Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-14

d nicely sanded. Upon the mantle wa
5 anaarray of pipes-pipes; that MI
3 Prettin1an was forever nlislaying il
!. all parts of the house for he was
! prodigious smoker, and was foreve
accusing his family of hiding" from
t him with mali.:e prepense. On ia
:. BILE at hand were newspapers, care
I fully filed also receipt-books, books
: bills yellow with age, etc. On hooks
that had been driven into the wall
: were hung collection Of seedy gar.
} ments, old hats, etc. dear to the heart
Of the lord and master Of the house
hold. On the hearth reposed old
, boots, and the identical, so-called,
slippers, that he delighted in.
Mr.. Prettiman surveyed the sur
! roundings and was speechless, Sim
ply because, for once, he had nothing
to say. -
Solemnly, as if she had been the
ghost in Hamlet, or some other ap-
partition sent with direful warning,
Mrs. Prettiman beckoned toward the
; door. - / 4
Mr.. .Prettiman, turning his eyes
thither, read in large letters, the fol-
lowing inscription,
Mr.. PRETT1MANs GRuMBI1NG Room.
|
The lady amotioned toa chair, 1.-The
gentleman, in blank amaze, took it /;
and then, as the lady took one, also,
regarded her fxedly. as s.
1t struck the gentleman forcibly,
as he did, what a pretty wife he had.
The lady was dressed with scrupulous
care, and yet, with an easy, pictures
que grace-such, as artists like. The
gentleman was not an artist, but he
liked it well !; and said within him
self, "What a remarkably pretty wo-
man I've got for a wife"
| Mrs. Prettiman, with the same
grave. self-assured aspect that had
characterized her throughout these
proceedings, began to speak as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Prettiman, as you know, /
am not given to speeches; throughout
our married life I am. not aware that
l have made one. Lind, however,
that you mistake forbearance for
weakness, and am now about to put
an end to the delusion. I am going
to make speech for the first, last,
and only time.
II have been your wife, sir" SHE
vent on, |" for eight years l have
striven faithfully for the welfare of
yourself and your children /; faulty l
have been often, but still faithful to
the best interests of those committed
to my charge. We have been blessed
in basket and store. Youwere called
poor man when we married the
world calls you 'well-to-do' now.
Had I been=the reckless extravagant.
spendthrift you so often tax me with
being, this had not been the case.
Now for your record. During these
eight years you have blSmed Inc Of
ten, praised ne scarcely, or if so, with
II reproach that annulled the praise.
You have found fault incessaDtlv.
Constant dropping, they say, wears
away stone. I am less than stone
and constant grumbling is eating,
like canker, int the best years Of
life, that, but for this, might be all
sunshine. Fhe end must come. l
have now set apart room where
you may grumble to your hearts
content. Since you have made grum-
bling your profession, as it were, yon
are welcome to consider this apart
ment your Office, and practice your
profession within its walls. But un-
derstand, Nlr. Prettlman, that from
thenceforth, tault-fnaing--unneces-l
sary, captious fault-fnding, such as
has made by life miserable-shall
be carried on outside Of these four
walls"
With slightwave of her hand to-
ward said inscription, a, slight incli-
nation cf her pretty, womanly head,
the lady passed out.
What reflections passed through
Mr.. Prettiman's mind in the solitude
that ensued, none ever knew. What
visions he saw, or what memories of
ignoble words spoken, of'unhusband-
ly deeds done, came to him with re-
proachful aspect, and upbraided him,
as his wife had never done, none
knew. But Mr.. Prettiman emerged
from that salutary solitude a deci-
dedly wiser and better man. I do
not say that from thenceforward he
ceased to grumble; but it was done
after a fashion SO much more subdu-
ed, that one hardly recognized the old
time-worn habit.
Whether he followed bis wife's ad-
vice, and diepsose9 Of his grievances
to the four. walls set apart for him,
making them the ,conhdants Of the
numerous disasters that were always
clogging the wheels Of hia destiny,
deponent saith not. But it can be
deposed, that the roses and dimples
came back more charming than ever
to Mrs. Prettiman's cheeks, and she
became her, own sweet-smiling self
once more. Her one speech had
worked wonders; thereafter mild
remonstrance answered the purpose.
In conclusion, would advise moth
ers, wives, and daughters, toset apart
room for all masculine grumblers
who exceed legitimate bounds. OIL
courses it is the privilege Of every
one to indulge in a good, thorough
grumble once and awhile; but it lust
be the exception not the rule. AS
for the ladies-oh, well you know
it is their prerogative of which no
true man would deprive them, TO find
fault. Fair. plays a jewell You
take your rights, gentlemen; permit
us our privileges. Every good manly
fellow that may read these words,
will concede the case at once, and
cease grumbling thenceforwafd. 9th
o,,,,;so od;oo rooort +o MIRO Prott;.