
lie meant it for a good.natured joke but
that one word sealed his fate. Meg thought
il was too cruel to hint about her sad failure,
and the last atom of patience vanished as he
spoke.
You must get yourself out Of the scrape
as you cam I'm too used up to exert myself
for any one. It's like a man, to propose a
bone aud vulgar bread and cheese for COM
pauy. | won't have anything of the sort in
my house. Take that Scott up to mothers,
and tell him I'm away-sick, dead, anything
i won't see him, and you two can laugh at
me aud my jelly as much as you like; you
won't have anything else here :" and having
delivered her defiance in one breath, Meg cast
away her pinaiorc, aud precipitately left the
field, to bemoan herself in her own room.
What these two creatures did in her alb
sence, she never knew but Mr.. Scott was not
taken cup to mothers" and when Meg de-
scended, after they had strollod away together,
she found traces Of promiscuous lunch
which filled her with horror. Lofty reported
that they had eaten ga lunch and greatly
laughed; and the master bid her throw away
all the sweet stuff, and hide the pots"
Meg longed to 60 and tell mother but O
sense Of shame at her own shortcomings Of
loyalty to John, "who might be cruel but
nobody should know" restrained her, and
after a summary cleaning up she dressed her
self prettily, and sat down to wait for John
to come and be forgiven
Unfortunately, John didn't come, not see
ing the matter in that light He had carrieC
it off as a good joke with Scott excused hi,
little wife as he could, and played the host SC
/ Hospitality, that his friend enjoyed the i'm.
promptu dinner, and promised to come again
| But John was angry, though he did not show
il; he felt that Meg had got him into a scrape
and then deserted him in his hour of need
" 1t wasn't fair to tell man to bring folk
home any time, with perfect freedom, anC
when he took you at your word, to fare W
and blaze at him, and leave him in the lurch
to be laughed at or pited No, by George, il
wasn't and Meg must know it," He has
fumed inwardly during the feast, but wher
the furry was over, and he strollcd home
after seeing Scott off, milder mood cam,
over him. /" Poor little thing 1t was hare
upon her. when she tried so heartily to pleas,
me. She was wrong, of course, but then sh,
was young. | must be patient, and teacl
her" He hoped she had not gone home-h
hated gossip and interference. For minut
he was rufiied again at the mere thought o
it and then the fear that Meg would crl
herself sick softened his heart, and sent hin
on at quicker pace, resolving to be cain
and kind, but firm, quite trm and show hei
where she had failed IN her duty to her spouse
Meg likewise resolved to be " calm an'
kind, but hrm'' and show him his duty Sh
longed to run aud meet him, and beg pardon
and be kissed and comiorted, as she was sur
OF being; but, of course she did nothing o
the sort and when she saw d ohm coming be
gan to mum quite naturally, as she rocked an'
sewoG IKE iaIy ol leisure IN h9r pes' perlVi
1onn ". was a l'I'le uisaPPolnIeu no. 10 nnl
tenuer Niooe puV lce,lng tnn' ms ulgnu
ueinahueu Tue hrst aPology, nc inaue none
only came leislrely ln' ana iaid himself upo
the SOFA WIN tne slngGiarly relevant remark
we are gong TO nave a new moon IN.
dear; ,.. NJ
I've no oPIeotions' was MeSs equail.
soothing remark