Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-06-25
HOW A CHANGE WAS EFFECTED.
BY IDA ALBRO.


"There, school is out" sighed weary
Mrs. Thompson, as she heard distant
clamoring of children's voices. Soon
three lusty boys came running into the
house, making muddy tracks on the clean
kitchen floor.
"Mother, why hain't yousgot supper
ready?" Arthur, the Oldest, fretfully de-
manded.
1t as too bad, boys, but there has
seemed to be no end to the work to-day"
replied Mrs. Thompson from the pantry,
feeling genuine pity for her poor hungry
children, who had eaten nothinglsince the
afternoon recess, when they ate the re-
mainder of their bountiful dinner. Il
ought to have quit off and started supper
before, but had no idea that it was get
ting to be so late"
" Yes, that's the same old story" said
Arthur. 81 don't care--it's just as father
says. A woman amt good tor anything
without an overseer to make her tend to
her business"
Just then Mrs. Thompson entered the
kitchen and, dismayed at the appearance
of the floor upon which she had expended
SO much strength in cleaning, exclaimed:
"Oh, boys! how could you? Go right
out and clean your feet"
defiantly, evidently meaning to retaliate
because supper was not ready.
II shant clean mg feet" echoed Lewis,
who looked upon his elder brother as
model from which his own conduct should
be fashioned.
" | shan't clean my feet" re.echoed lit
tie Fred, balancing himself on his head,
and all at once his head went against the
plate of biscuit in his mothers hands,
sending it into pail of sour milk that
stood near the door.
Mrs. Thompson did not attempt the re-
monstrance that duty usually impelled her
to make at the misconduct of her chill
dren, but her head grew dizzy, and her
heart was burdened with another pain as
she thought that now her husband would
surely return from his work before she
could get supper ready.
Mr.. Thompson was man who looked
upon his wife as upon his other posses
sions. If properly managed, she might
prove an advantage to him. She must be
taught to know her place. "There's no
end to the foolish things woman will
dc if allowed to have her head about
everything" was favorite expression of
his. A woman who has been so unfortu.
nate as to become the wife of such man
should have not desire or purpose in
life more than machine that never feels
fatigue and never needs repairs.
But, unfortunately, Mrs. Thompson
yearned for affection that never was
shown her, and grew weary and disheart-
ened over tasks that would have seemed
light had they been performed with the
consciousness of her husbands love and
appreciation. Mr.. Thompson never gave
his wife any encouragement, but he re-
preached her frequently. He seemed to
hold the same opinion about women that
some possess about dogs. The more you
will kick them the better they will like
you and the more faithfully they will
serve you. He did occasionally praise
her, but it was much in the same manner
that man pats his faithful dog upon the
head and calls him "Good fellow!" for
doing his masters bidding.
Mrs. Thompson loved her children
dearly, but she possessed little influence
over them. She was not born to rule,
save by love, and her affection manifested
Itself not in caresses, not in spoken words
OF endearment, but in working for her
loved ones--in doing what she thought
would please them. The children were
very anxious to initiate their father.
They had caught his actions, his very
feelings toward their mother, and thought
iessly trampled upon the heart that
seemed to beat for them. Mrs. Thomp-
son saw that her children were drifting
out OF her reach, that they were growing
up without mothers influence, yet she
ielt that she had done all she could to
make things different And she had; for
!. Is just as impossible for such timorous,
dependent beings to assert their rights as
y Is for the timid hare to take upon itself
Awill the strength and ferocity OF the
King OF beasts. Some unexpected cir
cpmstance might effect change for Mrs.