The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-06-22

| MrS. iIOppODd was, 10 use nef own
depression, in the thick Of tho house
cleaning. the next day, with the car
pets rolled into heaps, the floor
spattered with soap suis. and her
head tied up with n pocket handker-
chief, when the door suddenly open
ed.
Take care OF pail OF soap suds and
soda !! cried she shrilly, %, it's you
is it, Allyl
Yes, mother, it is me- said Alex
ander, her eldest son, who had Just
gone into business rs junior part.
ner to his father. L say--do leave
off washing minute. and att end To
me! Ryerspu's in town-my old
chun. you know only for enc day,
and I've asked him to dinner
TO dinner!' almost screamed Mrs
Hopgood, dropping her brush in
CONSERVATION Alexander HOpgoOd
are You crazy! OF course can't
have him for dinner. Just look ut
the condition the house is in.
%, he won mind that. IN other
Ryerson's a thoroughly good fellow
inst let him sit down to pot luck
with the rest Of us. any
4 shall do nothing of the sort,
Alexander, said Mrs. Hopgood, Sc
verely COMPRISING her lips You
know | do not approve of Inviting
company Mt any time, still less Mt
such Il period as this. If you have
been tool enough to ask him, you
may get out of the scrape the best
way you can
But, mother
Il don't want any more discussion
on the subject, said Mrs. Hopgood,
dabbling away with the brush.
Aud Alexander went out, slam
ming the door.
BY George. quoth Alexander
IlopGood to himself, if l cant ask
a friend to my home, theirs at least
the alternative of inviting him to
the hotel. never did such thing
before, but don see how else | can
manage"
SO Alexander Hopgood entertain
ed Mr.. Ryerson Mt the hotel, and
gave IN unlimited order for iced
champagne and dessert Aud the
upshot of it nil was that Alexander
Hopgood was brought in at eleven
O'Clock at night, by two Of the wait-
ers, hopeless!y intoxicated.
'D)n't bo t .f-frlil mother shut
tered he, brandishing IN empty bot
tie, as he became dlmly conscious OF
her white SCARED face bending over
him. Ito on with your washing {,
It's deal jollier at the hotel than it
is at home. Freedom forever! Hoo,
co.ray !
%, what Shall do = said Mrs
Ropgood, when tho walters were
once more out of the house, and
tue roll of the Dab wheels had died
away.
40 think-only to think that one
of mine should ever Disgrace him
self thus !!
It's your own fault mother said
Renuy, the second son. you would
not let Ally bring his friend here"
'ilold your tongue sharply rotor
ted Mrs Hppyool, winoiny beneath
the prick of this home thrust. Call
Elsie. | need her help
oh. mother ! pipod Fannie, tho
youngest girl, running down the
stairs in frantic haste, Elsie amt
here.
Not here :
NO, mother she hasn't been to
bed at all-and thoro note on her
table directed to you
Open it, mother, said Isaac Hop
good huskily. This il doomed
night for our household. Ny God I!
has our home become 50 dlstaste-
full to our children that they will fly
from it like rats from falling
house 2
Elsie's note WAS short enough.
II read
'DEAR MorHER,-I am tired OF liv-
ing in the kitchen. l have run a
way with John Elton, aud before
yon see me again shall have enter.
cd Upon new future.
Mrs Hopgood broke out into wild
hysterical sobbings.
Mr.. Hopgood read the hurriely
scrawled paper with face cold aud
set like steel. Run away with John
Elton he repeated slowly. Poor
Elsie then Cod help her for he is
rs great villain aud scoundrel as
ever lived, aud she has sealed her
own doom. Mother, mother, this
comes OF your housekeeping
Ut wasn't my fault, Isaac, sobbed
Mrs. Hopgood, rocking herself back
wards and forwards on u chair into
which she had dropped
1T was your fault, retorted her
husband almost savagely. You
made the name of home mockery
to your children you shut up your
soul inside OF a scruhbing pail, aud
now you are reapipg the bitter har-
vest.
OF course poor Alexander Hop.
good was unable to lift his throb-
bing head from the pillow the next
day, and his mother never left hinf