Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-07-26
MY OWN STORY.

"We've been married just twelve
month come next Friday, haven't we,
JennieT
Just twelve-month, john"
He was standing in the doorway, my
handsome young husband, his dinner
basket on his arm, his honest eyes all
agow with love and delight. ,r
",Just a twelve-month, and now I've
got baby as well as wife. Oh, Jennie,
grille, I'm the happiest man alive.
Come here and kiss me before | go, and
tell me what YOU would like me to give
you on the anniversary of our wedding
day."
whats the use, john | said, as
l received his kiss; ''you know we
haven't an extra shilling to spare
$50 do; but we'll play at make-be-
lieve, as the children do. What would
You like to have, provided you could
have it? Speak out, girlie"'
| laughed, and fell to thinking.
LET me see. There's so many things
think FL take that pattern of brown
silk, that we looked ut down at Will
sons the other day"
"All right. and what for baby?'
''Oh. christening robe, of course
Ny husbands brown eyes danced. -
Poor Jennie" he said, Pm afraid
you'll Il not get EN-, unless we keep up
our game of make-bel.eve. By-by,
take good care of Blossom" And
with another kiss for us both he was
gone.
| got baby to sleep. and fell to work.
cleaning my kitchen and baking tarts.
We could not afford keeping servant,
Johns wages being small, and | had
all the homework on my hands; but |
did not mind it at all. | loved my
husband, and he loved me, and hap
pier couple did not live.
In the midst of my busy work, in
comes Miss Dorcas Dent, an old friend
of my mothers. An old maid, too,
was Miss Dorcas, great scoffer at
matrimony and at mankind i'll gen.
eral.
80 you re hard at it, Jennie" she
said, sitting down and throwing back
her bonnet-stringS, a-drudging your
self to death, and that child on your
hands, too! Such trim, handsome
lass as YOU used to be, and look at We
now A poor, tagged slattern. What
fool We was to marry, Jennie.
Weren't We. nowY'
No, indeed, Miss Dorcas; I'd do
the same thing over again to-mor-
row."
"Pahl Such simpletons as you lasses
are. Well, you'll open your eyes to
the truth soon enough. \ working
your hands to the bone and spelling
your good looks, us if any man that
ever had breath was worth it. | say,
why don't John keep you a hired
girl
" lie can't afford it, Miss Dorcas."
Cant he? Maybe not. Has to
squander too much on his own plea
SureS, does he?'
hantly, John never squanderS pen
ny
Miss Dorcas shook her ample sides
with sarcastic laughter.
Never squanders a penny" she re-
peatrd: land never STAYS out o nights
either and goes gallivanting round the
town with other women. and We asst
ing at home a-darning his stockings
Don tell me about EN-. ,Jennie-these
good hUSbands-I know EN-. haven't
COY two eyes for nothing. Didn't see
jo!h, only night afore last, a-walking
uo"n town, and another woman be-
side him."
" john" gasped-"m John? Oh,
yon must be mistaken" u never
mistake. Twas Your John
And who was the woman?' -
Can't tell. Didn't see her face
When John came home to supper |
determined to ask him; but a feeling
ol shame kept me silent while we
We're at table. and the minute he was
cone he arose and took down his hat
W ny, John, ! asked, are Won 90
ins ont again: And it is raining. too. y
- 1t IS; but ! must go tonight,
Jennie"