The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-08-22
WHY TOMMY DIDN'T GO.
A STORY WITH A MORAL.

"Look here, Betsey,' said Daniel Del
yer, as he walked into the kitchen, one
chilly March morning, with pail of milk
in each hand; "loox here, now. There is
somethin' up, and no mistake That boy
Tommy has made tricks for Sunbury agin,
as sure as shootin' ~ @
His wife, a neat bright eyed, CHEEKY
looking lady-yes, a 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 word.
Mr.. Daniel Deliver was considerably
surprised. He hadSnever known his ami
able spouse to observe so strict silence
at any remark of his since they had been
man and wife. He really didn't know
what 10 make of it. He drew little near
er to the stove, rubbed his hands vigor.
ously .coughed nervously,a and finally made
bold to say:
"Why, Betsey, what's up?"
81 was thinking, Daniel, of the day you
and I were married" was the answer, in
subdued voice. fra
''Is that so ?" replied Mr.. Deliver faint.
ly. "Well, I declare ?" and he sat down
and glanced around as If he didn's 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
about his neck, and kissed him three times
in rapid succession, his astonishment knew
no bounds. Totally foored by such an
unusual display of affection, he could do
nothing better than reiterate his former
question:
'Why Bstsey, what's up?"
"Well, I'll tell you what's up, and that
very quickly" replied his wife, as she
seated herself on his knee, and imprison.
ed his brawny hands between both of
hers; indeed will. I'm going to give
you q reg ular 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
little remark you made at that time ?"
The prisoner made movement as if
he would free his HANDS from their mana
cles and shook his head.
swell, do, then. You boosted that if
you were ever blessed with sen, you
should be sure of success in his training
for you could never forget, as many do,
that you were a boy yourself once But
you have forgotten it, and by your thought.
lessness--and love of self, too, Daniel
you are slowly but surely driving our only
child from home he hates to leave, as
we hate to have him go.
This was the first time In her life that
Mrs. Deliver had Ventured to talk plainly
to her husband. That they loved each
ether there was no doubt whatever. A
more even tempered man than Daniel Del
yer had never lived, and his wife fully
appreciated it as any sensible woman
would. But he had one fault ha was not
aware of possessing, of course. It was
selfshness. Although not stingy man,
in the exact sense of the word he evident
ly considered himself the fountain head
from which all blessings emanated and as
a natural consequence, had Come to the
conclusion that profits must fill the peck.
cts of him who had to suffer the loss. But
as we before remarked, he didn't know
that he was selish-never had any such
i'd ca and when his wife gave a hint to
that effect, his Indignation knew no
bounds. Springing to his feet. he con.
fsonted his jailor with an angry frown
and the words:
"I'm selfish, am [? Well, well, now Bet
he had never nicknamed her befere,)
think things is comm to pretty pass
Where'd you bin if it hadn't a bin fol
me, I'd like to know?
All you do is to ask for what store
clothes and other fxins you want, an6
you git 'em. What fills up that bank you
are all the time a DRAWN on, hey? TIL
that there selfshness, as you call it and
without it we'd all be in the poor house
to-day"
At this point Mr.. Deliver called hall
and pulling splinter of stick of stove
wood in the box at his feet, began pick
ing his teeth quite vigorously. But see.
ing his wife would say nothing he pro
ceeded with his remarks but in a mildel
key:
"There's Tommy, now; I've done 6
heap for that boy-handed over pocket
money, fed his company, give him good
clothin' with the intention of dom well
! by him when he's twenty one but the
; scamp don't appreciate it no more than
nothin.' I've done my best and if he's a
mind to git contrary and want two oars
he must row his own boat, that's all, fol-
Pm gittln' sick of the way things is goin
on, anyhow"
Here the speaker found some unusual
obstruction, between couple Of back
teeth, and proceeded 10 dislodge it with
all possible dispatch.
"But, Daniel, "interposed his wife" why
can't you begin to do we'll by Tommy now?
You forget he's seventeen years old-too