The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-09-14
Mr.. GRUMBLE'S CURE.
A Lesson for Husbands.

"The old story-the coffee cold, the
fire nearly out, and the room full of
sitting smoke"
Mr.. Grumble drew his chair up to the
breakfast table as he spoke, with the
face of a martyr.
"The coffee is only just made, dear"
said Mrs. Grumble, pretty, timid look
ing woman, with soft blue eyes and
brown braids; "and don't really think
the room is very cold. As for the smeke,
am sorry, but the man promised me to
have the chimney seen to yesterday"
"Of course he did; nobody ever keeps
promises to us" groaned Mr.. Grumble.
If it had been Smith, now, the cl i'm
ncy would have been seen to long ago.
Do give me a piece of steak that is at
least warmed through; we're not canni-
balls that [ know Of, to eat our meat raw
a cook that understood how to broil a
steak"
"But, my dear said Mrs. Grum-
bic.
Don't tell me-" interrupted Mr..
ought to be done. The paper hasn't
CcuiC .fct, l. 5upltScF NO, VI COURSE
not. [ really wish somebody would en-
Ii {hten me as to why my paper is always
huff an hour later than anybody's else's
II that baby don't leave off crying, I
shall certainly go crazy"
"Its teeth trouble it," sighed Mrs
Gtumble, leaving the breakfast table to
walk mp and down the room with her
frotful little charge.
SfOl, eo;J nj, G,,,,,ll>
sharply. charging al slice of toast with
his fork; "you coddle it too much, that's
ALL"
Mrs. Grumble thought Of the general
commotion into which the house had
been thrown, abopt month previously,
whom Mr.. Grumble had bad the tooth.
ache. But she only nestled the baby's
velvet head against her shoulder, and
said nothing-wOmau' way of dispos-
lug Of great many little martyrdoms.
"Now, then, where's my hat ?" de-
manded Mr.. Grumble, rising and look
ing around. "Very singular tn It that
hat is never in its place."
"It is just where you hung it your
self, papa, in the hail." said little Harry,
from behind his spelling book.
"Children shouldn't talk so much"
said MIR. Grumble, tartly. "My dear,
that rent in the lining of my coat isn't
mended yet why did you not see to it 2"
"fintended to do So" said the wife,
apologetically, "but you know we had
company last night, and the baby slept
so badly that ] rose rather later than
usual this morning, but
"Always some excuse" interrupted
her iege lord. 81 really don't under
stand the reason that nothing is ever
done in time in this house."
He gave the front door rather an en-
phatic slam as he went out, and little
Mrs. Grumble, instead of rebelling
against her husbands iron rule, just sat
down to Cry.
Mr.. Grurble wasn't by any means a
bad husband. He really loved his wife,
and believed himself to be pattern of
conjugal amiability only he had, some
how or other, fallen into the unconscious
habit of fault finding and, like many
another individual, whenever he couldn't
think of anything else to do, he grum-
bled.
"Crying again, Bessie % exclaimed
her brother, coming in an hour or two
later. Snow, that's too bad I sup
pose Henry has been treating you to
another domestic growl2 I've a great
mind TO tell him how uncomfortable you
are made by his little eccentricities.
Shall 1, Bessies"
No, no I wouldn' t have you breathe
syllable to him for the worldi' eagerly
exclaimed Mrs. Grumble, hurriedly dry
ing her tears. " Henry don't mean to
annoy me. He has the kindest heart in
the world, and l know he loves mel"
lora COW ha 1oao uo;I x,o,,now NJ,
Carlton "but why is he fre tting and
fault finding hour after hour, and day
after day. Upon my word, Bessie, /
there is not one to punish married men
who scoldl"
Don't talk SO, Tom" said Mrs.
Grumble, earnestly. "Henry isn't at
all to blame, only baby is very trouble
some, and I had an Indifferent nights
rest, and"-
"Oh, yes-I understand" signif-
cantly smiling. "My dear, little, for
giving Bessie, you ought to be made a
martyr Of" He sat moment or two
in deep thought, then, suddenly start
ing up, exclaimed: 81 must be gone,
or shall be too late at the station to
meet Uncle Tompkins. Did I mention
to you, by the way, that Uncle Tomp-
kins was coming to visit youa"
Uncle Tompkins l didn't know
we had an Uncle Tompkins, Tom
"Didu't you, deara Well, please to
prepare your best bedroom for company
! the old gentleman is rather particular
= k-grumbles good deal, in fact; but
hen. you are used to that sort of
But. Tom, I don't quite under
ut detain me now, Bessie. 1
myself with the old ger ileman,
lce him. Good-bye!"
gnt the door had closed be,