Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-05-09
How I Lost my Wife and
Baby. dkli

How I Lost my Wife and
Baby. zi.i
'sCrutch & Armless" did lively bust
ness as wholesale @rOcers. l was a
clerk in their store My name is Doray
Timothy Doray; my wife's name is
Lefty, Tor short, and my three year old
baby-a mighty fine boy, by the way
is niek-named "Toddler" Misfor-
tunes, which it is not necessary to spec
ify. have forced me to work at 4 salary
Of seventy-five dollars per month to
support this family, whom hold dearer
than all else on earth. At the time OF
my loss, or rather in the latter part of
April, i, with the other clerks, labored
early and late, night and day, the sea-
son of trade being unusually active, to
which was added our preparations for
removing on the first of May to the new
store of the firm. Business kept me
jumping all the time. l swallowed my
breakfast ut a few mouthfuls i'm order
to be on time at the store. l lived so far
away, over two miles, that couldn't
go to dinner. Often times l went with
out my supper, reaching home at eleven
O'Clock at night. Consequently saw
fodder to speak to him only on Sum-
days, and my wife perhaps an hour or
two a day. No wonder she was lone
some and given to imaginings of the
worst kind as to the condition of my
body, fancying me dead or mutilated,
the victim of some dire casualty, when-
ever failed to come home at my usual
time. All in vain, it was dogs life;
but what can fellow do when he's
poor as an ecclesiastical mouse?
One night Lefty asked abruptly, as l
entered, 4Seen DIR. Craxen to-day,
Tim ?" The Doctor is our landlord-an
excellent man in collecting his rents
promptly and without the abatement of
a penny. -
a"No"' was my answer; "it's not the
first Of the month";" 5 t
"But he's been here. Our rent is to
be raised ten dollars month from the
first of May" and she drew back as if
the better to study my face under the
effect of the announcement. Then, as
my lips were silent, she burst out with,
SWELL stay, of course; Well live and
work for him, instead of ourselves and
the baby"
81 can't get away from the store to
hunt up house." --ar-e -Er
'Leave it to me! I'll get one nearer
the store, cheaper rent and 4 newer
building. 1t can be done. I'll do it
if you'll let me-
'All right. prophecy for You trouble
i'm warning way.
"NOt more than if we stay. You
don't realize what l have to endure,
with no one but Toddy to amuse me-"
"Bemore social with your neighbors,"
| suggested.
My neighbors p scornfully. "That's
just like man. Doyou know who are
our neighborS! or course not! A
prosperous wholesale washerwoman on
one side, and dilapidated old quack
doctor and his mummied wife on the
other-in front 4 parade ground for
geese
"Visitors nOne-save that insurance
solicitor who seems to come only when
you can spend an evening at home, and
so spOils your happiness by his figures.
[ believe he watchesfOr you. And his
wife-what Il dowdy! Dirty ribbons
and fingers, and nails, and face paint
ed so much that it cracks when she
laughs. l shall die if l have to stay"
''Do as you like, but time is short, /
wish could ge.''
"Hush! not word. I'll be glad to
do it, you good old man." skipping
about like little girl. "I'll begin in
the morning."
The evening l was lucky enough to
reach my home by nine O'Clock, and to
get kiss and hug from Toddler, nap
ping in his mothers arms. He had
been enjoying life with widow Martins
little girl, next door, and so his dissipa-
ton kept him awake longer than usual.
81 have seen one cottage that think
will suit you," began my wife. ats
about mile from your store, and we
have been living two miles away, you
know"
"HOrse cars or bus to it:''
"That is the trouble. There are
neither of these at present. Youmust
walk
"Can't do it,
''lt will do you good; walking is
healthful exercise; lives of great men
remind us that they were pedestrians"
she urged.
Cant help it. I'm not a great man
besides I've corns-." r
"Cnt them!" speaking with great de-
cision; "what are corns compared with
health? Nothing, absolutely trifles."
sand the shade trees, and yard and
neighborhoodn' were my next inter-
rogatories.
"Shade trees-one currant bush
yard large enough for cord of wood,
sawbuck and man to saw; and the
neighborhOod was quiet and moral, be-
ing near small cemetery. Well, know
you wouldn't like the place. I'll search
again Tomorrow"
"That's right! Don't despair; get
the boy yard that shall be large
enough to tan his hide-by the sun of
course"
"Timothy, how can you talk so about
our darling. suppose we should lose
TOddler" ..........-... .....
"Well not suppose it; try again, Let
ty! Perhaps you will run into an atom
of Eden that will come within the lin
its of our spinnerless treasury. We
lnuet lpave hara as tho 1ooto, h., !