Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-20
MIR. Grumble's Cure.

"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-tabe as he. spoke, with the face of
a martyr.
"The coffee is only just made, dear" said
Mrs Grumble, pretty, timid looking wo-
man, with soft blue eyes and brown braids
"and don't really think the room is very
cold. As for the smoke, | 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 chimney would
have been seen to long ago. Do give me
piece of steak that is at least warmed
through we're not caunbals that ] know
of, to eat our meat raw. But that's always
the way-we never had a cook that under
stood how to broil steak"
But, my dear said Mrs. Grumble
Don't tell me-" interrupted Mr.. Grum-
bic. | know just how things ought to be
done. The paper hasn't come yet, | sup
pose No, of course not. | really wish
somebody would enlighten me as to why my
paper is always half an hour later than any
body's else. If that baby don't leave off
crying, shall certainly go crazy"
Its teeth trouble it." sighed Mrs. Grum-
BILE, leaving the breakfast table TO walk up
and down the room with her fretful little
charge.
"Oh, nonsensel" said Mr. Grumble, sharply,
charging at a slice of toast with his fork
"you coddle it too much that's ALL"
Mrs. Grumble thought of the general com
motion into which the house had been thrown
] / Al II
| had had the toothache. But she only nestled
the baby's velvet head against her shoulder,
and said nothing-woman' way Of disposng
of great many little martyrdoms.
Now, then, where's my hat 2" demanded
Mr.. Grumble, rising and looking around.
" Very singular that that hat is never in its
place"
" 1t is just where you hung it yourself
papa, in the hall, said little Harry, from be
hind his spelling-book.
"Children shouldn't talk SO much," said
Mr.. Grumble, tartly. "My dear, that rent
in the lining of my coat isn't mended yet
why did you not see to it?"
Z" intended to do so, said the wife, apol
ogetically, but you know we had compan,
last night, and the baby slept so badly tina
rose rather later than usual this morn
ing, but
ALWAYS some excuse" interrupted he
liege lord 81 really don't understand th
reason that nothing is ever done in time il
this house"
lie gave the front door rather an EN-
phatic slam as he went out and little Mrs
Grumble, instead of rebelling against he
husbands iron rule, just sat down to cry
Mr.. Grumbe wasn't by any medns ba,
husband. He really loved his wife, an'
believed himself to be pattern OF copjuga
amiability; only he had, somehow or other
: fallen into the unconscious habit of faul
. finding; and like many other individual
| whenever he couldn't think of anything els
t to do, he grumbed
- "Crying again, Bessel" exclaimed he
r brother, coming in an hour or two latel
| "Now, that's too bad suppose Henry ha
: been treating you TO another domestic growl
e I've great mind TO tell him how uncom
A Portable you are made by his little eecer
= tricities Shall /, Bessie 7
r No, no. wouldn't have you breathe
4 syllable TO him for the world eagerly es
{ claimed Mrs. Grumble, hurriedly drying he
4 tears. " Henry don't mean TO annoy IN,
E He has the kindest heart in the world, and
= know he loves me
p: ~ dare say he does" said young Mr.. Car
, ton " but why is he fretting and fault fine
/, ing hour after hour, and day after day. Upo
! my word, Bessie, think it's an oversight i
( our laws that there is not one to punis
t married men who scold "
$ Don't talk so, Tom" said Mrs. Grumbl,
!. earnestly. Henry isn't at all to blaml
only baby is very troublesome, and had a
Indifferent nights rest, and
"Oh, yes-I understand" Significant
G smiling. "My dear, little forgiving Bessi,
$ you ought TO be made martyr of" lie sa
/ a moment or two in deep thought, then, sue
$ denly starting up, exclaimed s. must b
\ gone, or shall be too late at the station
r meet Uncle Tompkins. Did mention I
e you, by the way, that Uncle Tompkins wa
, coming to visit you 2"
I; "Uncle Tompkins | didn't know W
. had an Uncle Tompkins, Iom.'
r "Ddn't you, dear Well, please TO pre-
/. pare your best bedroom for company-th
9 old gentleman is rather articular-grumble
Z good deal, in fact; but then, you are use'
i TO that sort of thing"
/ But, Tom, | don't quite understand -
| Don't detain me now, Bessie. | vii
come myself with the old gentleman, and in
troduce him. Goodbye" !"
The moment the door had closed benin,
! Tom, Bessie put her baby in the cradle, ant
clasped her hands to her aching head. Wha
was Tom thinking OF How could she ex
ist with that growler domioiled for nobod
knew how long at her hearthstone Blu
perhaps they might neutralize one another
like two powerful poisons. There was
spice of comfort in that reflection, at least
and Bessie Grumbe wiped her eyes, an,
J almost smiled.
What was Mr.. Grumble's surprise, OF
: coming home that evening, fully primed fo
domestic TRADE on the subject OF a buttol
| which had drifted down from his shirt from
: during the day, to find his especial cas-,
chair, and corner of the fire, occupied by al