Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-02-09

Deliver, as he walked into the kitchen
one chilly March morning, with pal
of milk in each hand, "look here, now
There is somethin' up and no mistake
That boy, Tommy, has made tracks TO
Sunbury agin, as sure as shootin' p
His wife, neat, bright-eyed, cherry
looking lady-yes a lady, mind you !
took the milk into the pantry, strained
it, carried it down cellar, returned clear
ed off the breakfast things, set back th'
table, and disappeared once more in tn,
pantry without saying word.
Mr. Daniel Deliver was considerably
surprised. He had never known hi
amiable spouse to observe so strict a 81
lence at any remark of his since they
had been man and wife. He really didn'
know what to make of it. He drew {
a little nearer to the stove, rubbed hi
hands vigorously, coughed nervously
and finally made bold to say;
Why, Betsey, what's up?"
" was thinking, Daniel, of the day
you and | we're married." was the an.
swer, in a subdued voice.
Is that so?" replied Mr.. Deliver,
family "well, dec are )" and he sat
down and glanced around as if he didn't
exactly feel at home.
But the 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 uuprepared.
Therefore, when his wife stepped hastily
into the room and threw a 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:
Why, Betsey, 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 i'm
prisoned his brawny hands between
both of hers indeed | will, l am go
ing to give you a regular curtain lee
ture."
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 a movement as if
he would free his hands from their man
acles, and shook his head
Well, Go, then. You boasted that
If ever you were blessed with son you
should be sure of success in his training,
for you could never forget as many do,
that you were once boy yourself But
you have forgotten 1t, and by your
thoughtlessness-and love of self, too,
Daniel-you are slowly but surely driv-
ing our only child from home hedreads
to leave, as we to have him go"
This was the first time in her life that
Mrs. Deliver had ventured to talk plain.
ly to her husband. That they loved each
other there was no doubt whatever. A
more even tempered man than Daniel
Deliver had never lived, and his wife
fully. appreciated it, as any sensible wo-
man would. But he had one fault--a
fault he was not aware of possessing, of
course. 1t was selfshness. Although
not stingy man, in the exact sense of
the word, he evidently considered him.
self the fountain head from which all
blessings emanated, and as natural
consequence, had come to the conclusion
that profits must fill the pockets of him
who had to suffer the loss. But as we
before remarked, he didn't know that he
was selfsh-never had any such idea =
and when his wife gave him hint to
that effect, his indignation knew no
bounds. Springing to his feet, he con-
fronted his jailor with an angry frown,
and the words:
"Pm selfish, am /? Well, well, now
Bet, Che had never nicknamed her be-
fore,) | think things is comm to pref
ty pass Where'd you a bin if it hadn't
bin for me, I'd like to know? All you
do is to ask for what store clothes and
other fixings you want, and you git EN-.
What fills up that blank you're all the
time drawin' on, hey? Its that there sell
fishness, as you call it i; and without we'd
all be in the poor house to-day"
At this point Mr.. Deliver called halt
and pulling a splinter off stick of
stove wood in the box at his feet, began
picking his teeth quite vigorously. But
seeing his wife would say nothing, he
proceeded with his remarks but in
somewhat milder key:
There's Tommy, now: I've done
heap for that boy-handed over pocket
money, fed his company, give him good
clothin' with the intention of doin' well
by him when he's tweDty-one: but the