Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-12-12
Miscellany.
WHAT ALLIED HIM.
RY BIRCH ARNOLD.

RY BIRCH ARNOLD.
BEN BURKE walked home through the
twilight, in disconsolate mood.
He confessed to himself that he was
-eonfoundedly out of sorts.
He guessed it was because he wanted
to ''dine down town with the other fell
lows" but he'd promised Hatty he'd be
home early, and he must keep his prom
Use, or "she'd be sure to have the sulks, {"
which was his way of expressing the
silence which Mrs. Burke invariably kept.
if her leige lord spent his evenings down
town.
AS he walked along with his hat pulled
down over his eyes, to avoid the trouble
of bowling to people he "didn't care
cent for" he thought himself most
miserable man.
Why couldn't fortune have favored
him, he'd like to know, as well as Brown
and Jones, the aforesaid "other fell
lows?"
They lived in marble fronts, and dined
every day where cutgiass and silver
reigned triumphant. He wasn't quite
certain, but he thought he had as good
supply of brains as Brown and Jones.
AS for his physical appearance, why bless
you he was sure they couldn't either of
them hold rush light to him.
This last thought seemed to enliven
him somewhat for he lifted his hat to
bow very politely to Miss Simpkins,
the sourest old maid in Christendom,'
he muttered afterward. But when his
hat was fairly on his head again, the
old gloom settled with it, and he rallied
at fortune as loudly as ever. The whole
burden of his ratings seemed to resolve
itself into this:
"Why couldn't he live in a marble
front, and dine off cut glass and silver
Poverty is such a curse ~ But as he
muttered this last half aloud, by some
strange coincidence, there arose before
him vision of a pair of loving blue
eyes, nestled in tempting little face.
which was surrounded by halo of sunny
brown hair.
Beside this, were two others; one a
miniature of Ben Burke, the other "per-
feet picture of mamma"
"Bless them," he murmured. Chow I
love them; but I'd like TO take them out
out Of that shabby little hut. There's
Browns wife, now" but at thought of
Browns wife he stopped. Did he want
his Hatty to be like her, mere puppet
in the hands of fashion? Gorgeously
dressed, and faring sumptuonsly every
day, but one with whose good name the
poisoned tongues of scandal were ever
busy.
A woman who loved her money, and
her pleasure, better than she did her
husband? No. He didn't exactly want
Hatty to be like that He rather thought
she would be the same loving little woman
under all circumstances. At any rate he
would like to try her. Somehow Glove
in a cottage" didn't seem as enchanting as
it did six years before when he brought
his bride to the cosy little home, he had
so ungratefully called shabby hut"
The new had worn off, and life was get
ting prosy. Hatty's face wore wrinkles
now, when once 1t wore smiles. Flour
and butter were now the topics of con-
versation, where once books, and the fine
arts, were most to be discussed. The
house wasn't as neat as it used to be.
There We're finger marks, here and there,
the impress of baby hands, and H!atty's
dress wasn't always arranged with so
much care In short, before he had ar
rived half way home he had made out a
list of grievances, as long as the ancient
moral law, and was fully convinced that
he, BENJAMIN Burke, Esq, Real Estate
Agent and Conveyancer, was an Mused
man.
So drawing his hat still further over his
eyes, he set himself to work to find
means of placing himself upon the pima
Gle of happiness.
And Providence soon showed him the
way.
As he turned the corner of the street
leading to his home, he saw before him
man whose pockets were SO distended
with bundles, and whose arms were so
laden with packages, that Ben. mental
ly styled him travelling provision
store.''
Assuredly he did present funny spec
tacle, and Ben. fell to specializing about
him and his destination. He wondered
whom he could be carrying SO many bun
dies to- If he had wife and children
who watched for his coming. His specla-
tions soon ceased, however, for the man
opened the gate before little frame cot
tage, much like Bens own, and laughing
ly bowed his head to three pairs of eyes
watching him from the window.
Instantly there was rush made for the
door, and papa" was almost smothered
in proraiscuous ''conglomeration" of
kisses and bundles. A dive was made fer
his pockets, and package after package
was carried triumphantly away.
Ben stood and watched them through
the window (for in their excitement,
they had forgotten to draw the shade)
AAS 90" tbO SAOO1lUA SioW va ehO lllC
the table laid for the evening meal, and
above all the happy faces gathering round
it. He took special note that the room
was plainly furnished one; there was
not even that well-to do air, which per-
vaded his own home They evidently did
not dine off cut glass and silver, and yet,
what happiness Ben bent his head
thoughtfully a moment, and when
he raised it, he saw the man in the act of
giving his wife book, together with
couple of white waxen camelias. Oh!
the glad look of surprise which sprang
into the wife's eyes, as she saw them!
thanks! "Can such little things as books
aud camelias bring happiness into a
homer asked Ben of himself. s'Well,
its something never thought of, but l
guess its true" he added, ref1ectively, and
then with sudden "Hurrah Ben, guess
you've found out what ails your he
started down town SO fast that Miss
Simpkins who saw him, declared the
'spoor dear man must have had trouble
with that stuck-up wife of hisn."
When, half an hour later, he entered
his own door, he was struck with the air
of silence which pervaded the house.
The table was laid for dinner, and every
thing wore its usual look, but there was
was 40 one to meet him; no children to
climb into his lap and relate the joys and
sorrows of their small lives. To be sure it
Was no unfrequent occurrence, it had
often happened before, and he did not
seem to mind it, but now (paradoxical as
it seems), he missed that which he never
had. With the selfishness of man, he
had demanded of. Hatty that the children
be put to bed, before his return, SO that
he could eat his dinner in peace
And now, forsooth, because his orders
had been obeyed, he felt provoked, and
didn't see why he couldn't, like other men,
have his children run to meet himl He
heard Hatty up stairs singing that sever
lasting lullaby" as he called it, and after
fussing around awhile he determined
upon going up to free his mind.
As he reached the door, he heard Ben