Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-30
o 4 II JIM"
A sronY FOR MOTHERS.

Mrs llaiues was undeniaby Cross. She
walked from the pantry TO the supper table
With the step Of a grenader, aud set the
dishes down on the soiod table-cloth with
force that threatened to demolish them
The potatoes, with their skins left merci.
fully on, a bit Of meat dashed, a plate Of
bread and a cup OF tea formed the meal
and when it was all ready, the housekeeper
sat down by the kitchen stove, and put her
foot on the hearth, There was deep
scow on her forehead, and her lips were
firmly set She was not a very attractive
woman, 10 her dirty calico dress, without a
collar, her hair frowsy aud her face flushed
and yet ten years before she had been call.
ed the prettest girl in Deanyile, She was
a girl, too, with good deal of intelli-
gence and some education and ohm ilaine.
thought himself the happiest man in the
country when Maggie Hart said "yes7 to
his bashful "will you2"
"Wheres father2' said a six.year-old
boy, with bright eyes and a good head, GO
ing up to the stove and standing by hi,
mother.
"How should know where your father
is2 haven't seen him since breakfast -
How'd you tear your breeches 20
"I climbed over a fence to-"
"rll teach you to climb fences, when you
are told not to, aud the mother admins.
tered a sound slap upon the ear Of the luck
less child.
81 went after my ball, - sobbed the boy
"Shut W this minute answered the
mother: "don't talk to me about balls
DO you suppose I've nothing to DO but mend
clothes for you to tear p
The happy wife aud fond mother who
reads this account Of Mrs Haines, will at
once make up her mind that she is a coarse
vulgar virago-in fact little better than a
heather. But there the happy wife will
make a mistake. On the contrary, Mrs
John llaines was a member Of good stand
ing in the church nearest to her, went tc
meeting regularly, in a very becoming bon.
net and somewhat worn black silk suit, at
tended the sewing society, and considered
herself "as good as anybody" if she didn't
keep a girl, and dress up" every afternoon
like some Of her neighbors When Mrs
John Elaines invited her female friends tC
tea, nobody outshone her 10 preparation
Her table linen was snowy, her china anC
glass glisiened, her biscuits were maryeli
Of whiteness and lightness, her preserve:
we're "loyely; !" aud last, but not least hei
voice was modulated to key unimsginablt
to one who only knew her when there wa.
'hobody but our own folks"
Then Mrs Haines was a hypocrite
would say the happy wife.
No, she was not hypocrite and al
though she snubbed her husband and littl,
jim from morning till night, Sundays no
excepted, if anybody had said she didn'
love them, she would have flown in the fac,
Of that bold individual much after tn,
manner Of an irate hen. Didn't love hel
husband and child Why, didn't she slav,
herself to death for them, week in aDt
week out the year round ? and didn't sh,
90 without things that other folks had
aud didn't she lie awake nights planning
how to make little 90 a long way2 No
love her husband indeed This is wha
Mrs. Haines would have said, if anybody
had hinted at lack Of love on her part.
And yet with al this devotion, the HON,
Of the " Haineses" was not a happy one
as the reader will have already guessed -
Mr. llaines was bricklayer, earning gooC
wages, first rate fellow" all the neigh
bors said, ready to do a good turn whenev
er there was a good chance good natureC
aud smiling everywhere except in his owr
home In fact, Mr.. and Mrs. John Hainei
seemed to be on excellent terms with every
body but each other and considering tina
he had such worthy father and mother, i
must be confessed that poor little Jim haC
ratLer hard time.
Mr.. Haines vas late. His wife still sa
with her feet ou the stove hearth and jim
snlilled in the corner.
Stop that noise this minute" said hi
mother, "or I'll give you something to or!
about
lin thought he had enough already, an,
" shut up" accordingly. Presently th'
father walked into the kitchen. He wen
to the sink and washed his hands, and thel
stood hesitating what to do next.
81 should think you nights well &c
home in some sort Of season, as well as keel
me waiting an hour, after everything ready
Jim, come along to your yittles,"
1--WE been into Mr. Fenner's," said Mr.
Haines. "It's surprising how brisk an'
clipper Mrs. Fenner keeps. 1t was s.
pleasant in there that staid longer than
meant to-"
II never heard that Mrs. Fenner wa
any great shakes answered the wife, he
eyes flashing, "Her folks were the poores
of the poor, and she was very common
looking, before she married Jack Fenner
She's smarted up a good deal since; but
guess her husband don't lay up much money
But body may work till they drop, 70
the sake of getting home, and get no thank
for it. For my part | wonder you didn'
stay with Mrs Fenner the rest of the eve
ming"
al wish | had" said Mr. Haines, reck
lesslyi twas a mi shty sight pleAsante
than It's here"
That's all | get for killing myself witt
hard work, said Mrs. Haines, aud she be
gan to cry as the thoughts Of her unappre
ciated sacrifices crowded upon her.
Mr.. llaines, who had at bottom as kin,
heart as ever beat, felt his appetite for
sakng him, and swallowing his tea hastily
got up, took his bat and went out, slam
ming the door after him.
Little Jim sat looking with trg eyes a
his mother, till that aggrieved woman CAV
him a shake, much more violent than tn
occasion warranted, and asked him in u
gentle tones, "Why he didn't eat his sup
per and get through with it?"
Poor jim couldn't follow the example 0
his father, so he copied his mother and be
gan to sob, whereupon she thrust him int
the bedroom and shut the door, and ther
entire master Of the field, she bogan to was
the dishes. As she worked her face gre'
more and more somber and sour, and he
thoughts went over and over the sam
track-what she had to bear.
And what had she to bear when il wa
all summed up2 She was married to th
husband Of her choice she was the meth
er Of bright, atfectionate boy; she had
pretty, snug house, almost paid for; ever
Saturday night goody sum swelled tn
little store laid by for rainy day the