Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-30
Iy'O.uR.v-S STEPS.
ny KATE TRUE.

ny KATE TRUE.
"There il il again, the old song Pm so
tired wonder If all ladies sing ii?
"If ask you to play or sing it is always,
'rm so tired And as to a social game of
cribbage or whist, you will play short
rubber, and run off to your everlasting
sewing, leaving me to amuse myself. do
not wish to find fault, my dear, but it does
seem TO me wife might exert herself n lit
lie and make the evenings pleasant for her
husband, after he has been bothered with
business all day. The simple truth is no
men take a great many unnecessary steps"
These were the very words uttered by
Hon. James Huntley to his beloved wife
Elizabeth one winter evening.
James Huntley, the successful business
man, the courteous, digniiied, elegant
gentleman, and a universal favorite with
ladies' Elizabeth, his wife, once blooming
and still lovely, had Just put the three
Huntley saplings in bed, with infinite Ia
Dor, and much assistance from nurse, and
now, when Fred had taken his last drink
of water, baby had cried herself into the
arms of Morpheus and out of his mothers
aching ones, she had walked slowly down
stairs, thinking how glad she would be to
retire herself but conscious of the duties
still TO be done and anxious to join her
husband for little quiet chat the one
bright thing after her bustling, weary day.
She entered the library with her mending
basket in her arms, hoping her husband
II ...t..t
lacked the haunting household demon /;
but no, his words of greeting were:
"Well, Lizzie, thought you were never
coming down. Why don't you let nurse
get baby to sleep?"
"For the good reason, Jamie, that am
his mother, and poor nurse has her hands
full with the others. Do you want any
thing?"
"Yes, I've been waiting here two'good
hours TO hear you read Wilson's speech,
you read so much better than do, and be-
sides it does me good to lay off and smoke"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Jamie, must
work. All the contents of this basket must
be attended to before sleep, and really,
dear, am very tired"
Then the Hon. James expressed his
views concerning tired women as stated
above, and threw himself on the lounge
with his cigar in his mouth, rattling his
paper rather more than the occasion de-
manded.
Lizzie drew her basket near her and put
out her hand TO begin operations, when an
imperious voice said:
81 wish you would have the goodness tc
move that table with the drop light a little
nearer; man can't read in the dark"
Oh, Hon. James, just think of it you
the ''elegant society man." 'the devoted
husband" aud "polite gentleman" addres
sing your wife in such a manner Did WI
not see you, one week since, walking
through the elegant conservatory of oul
friend, Mrs. Jones, and did we not hea
you tell her "your wife was model wo
man, and highly accomplished p Did sh'
not urge you to bring her there and 20,
promised it for "your darling Lizzie wa
very fond of flowers" And here you ar
thinking only of self, and ordering her t.
move heavy table for your accommoda
ton, while your words and manners ar
such as you would not dare use TO one Q
your servants.
am drawing your picture from life, an,
you must not find fault with the drawin
because the wart on your nose is so promi
nent. If the wart did not exist my eye
would not see it, and you and all the Hunt
leys are at liberty to touch up the pctur
and improve it If you wish.
Lizzie Huntley moved the table and sa
down again. A blur passed before he
eyes. and little stab of pain shot throug
her, but not a word passed her lips.
She was learning her life lesson in tn
wrong way. With her great unselfsh Low
she had lancied all troubles sent are trouh
les to be borne with patience. She had "
TO learn that trials sent us by the All-wis
are the only ones under which we shoul
"suffer and be strong" but trials an
troubles of mems devising are to be foug
against in just indignation.
On the top of the work basket lay lette
plump, crumpled letter, which Lizzie hi
tried all day to find time for reading 81
had brought it down intending to as
James to share it with her, but the lit
cloud "no bigger than mans hand" hi
arisen in the domestic sky. She looked
her husband, and decided he was not in
favorable mood just now; she would re-
1t TO him again.
Underneath the letter was the usu
medley which accumulates you know 4
how, but never fails to accumulate in m
theirs basket when mother is the "head
the household" as she should be.
Two pairs Of shirts for James, to be G
out mere in the neck. lie remarked
yesterday she did not see why such lit
thing could not be done, he had spoken
1t forty times" forty meaning in ma
vocabulary twice. Lizzie had taken thu
in hand at once, and would have complet
them but for unexpected guests. She 81
gesled allowing the sewing girl to ate
to II, but was CURLY told TO Edo 1t hers
and then it would be done right"
Two shirts, eight pairs of stockings
sheet with the corners snapped out W
the wind, James Juniors pants wit
yentilator at the knee. "shirts wife" W
the band rent asunder, stringless p,
ding bag, pair of driving gloves for
Hon. James, and her own more dali
ones.
Was II not acheering prospect Even