The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-12-23
Martyrs.

o0hV VI AAA" INTERCHANGEABLE yOuuk
gintlemin, the Willin'tons. IN. Y. In
dependent.
Martyrs.
1 never felt that was martyr, but yet
believe that it is good feeling. The
martyr doesn't always carry a pensive,
sorrOwful look, and one must get to know
them personally before knowing their pro-
fession.
Mrs. Barber is fat and forty, even if she
isn't fair. have passed her ticket on the
bob,tailed street-cars tirae and again, re-
ceiving gracious smile each time as a
reward, and many and many time I have
said to myself:
"Ah, if I were as fat and contented as
Mrs. Barber!'
Ihave looked at her and wondered if
panics, smallpox, clerical scandals, or
earthquakes ever moved her mind from its
regular balance, and have envied the
broad, good -natured smile which she has
always shown to the public. I didn't
dream that she.was martyr; but yet she
is. She confided in me the other day, and
with fearful eyes she told me that she did
not live agreeably with Mr.. Barber. He
insisted on her baking the potatoes on the
top CRATE in the oven, while she felt GER
tain in her own mind that they ought to
be baked on the bottom CRATE.
have had tc give up to him. she
added, her eyes full of tears, but can
never take another hours comfort in this
world! 1t was my fate to marry man
who believed in top CRATES, and l suppose
l must suffer in silence, even though the
grave is not far aWavv'
tried to console her by promising to
see her husband and endeavor to argue
him into being satisfied with bottom CRATE
potatoes; but her tears fell afresh, and she
mournfully said:
cit would be useless. have borne
this burden for thirty long years, and
can bear it to the grave!'
didn't know that Mr.. Hopkins was a
martyr until he called at the house one
evening to borrow six shillings. He
looked so sad and down-hearted offered
him dollar. This opened his heart, and
after bit he informed me that he was
carrying a crushing burden through life.
els it family matter? l softly in
quired, as he hesitated.
He wiped tear away and replied that
it was his wife. He married her for love
and loved her yet, and, although she was
the weaker, she would not yield her opin.
ion to his. He believed in an endless
towel hung on roller, while she con.
tended that the towel should be hung on a
nail. He had argued with her, had read
ancient history to her to substantiate his
arguments, but she was obstinate and un.
yielding.
Il will 60 over and see her, and tell
her that Queen Victoria uses roller tow.
els,' l replied; but he shook his head
sadly, and mournfully continued:
LIT wouldn't do any good she is set in
her ways, and you couldn't move her. II
is my fate to bear this great burden
through life, and must do the best Can
until the grave opens to receive me!''
1t was only by accident that discov.
cred that little Mrs. Shoemaker was a
martyr. dropped in there to borrow a
hammer and found her weeping bitter.
ly. sat down on the edge of chair and
asked her if death had removed any of hel
loved relatives to better land.
"Not that, not that" she sobbed.
1t can't be that Shoemaker is unkind
to yeq? . 49,, :, 49,, :.
her grief by great effort, g buthe doesn',
seem to care for my feelings
"He doesD't?'
"No. have not taken an hours com.
fort since we were married, and l neve:
expect to while live"
sighed heavily. It was my duty tc
sigh heavily. didn't 60 beyond that, fol
when a woman has anything to say she
will say it if time is given her.
"No, we can't agree" she finally con
tinued. II was always learned to hang
the broom behind the door, and Dexter
insists that it should be stood on end ir
the corner, and he won't give up. Nv,
stood it and stood it, and, though / some
times think my heart will break, suppos,
l shall linger along and carry my grief tt
my coffin''
"Shoemaker is in the wrong" said
after due reflection. "All the histories
ever read, all the reports of excavations a
Pompeii, all the newspaper articles abou
the household discipline of dukes an.
lords, convince me that the broom SHOULD
be hung behind the door,
But he won't believe THE won
yield!' she sobbed. II must put up witt
it, suppose, but it is hard to bear, and
know full we'll that it will shorten my lif
by years''
know of other martyrs around me, an,
if had time could sit down and griev
away six evenings out of seven. TIL
neiyhbor on the left is slowly but surel
perishing because his wife insists that tn
gate should open toward the street, whel
he knows that all aristocratic gates swim,
toward the house. The neighbor on tn
right, or his wife, cannot be happy be
cause her husband will insist on buyin
door-mats with blue center, when sh
has told him almost every day for twenty
seven years that.people of good taste ig
more any door-mat which has blue Ger
ter.
I am not martyr myself, as I said ,
the start, but still when remember tn,
for twenty long years l have insisted tn.
our snow-shovel should be painted rex
and Mrs. Quad has obstinately contende
that the color should be sky-blue, I fe'
that nothing but the tomb can give II
peace.--"M. Quod," in N. Y. Graphic.