Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-26

ment. ] aW just WallihS NE uio7''hS
gown and slippers for him; and now you
are come, l'll have nice, cozy dinner set
here instead of the dining-room, and we'll
all have nice time Of it,"
And the lively little woman rang the
bell, and gave orders to serve dinner III
the stting-room.
"Well, if Mr.. MIean can come home
to dinner, don't see why my husband
can't"
"Oh, business may keep bin later
to-day than usual" said Nellie.
ooh no; its nothing of the sort. lie
says so rather often Of late, but it's all a
Rb. Your husband doesn't stay too"
/" But lie comes late sometimes we have
to wait half an hour for him frequently
lie says it's the busy season."
$50 1t is, so it isl | said "This is the
busiest season of the year. | am glad to
see Peter late to dinner occasionally, for |
know then that things are going we'll"
"And then, besides, there are SO many
things to keep business man that we
don't think Of" argued the noble little
woman Of my choice.
"Oh, that's all CANNON, Nellie" said
Mrs. Perkins, "and you don't believe it..
Ny husband has said those very words to
me thousand times, and called me incon-
siderate because / did not credit it."
Why, it's business, Of course, my
dear; if it wasn't for business, you know,
they wouldn't go away at all.
at isn't business which is keeping them
tonight, is it ~
Nellie had no answer to this. Mrs.
Perkins saw her advantage, and would
have launched out into farther arguments
and assertions, AID perhaps INDUCED in a
TRADE against husbands who neglected
their wives, il the servant had not at this
time begun to set the table. She was dis
erect enough not to talk before the SER
wants: am sorry she was not wise enough
to talk less before us. She had not time
to commence her talk after the servant
had finished before Peters key was heard
in the lock, and Nellie ran rapidly to the
door to meet him.
"Ah, little woman" we heard Peter
say in his CHEEKY voice, cam late ~
"Oh no." she answered 'dinner Is not
served yet but it's ready, and YOU won't
he delayed. Here is Mrs. Perkins," she
added, as they entered the door, | saw
Peter drop his arm from about her waist,
aud Nellie took her hand from lis shout
der, as they did so. Here is Mrs. Per-
kins, come to dine with U.s."
GLOW dye do, Mrs. Perkins p said Pc
ter. "Glpd to see you. How dye do,
uncle All well | hopel Any news,
Nellie ?"
"No, believe not. The gas man came
with bis bill, which I paid S3.75; and |
had to have the plumber to open those
pipes again. They are SarA nuisance"
"Well, | am sorry, my dear, but don't
see how / can improve them. Nothing
else :"
"No | believe not. Here's your chair
" If you have finished your domestic af-
fairs" said Mrs. Perkins, trying to conceal
u little the contempt she had for these
little things, and also the chagrin she felt
that her husband had not conc home to
her, "wi!l you tell me il you know where
my husband is I"
~ left Perkins at the store deep in ac-
counts with old Chamberlain. You re-
member Chamberlain, Of Chamberlain &
Gould, uncle, don't you }--St. Louis PEG.
pie. Perkins has sold him big bin, and
is closing up with him this evening. Did,
MT you get note from him ? lie wrote
by the messenger. lie is to take Cham.
berain to the club to.night--reception Of
John Duttcn, big English steamship king.
lo@ know Of him, uncle. I'm going my
SELF Can't you come ~
had no inclination, and said so.
PETER" said his wife, all of a sudden
"it you'are going, you'll want 10 stay late
: and you had better take good rest before
you go. Here are your slippers and gown
Your feet must be tired, cased IN those
heavy boots all day. Take off your boots
and let me have them BACKED, and your
coat brushed. I've had your gown airing
and you won't catch cold"
She did not give him time to demur
but while he was vainly striving to "edgt
in word sideways" she went on:
"Nls. Perkins will excuse your changing
before her. Won't you, my dear? O
course: we are all old married folks now
There! Don't they feel easier nowl Lee
, me take your coat now. Here's you
gown. Pm sure you will have good res
now.h
"They nae comfortable, l must say,
I said Peter, lying back in his easy-chai
and stretching bis legs, "Tbis is enough
f to come home for, without the addition o
the dinner, which already smell not s'
very far off,"
/ sit shall be served Immediately" sale
his wife. "You shall not be delayed a
all. What time do you 90 to the club ?"
:. at will be time enough to begin dress
+ ing at six or half past"
q "Oh, then you can chat with Mrs. Per
Q kins an hour before you 90. Talk to he
0 while see that dinner is ready. She i
dying to hear you say something abou
Mr.. Perkins" And Nellie ran for min
: ute or two to the kitchen.
| ooh, Perkins is all right" said Peter
e thus urged. "You know what capita
clerk he was, uncle. Well, he is bette
partner. He is carrying the concern o.
4 his shoulders may say, and he is YER
\ deep in business matters just ncw."
t $50 il would SEEM" said MIS-. Pcrk m
t "if we are to believe the statements of tn
e business men themselves. You supper
d each other in your fibs.'
"Fibs! You certainly don't suppos
Perkins is fibbing2"
= "White lies--only to deceive his poo
t trusting wife," she returned, trying t.
II laugh merrily, but not succeeding yer,
Y WELL
: "Whcn be stays out Of an evening" an
j; says he was at the club, or down town o
t necessary business, you don't think be
g really fbbing2"
ooh, you know you men do lib to de
0 ceive us poor wives |"
o II worder il Nellie really thinks tba