Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-25
HOW A CHANGE WAS EFFECTED.
BY IDA ALBRO.

BY IDA ALBRO.
"There, school is out" sighed weary
Mrs Thompson, as she heard a distant
clamoring of children's voices Soon
three Iusty boys came running into the
house, making muddy tracks on the clean
kitchen floor
Mother, why hain't youIgot 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 nothing!sinCe the
afternoon recess, when they ate the re-
mainder Of their bOuntiful dinner. &
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. L don't care-it's just as father
says. \ woman amt good for 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:
cob, boys! how could you? Go right
out and clean your feet"
shan't clean mn feet" said Arthur,
deiantly, evidently meaning to retaliate
because supper was not ready.
l shan't clean mg feet" echoed Lewis,
who looked upon his elder brother as a
model from which his own conduct should
be fashioned.
g shan't clean my feet" reechoed lit
tie Fred, balancing himself on his head,
L., !
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 a woman will
do 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 a man
should have not a desire or purpose in
life more than a 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 a 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
lessly 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, vet she
felt that she had done all she could to
make things different. And she had; for
it is just as impossible for such timorous,
dependent beings to assert their rights as
it is for the timid hare to take upon itself
at will the strength and ferocitv of the
king of beasts. Some unexpected cir
cUmstance might effect a change for Mrs.
Thompson, but with her own unaidei
strength she could do nothing to get out
OF the rut in which she was toiling and
suffering.
When returning from his work Mr..
Thompson met a neighbor with whom he
stopped and had long talk, so that he
found his supper awaiting him when he
reached the house. Husband and chill
dren were soon rapidly satisfying their
hunger. but Mrs. Thompson could not
eat. She was sitting 10 her accustomed
place, and they were eating IN their usual
manner, vet the CHATTER of the knives,
their rapid motions, all seemed so strange
and far away to her.
Mr.. Thompson did not notice that his
wife was not eating. He did not notice
how pale she looked, or the trembling OF
her hand as she passed them food. His
supper finished he fastened out to 90 his
chores. Mrs Thompson did not get her
work out of the way" as soon as usual
That night, and when it was done she