The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-10-12
Words of Comfort.


While we have to make very much
OF allowance for the extreme irrita
bility ofteutimes displayed by the sick
1t is truly discoursgiog, when on,
seems to be exertiDg bimseli to the ut most
to please. 10 have to bear unmerited re
proach from the invalid, 10 that we are
accused OF something entirely foreign to
our benevolent intentions.
We call to mind case in point which
came under our own immediate observa
tiou, it being that Of our next reighbor
Mr. Sopcr.
His wife has been very sick for some
weeks, sDd. although extremely reduced
ia body and miod there is still enough Of
the true woman remaining 10 her which
led her last Monday, 10 fsint whisper.
TO ask her husband, VINO had entered tne
Nick room with funeral cast of features,
what was the news.
"Well," answered Mr. Soper, sitting
upeasily down on the extreme edge Of a
chair aud balancing bis hat on his tiugers
by the biim, there Amt uothin' to speab
OF, q p'tlcler. S'pose you heard OF Miss
Coles death; she was taken sick bout
the same time you wss."
II should think, james," said Mrs. So.
per, with feeble emphssi,, THAT it you
couldn't tnd somethin' more cheerful to
say TO your poor sick wife, you'd hold
your tongue"
Certify" said Mr.. Soper meekly.
"only news is so sca'ce. Lemme see," be
continued. looking thoughtIully into the
crown OF bis hat, 80 it il had reserved
fund of gossip therein, you heard bou,
Marthy Carter's breskiu her leg.
A snappish nod of the head from the
invalid sigui6ed 10 Mr. Soper that be wa
upon dangerous ground, but, after few
moments reflection, be frightened visibl,
as he said
You orter ben TO town meetin' on
Mondy! The towns voted to have a new
bearse, an' never was 20 glad of any.
thing in all my life. Why" continued
he gentleman, glancng involntariIy at
the bed, IL wouldn't have one Of my fam.
'ly carried TO tho berryiu' ground n thai
old hesrse for no moneg !" and Mr.. Sop
er appeared quite satisfied with himself
at this item OF information, which he fell
assured would partially satisfy the cray.
ings Of Mrs. Sopers inquirirg nature.
james Edward Soper." whispered hi,
wife, with painful intensity, "hc you q
nat'ral born fool, or be you looking For.
red to gettin rid OF me ?"
AS the latter view had never presented
itself to Nlr. Soper 10 the light Of bis
wiies inquiry, be looked very much su5
dued and scratched his head with an al,
of painful abstraction as Mrs. Soper said
again With fearful voice
oh. you en- go. If you can't spare
few moments TO set with me. an jes'
Civ me some little inierestin ncws-I
don't want you to stay ag'iu your inclina.
tiou," sho continued with The sigh Of a
martyr
Mr.. Soper hastily expressed bis willing
ness 10 remain, and desire to please, so al.
Ter brief interval OF thought he coctin,
ued refectively:
"Wall, lemme think. | was over to
the widdcr Stacy's las night to see #
couldn't make a trade for Jersey hcife,.
an | tell you Mira" said Mr. Soper en-
Enthusiastically, "if she ain't hsTnsun
critter, l never see one"
An ominous light appeared in Mrs. So.
per's sunken eyes. and il her husband had
been observing closely he would have
seen restless motion indicative of an al
parent desire TO make personal attack
upon come one or something but he saw
nothing, and continued
"She's jest about the right size, en- be,
skins as whites >now. She's got the poo
,iest legs" coniioucd the unrehective Mr.
Soper, with descriptive motion OF hi,
hand, "an' when you come 10 talk abou'
shspe-why Mira" said Mr. Soper. ris
ing from his chair with warmth, '.she'h
measure two foot across her breast"
The scream which came from the af
hicted invalid at this juncture was Of such
piercing shrilluess that rT. Soper PLACED
nls nugeis IN bio eare. spd Mic. Copo.',
mamma. who was in the next room, ap
peared on the scene in the twiukliuy Of
an eye.
"Oh, you awful brute !" she exclaimed
as she baihed her daughters brow with
hair oil in mistake for camphor, while thu
wretched man feebly cndesvored 10 ex
plain that he was ouiy telling Mrs. S.
about Jersey heifer that he was going to
buy.
There, ma" said Mrs. Soper with
gasp. "Im better now"
You'd betior leave the room. said the
mairon. with world Of significant wrath
in her eye. and the unfortunate Soper de-
parted. muttering. as he slammed The out
side door behind him. that he'd be msste,
10 bis own house some dsy-but he hasn'
been yet, for Mrs. Soper has recovered
and her mother has taken up permaDen
residence with Them.
To this day they don't speak to the wid
ow Stacy. aud Mr.. Soper's reiterated ex
plauation has always been received il
diQoi6rd aud incledulous silence.-Com
Bhlletin.
a WNrd fn fha JH;en