The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-03

you got in that bundle, hey ?'' cried
the angry doctor.
"Some muslin for Shirts" was tn,
humble answer.
More work for your wife, / sup
pose, Never mind, you'll need il
for winding sheets" !"
"Me 20 said the startled man
"What do you mean r'
"Yes, you! Need them for YOU,
wife, | mean. | am not sure, though,
but you will need them for yourself
tor if ever | felt inclined to brain anv
one-o So
"Doctor doctor ! Be careful VIII al
yon say" interrupted Mr.. Ellis.
/ ell, | can't help it, It's enough
70 make saint swear, to think he W
MS wife has been abused. There is
no use trying To tell him what's the
matter. have broken the third
commandment all to pieces now.
Tell him, Ellis, if you can"
Mr.. Ellis told him what he knew
of Mrs. Browns illness in calm
collected manner, ending with
"Your wife will evidently be very
ill, and will require tie most care.
full nursing. You will have to get a
good nurse Immediately. With good
care she may recover. Fanny is with
her now, and we must hope for the
BEST"
The tears coursed down Mr..
Browns sunburnt face. He was not
a thoroughly bad man, though he
had been very thoughtless and un.
kind but now that he was told his
wife might not recover, his conscience
awoke. Sobs convulsed his strong
frame. Even the angry doctor
pitied the poor man, although he
felt that he suffered Justly.
A good nurse was procured, and
the children were for the time placed
under the hospitable roof of Mr.. Ell
lis. But Farmer Brown was not con.
tent to leave the care of his wife
entirely to a hired nurse night
and day he watched over her,
seeming neither to eat or sleep, SO
great was his anxiety. His care was
rewarded. For many days her life
was dispaired of; but the crisis
passed and she lived.
One day after the critical period
was over and her recovery seemed
certain, the doctor told him that
Mary owed her life to his watchful
care.
"Doctor," said he eagerly, "do you
really mean what you say ?'
"Most certainly l do. Mary would
have been in her grave but for YOU
"Thank you, doctor Thank you
for these words! God only knows how
| suffered when her death seemed
certain. Had she died, 1 should hav e
been murderer. Oh, if she lives
L will be a different man! Never
again shall you have reason to tell
me that l treat my wife like brute. !"
Years have passed since Mary's
illness, out her husband has kept his
resolve. He still remembers with a
shudder those terrible hours when he
fancied himself a murderer. Mary
looks younger and fairer than she
did five years ago, and Horace
Brown is one of the kindest and most
indulgent husbands in the world.
They are not rich, neither does pow
erty stare them in tie face. They
are just comfortable and happy, with
money enough to educate their chill
dren, but not enough to bring them
up in idleness.
The good old doctor still lives,
though his hair is little whittier and
his erect form begins to stoop. He
rarely has a professional visit to
make to the families of either Ellis
Or Brown ; but in an unprofessIonal
character he often sits by their cheer
tul fire, side and repeats his old time
stories and jokes.
A stupid story, you may call this,
no thrilling romance or pathetic love
story but you will often see similar
scenes enacted in real life-similar
In the commencement, though per-
haps usually ending differently. Few
husbands realize their mistake until
too late. When the green sods are
piled above those VIII I'M they once
promised to love and cherish, they
call to mind their uncomplaining
toll, but it is too late, The grave
may be watered in tears, but the bit.
terest tears of repentance and sorrow
cannot arouse the tired sleepers who
rest In their quiet graves Wacerls
Magaz me.