National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-04-12

heavier and more rapid step.
"Go up and see if your mother ism
most ready; I'm in great hurry this
morning. Mr. Lundy SAID to one Of the
chill On after the lapse Of two minutes
whih seemed to the impatient man al
least live.
"I'm coming" he heard on the stairs
from his wife.
"rm glad of IT," he rather grriliy re
sponded IL knew your minute wouldn'
be much less than half an hour !
wish you would try and be more punetual
this ever being behind time annoys mt
terribly
There were .omomeek words said about
the time il took TO dress and see after So
many children; but they made no impress
ion upon the mind Of Mr.. Lundy. They
were uttered as kind OF excuse, and hC
regarded them as of no more account.
"These sausages are done to death,
said Mr.. Lundy. The wife remained ST.
lent, but looked worried. Mere dish
waterln Mr.. Lundy set his saucer down
with an expression of disgust on his face
The coffee was not to his liking. ! wish
Agnes, you would look little after Sarah
in the morning We haven't had any
thing fit to eat at breakfast for at least 2
month
~ don't know how ! can do more
than | do, Mr.. Lundy. I'm sure haven't
had moment to breath in since gotup y
"Still think you might spare mo-
ment to see if things were going on all
right in the kitchen /; good meals ere halt
the comfort a man has at home
Mrs. Lundy sighed, but answered moth
ing TO this ungenerous remark.
"Your head looks like perfect nope,
Agnes said her husband, as he leaned
back to pick his teeth, after having fin
ished his breakfast and made more care
ful observation Of his wte's appearance.
" You are getting downright careless
about your person.
Mr.. Lundy did not expect any reply to
this and he was not disappointed. -Four
children to wait upon ut the table kept
Mrs. Lundy too busy to eat more than a
mouthiul or two herself 1t was time to
get the three oldest ready for school
when they had finished their meal, and
she left the table, where she had been a
mere waiter, and not o participant in the
good cheer, to put on Maccy's gloves and
bonnet, to hunt up Wills books and cap,
an4 to change Mary's dress, she having
spilled a cup of coffee on il at the table.
"The children will be too late for school, "
called out the punctual Mr.. Lundy, who
had gone back into tho parlor to finish
perusng an article, his impatence about
breakfast had not allowed Rim to read
through. Just then his boots were
brought in
"Why didn't you black the old pair, as
said r. he asked the boy impatiently
~ didn't know You wanted the old
pair replied the boy.
Didn't Mrs. Lundy tell yon | wished
theml"
"No, sir"
well, do. Go and brush them up
Il. quickly as you can. l ought to have
been at the store long ago"
Mrs Lundy who was coming down
stairs with the children, at last ready for
school, heard what had been said to the
boy, and was thereby refsinded of her
neglect in not having informed him that
her husband wanted his old boots.
Il declare Mr.. Lundy, forgot to tell
John" she said 81 have so much to
think absut and see after"
"No matter-I'll attend to it myself
next time If you want a good servant,
secure yourself, coldly replied Mr. Lundy.
The children were at last off for school,
and Mr.. Lundy about taking himself of
also said, AS he stood with his hand upon
tho door: | wish Agnes, you would see
that Sarah has dinner IN time, you know
how it annoys me to wait"
~ will try to have it got ready" replied
the wife, an expression Of pain and lass
tude passing over her face.
Are you not well, Agnesi' Mr.. Lundy
asked.
"No,' she replied, "I've been suffering
with q dreadful tooth-ache all the morn
ing and feel as if every nerve in my head
were alive"
"Why don't you have that tooth out7
would not suffer as you do, if had to
have every tooth in my head extracted"
Mrs. Lundy turned away with feeling
of discouragement. She was heavily bur
dened, and had no true sympathy. Mr..
Lundy walked toward his store, health in
every vein, and vigor in every muscle
and his wife went wearily up to her cham
Der, half mad with pain, and every nerve
excited and quiyering.
Arrived at his store, Mr.. Lundy smiled
and chatted with a customer, made few
entries in his books, filled up three or
four checks, and paid two or three bills.
These acts with general supervision of
what was going on, made up the sum OF
his doings, and brought him with o good
appetite at the dinner hour, when he set
off for home, allowing himself just the
number of minutes required to walk there,
and expecting to hear the tinkle of the
dinner bell as he opened the street door
of his house.
Afte- Mr.. Lundy had left for the store
his wife took the baby and carefully wash
ed and dressed it, during all the time of
which operation its loud, piercing screams
rang wildly through her head, aud caused
both tooth and head to throb as if beaten
with hammer. After that she had to
dress herself and go to market. Walking
in the open air made her tooth orse, in
stead of causing the pain to abate; When
she came home, she was so completely e7
hausted as to be compelled to lie down
for an hour This brought twelve o'clock,
when Maggie. viii and Mary came bound
ing in from school, hungry and impatient,
and the mother had to sec about getting
their dinners, and attending to their other
numberless little wants, until it was time
for them to 60 to school again. Half-past
one came: two was the regular dinner
and remembering her husbands last words
about punctuality, Mrs. Lundy went into
the kitchen to see what progress the cook
was making, and found Sarah pairing the
potatoe., and looking as unconcerned asst
I. ..-.. .x-o bours m dinner time.