Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-10


our house | am certain. Some women
look after servants little sharper, aad are
not afraid To speak their minds
Sugar again. Mrs Csdyl We arc cer-
I tainly very eXtrayagant in the item Of su-
gar"
" Another new broom Well, our house
ought TO be little cleaner than il Is, - and
he glanced down at some saw-dust he had
/ Just tracked in from the wood yard. ''when
we have a new broom every week
4 liz WAS useless 10 say that IL was three
months since the last one was bought, for
"Amaa eonyinseA against his vii
is Of the same opinion suh.
and Phoebe was growing too liGc-weary to
care for dispute, in which he was likely
I 10 resort TO a mans expedient, Of raising
his voice, when he saw the argument was
I going against him.
The excellent breakfast was smoking
/ hot ON the table. as the family gathered
about il one chilly m5ruing in Spring.
7 The fire was burning brightly in the pol
/ ished open stove, and everything about
was CHEEKY and heart-Some,h as Bridget
would term IT,
But the autocrat took his place At the
+ table with irown.
Carrie, don't ever come 20 the table
with your hair looking like n crows nest
again, he remarked steruly.
I go 70 my room, Carrie. and | will
7 brush your hair again presently said mo
I ther, as she poured out cup of coffee for
her husband. The hair was brushed, and
Carrie resumed her seat But there was
no approval, and scarcely any notice, Of
. her improved appearance, only the half
sneering remark, "Charley's hair is not
much better
( lie might have bscn gratitied by seeing
I the weary mother ascend the long flight Of
stairs a second time 90 arrange the lawlrss
curls which a frolc with his baby sister
had disarrangrd, but just then a new
source Of discomfort presented itself lie
bad spoiled the meal for the rest, but il
seemed by no means 20 damage his own
appetite, Judging by the manner the feath-
cry cakes disappeared before him. But
one came on shade or two darker than
T the orthodox hue.
I al wish, Mrs. Cady, you could instruct
I Bridget IN bake cakes without burning
I them. Other women manage 10 have or
I ders obeyed by servants. A little more
7 decision would be Of great service TO us.n
{ A visit 90 the kitchen followed, and by
the time mother was rcady 20 eat her
breakfast she had no appetite ior IL. She
took no nourishment all day, though she
/ drained the ice pitcher more than once.
( Nothing seemed 20 satisfy the raging Thirst
which was consuming her.
1 Supper was farther from perfection than
breakfast had been, aud his wile's silence
and apparent indifference 20 all he said,
. irritated Joseph more than usual. Some
T sharper remarks than common were made
on her general shortcomings, but IL was
. like hurling darts against marble; her heart
seemed turned 60 stone.
With burning brow she laid her head
I upon her pillow, and when morning came
I no mother came with X TO brighten aud
cheer the family-room. Mother was toss
l ing in delirium. unmindful for once Of the
voices Of even her beloved children. O,
what confusion that household was thrown
I into Joseph had never realized what she
was 10 them before. All the light seemed
I put out. The children came down stairs
after the rough toilet Bridget'S hands had
I given them, and huddled shiveringly over
( the dull fire, so different from the cheerful
! blaze TO which they had been accustomed.
The family physician came, and also a
kind neighbor Mr.. Cady stood nc the
foot Of the bed, waiting anxiously for the
doctors opinion.
This sickness comes more from the
mind than the body said the old man
grayely and slowly. 81 have always found
this phase Of it TO spring from mental trou-
bic. IL you will listen 20 her wandcrings,
Joseph" he said, as he fixed his piercing
gray eyes upon him, "you may get a clew
to the trouble
Joseph WINGED 1t the good doctors
words, for had he not heard that very
morning the moan
40, | can do nothing to please him, all
is wrong whatever | do. There, he is
bringing a viper now 10 throw into my
bleeding heart;' and then the maniac
shriek which followed darted like burn
ing arrow through his brain.
Joseph's eyes were opened as by light
ming fash. lie saw his own wretched,
cowardly, treatment Of the frail, defense
less woman before him, and he could only
wiring his hands in agony.
"Ilow will il end, doctor r. te asked in
anguish too deep for expression.
That is more than ! can saw" said the
doctor. "Sometimes the disease is very
short and violent, sometimes il leaves the
patient in n state Of settled melancholy
and arrangement"
Either alternative seemed too terrible
TO contemplate. just then Bridget came
| 10 call him to breakfast, but he declined
going, as he could not eat.
"Then come and mind the children, nv
We plaze, for I've my own work TO do"
and Bridget walked away with nm air that
said she was not 10 be trincd with.
How cherries and diEgy the room look
ed how forlorn tho appearance OF the un-
combcd children Was IL her hand that
wrought such magic in her household
And yesterday he had found fault over
single disarranged ringlet The memory
was like pointed arrow now to his awak-
encd heart.
"Wbat muddy coffee, Bridget" he re-
marked in disgust.
"Then settle it yourself" muttcred
Bridget, as she ansrily slammed the door
For days the struggle for life went on.
Mrs. Cady was still unconscious Of all that
was passing around her Often, in the
lonesome midnight, her husband had stood
beside her, praying with depth Of feeling
he had never fathomed before, for one ook
Of recognition, one smile Of forgiveness.
But II she should be restored to him, could
life long devotion win back TO rim the
heart he felt he must have 30 widely es-
tranged7 How little he knew cf the
depths Of woman's love, Of her readiness 10
forget all the past, in the blissful present,
when once she realized that she was be
loved and appreciated!
Joseph Cady had been subjected TO many
humihations from the temper Of Bridget,
who never lost sight Of his unkindness to
her mistress, not to speak of sundry refec-
tions on her honesty he had made in time
past. lie would gladly have discharged
\ her, but il was not easy to find new do
nestle, and he knew he must bear with
her whims. The lesson was useful to him.
He went down many degrees in his own
self-esteem, and that is never hurtfnl to
one. 1t is the great lesson we have to be