The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-12-29

10 new furniture. How the relative:
did run over that place! What com
ments were made They ended the
siege at last by declaring, now thai
John was to be married, he would be
entirely lost unless his wife had suf.
fcient decision to insist upon the turn
ing of new leafin his conduct. And
as he had been SO neglected. as to con,
suit none Of them, probably she was
an unsuitable person.
They came. John introduced me to
my wife Matte" with a great flour
ish. My heart misgave me. my
wife Matte" was tiny pink and white
doll, with a profusion of light curls
! and frizzles. When / looked into her
large, laughing blue eyes, l almost
cried when l thought how sad they
would grow under Johns treatment.
/ promised to remain with them until
Matte should become acquainted with
the place. She had left an immense
number of sisters and brothers-John
was sure to marry into large family
and would be lonely.
For a whole fortnight everything
was lovely; John devoted, punctual
and altogether a model husband; Mat
tie was a perfect pattern of house,
wife, lovely and happy. 1t was
John, DEAR" and "Mattie, darling
until / was fairly. wild for a good,
healthful snarl from my Tabby, who
had returned to her home.
But when John was a month mar,
ried he was more lawless than ever
He forgot to order the repast for din
ner until he came but four days out
of five he forgot to come home to din
ner. He threw off all household cares.
He was even growing careless in his
dress, and threw everything into dis
order whenever he entered the cottage.
The pink in Mattie's cheeks began to
change to white, and the laugh in her
eye to sob. Evidently she had been
a favorite at home, and. was sorely
grieved. longed to comfort her, but
1 did not know what to say.
She was sitting before the CRATE one
evening, waiting tea, as usual. 81
presume he will not come" she said,
with sigh; 81 do wish John wouldn't
do SOL"
"But he WILL" 1 replied; dts his
way"
at is ?" with a little start.
ayes, indeed. He was very foolish
to marry, considering his negligence.
All the relatives pity you" 1 went on,
in an effort to console her, land if it
becomes unbearable, some of them will
blame you"
Perhaps the fire in the CRATE famed
up her cheeks. At all events, they
were crimson. She thrust buth hands
into her curls, and then said, sweetly:
1--WE may as well have tea, Cousin
Sebrina."
John came in at halfpast eleven,
overlooking with glib excuses. Matte
stood on tip toe and kissed him with
more of Ae old look than l had seen
for days. After my hint, she might
have taken a decided stand in the
camp.
was awakened next morning by
Mattie's clear voice twittering ballad.
At breakfast she informed me that 1
must not go home as intended, but
was to remain another month. In
pity, j did, but regretted it. 1t isn't
necessary to put in all the agony of
those days. Suffice it to say, that in
less than a week that house was the
heaven Of confusion. Matte trotted
round under an arch little hat, finding
congeniel spirits. She forgot all her
housewifely ways; We had "pieces on
our hands," For a time l never saw
two persons so utterly delighted with
each others shiftlessness. Backing
and powder, boots and bonnets, found
a place in the sitting-room; the parlor
boosted of more refined articles, such
as collars. cuffs, slippers and laces.
John began to be rather lily provid.
ed with shirts. Calling for one of those
clean articles as a necessary part of a
reception toilet, Matte laughingly
said:
"NOw, isn't it too funny! l really
forgot you needed clean shirt. Six
are rough-dried in the closet, three |
forgot. to put in the wash, and the 9th.
ers haven't button on, But you will
not mind waiting, darling, and Cous,