Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-21

tears burst forth, but amid her sobs she
managed to utter such phrases as: Was
it tor this / married your Do you think
my mother was an old servant-woman?-
my mother, who comes from one of the
first Scotch families, although she cannot
now beast of ancestral estates" etc.
Harry was exceedingly fond OF his
wife, despite her aggravating temper, and
knew that she worked hard to insure the
comfort and preserve the responsibility OF
his home. He could not bear to see her
cry; so, impatiently fiinging his cigar
into the fire, he approached and attempt
ed to throw oil upon the troubled waters.
We'll, Matilda Jane, perhaps did go
little too far. / didn't mean to hurt
your feelings"
"Oh, you treat me cruelty" exclaimed
the sobbing lady; you try my love too
much, indeed you do. But since you re-
tract and are sorry for what you've done,
why, forgive you"
Matilda Jane dried her eyes-it was
wonderful what control she had over
those water spouts-and in brief space
she brought her work to the fire and
began stitching away at baby's first pima
fore as though nothing had occurred to
disturb the matrimonial harmony. Harry
once more took up his novel, and was get
ting deeply interested in love scene,
when his wife, noticing that his temper
was restored again, returned to the charge.
Harry, dear" she said, al don't wish
to be troublesome; but, remember, we
have not yet settled about the christen-
ing" Her husband TRANQUILITY observed
that although he was then in most crit
ical portion of the novel he was quite
willing to talk about what was so near TO
his Matilda James heart; to which his
spouse answered: "That's dear, good
fellow; my Harry's himself again" The
artful Mrs. II. had an idea that by a
further exhibition of temper she might
make her husband obstinate; the end she
had in view was more likely to be attained
by show of Cancellation and wifely ODE
dience. She resumed: "Of course If you
would prefer Uncle Job to Uncle Aris-
tides, why, We'll send the invitation to
Uncle Job at once; only-you won't be
angry, will you, Harry, if | tell you why |
would rather have Uncle Aristides'
Promise you won't, now, dearw That in
sinuating woman, as though swayed by
an uncomfortable impulse Of affection,
suddenly thrust baby's pinafore aside,
and, pulling her gaunt figure up to its full
height, clasped her husbands head be-
tween her two hands and gave him
sounding kiss. What loving husband
could do less than smile benignantly,
draw stool to his side and invite the
partner of his life TO sit thereonp Thus
comfortably posed Matilda and her hus-
band debated whether Uncle Job or Uncle
Aristides was TO carry the day.
O. aH Mru
"we can't blind ourselves to the fact that
there's vast difference in the social pc.
sition of our uncles Aristides Brownjohn
is a thriving tradesman, and he has no
one to leave his money to but ourselves;
we know he's taken great fancy TO our
boy and expects to be asked. IL he isn't,
perhaps he'll take offense and leave all
his property 10 an hospital or something.
Do you see that, Harry"
Her husband nodded his head. So far,
Matilda's way of putting the matter was
certainly sensible, and displayed proper
consideration for the future prosperity of
their offspring.
"Now let's look al the other side.
Uncle Job--dear old fellow as he is!'
Harry was somewhat surprised to hear his
wife speak of his sole relative in these
affectionatc terms)--"is little else but a
waif and stray. Everybody knows it's
not his fault, but whatever he touches he's
sure to make 8 mess Of. Now, isn't ii SOP"
To this obvious truth Harry again was
compelled to nod his head.
ave are sorry to disappoint Uncle Job,
but neither you nor / would like the faint
of misfortune to attach to our boy
Uncle job would give him something If
he could, but then he can't; whereas Uncle
Aristides is sure to bring him fork and
a spoon, or silver mug at the least. We
can't ask both, because Mr.. Brownjohn
has never met Mr. Smith, and they might
be jealous of each other, which would
never do. Now, Harry, how is 1t TO beS"
After such specious argument as this,
what could the plant husband sayY Let
us put ourselves In his place. We don't
like that clustering, loud-voiced, boastful
and opinionated old humbug, Brownjohn;
but, then, he's prosperous, and hasn't q
relative but ourselves. On the other hand,
we do like that good natured, modest and
Supplemented old angel, Job Smith, and
we know how proud he'd be To stand
sponsor to the infant; but, then, he's as
poor as church. mouse, and people say
he is rapidly drifting for the fourth time
toward that fatal maelstrom, the bank
ruptcy court. AS that far-seeing Matilda
Jane says, we must not allow our own de-
sires TO interfere with the interests Of our
offspring
OF course Matilda Jane knew how II
would be; she had in solemn and secret
conclave with her mother settled il fort
night ago, and the conversation with
Harry was merely a sort of compromise
with her conscience, for never should u
be said of that young matron that she had
broken the VOW made TO "love, honor and
obey" The only thing now to be decided
on was the day and name. Tuesday
would suit everybody nicely. What did
Matildas husband say to Harry tout OF
compliment 10 himself), Aristides Tin
honor Of the Borough tradesman(, Horatio
las sort of sop in the pan Of old Foozle,
vino bore that namc), Ajax classical and
distingue, my dear, and Brownjohn must
have family namely What could be
more mellifluous than Harry Aristides
Horatio Ajax Brownjohn Highfy"
Nothing; at least so Matilda said. Hav-
ing yielded so much it was not worth
while making further resistance; 80 Harry
allowed that Philistine of wife to shear
L a.. fo,1xa ed I,a1 ks,, Nth cords until