The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-30
WHY TOMMY DIDN'T GO.
a STORY FOR wHoMsoEvER THE SHOE
PINCHES.
DY JOHN n. DICKIE.

Look here, Betsy" said Daniel Del
yer, as he walked into the kitchen, one
chilly March morning, with pail of
milk N each hand, "look here, now
There is somethin' up, and 10 mistake
That boy, Tommy, has made tracks for
Sunbury agin, as sure as shootin'W
His wife, a neat, bright-eyed, cherry
looking lady-yes lady, mind you =
took the milk into the pantry, strained
it, carried it down cellar, returned,
cleared off the breakfast things, set back
the table, and disappeared once more
in the pantry without saying a word.
Mr.. Daniel Deliver was considerably
surprised. he had never known his
amiable spouse to observe 30 strict
silence at any remark of his since they
had been man and wife. He really
didn't know what to make of it. He
drew a little carer to the stove, rubbed
his hands vigorously, coughed nervously,
and finally made bold to say:
"Why, Besty, what's upY"
~ was thinking, Daniel, of the day
you and were married." was the an
swer, ina subdued voioe.
"Is that So" replied Mr.. Deliver,
family; "well, 1 declare !" and he sat
down and glanced around as if he didn't
exactly feel at home.
But matters had not yet come to their
worst. If he had only known the turn
affairs were about to take, he could have
made some sort of preparation but as
it was he was totally unprepared. There
fore, when his wife stepped hastily into
the room and threw pair of plump
arms around his neck, and kissed him
three times, in rapid succession, his as
tonishment knew no bounds. Totally
hoored by such an unusual display of
affection, he could do nothing better
than reiterate his former question
"Wby, Betsy, what's up2"
"Well, I'll you what's up, and that
very quickly" replied his wife, as she
seated herselfon his knee and imprisoned
his brawny hands between both of hers J;
Indeed will. I'm going to give you
a regular curtain lecture"
The prisoner began to look decidedly
silly.
"You see, when you said Tommy was
off again took to thinking of the day
we were married. Don't you remember
a little remark you made at that time 2"
The prisoner made movement as if
he would free his hands from their man
acles, and shook his head.
"Well, 1 do, then. You boasted that
if ever yeu were blessed with a son you
should be sure of success in his training
for you could nsver forget, as many do,
that you were once bcy yourself. But
you hare forgotten it, and by your
houghtlessne3s-and love of self, too,
Daniel-you are slowly but surely driv-
ing our only child from home he
breads to leave, as we to have him 60"
This was the first time in her life that
Mrs. Deliver had ventured to talk plainly
TO her husband. That they loved each
other there was no doubt whatever. A
more even tempered man than Daniel
Deliver never lived, and his wife fully
appreciated it. as any sensible woman
would. But he had one fault-a fault
he was not aware of possessing, of course.
1t was seltishness. Although not
stingy man in the exact sense of the
word, he evidently considered himself the
fountain. head from which all blessings
emanated, and, as natural consequence,
had come to the conclusion that profits
must I'LL the pockets of him who had to
suffer the loss. But, as we before re-
marked, he didn't know that he was self
ish-never had any such idea and
when his wife gave hint to that effect,
his indignation knew no bounds. Spring
ing to his feet, he confronted his tailor
with an angry frown, and the words:
"I'm selfish, am 1. Well, we'll, now,
Bet (he had never nicknamed her be-
fore), think things is cJmin' to a pret-
ty pass Where'd you bin if it hadn't
been for me, I'd like to knowp All
you do is to ask for what store clothes
and other fxins you want, and you git
'em. Whit fills up that bank you're all
the time a drawin' on heyY Is that
there selfishness, as you call it; and
without it we'd all be in the poor-house
to-day"
At this point Mr.. Deliver called halt,
and pulling splinter off stick of stove
wood in the box at his feet, began pick
ing his teeth quite vigorously. But
seeing his wife would say nothing, he