Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-06-22
WON AGAIN.

A very cosy SlJLlng-fOom II was
that Frank Merwin entered as he re-
turned from a long and wearisome
day in the law office. A soft glow
was diffused from a fire of seal coal
in the CRATE; the cat lay dosing on
the rug, and the fitful CLEAN of the
freight flashed on a bookcase well
filled with elegantly bound volumes,
OH blooming camellia, partially
yelled by the heavy lace window
curtains, on choice pictures suspend
ed from the walls, on handsome,
stuffed easy-chairs, and every now
and then disclosed, resting in shad-
ow, child's shoe that lay in one cor
ner on the Brussels carpet. Near
the CRATE was drawn up the lounge,
with Franks dressing gown thrown
over it, and his embroidered slippers
Just peeping from beneath.
''This looks like comfort" said
Frank, as he put on the gown, thrust
his feet into the slippers and threw
himself on the lounge in restful
attitude: 81 wonder where Mary is?"
At this moment Mrs. Mervin en-
tered with the lamp in her hand, and
found Frank enjoying the quiet de-
light. .
"Why, Frank, % she exclaimed,
''when did you come in? l did not
hear you," and placing the lamp on
the table she sat down beside him.
"Only a moment ago." he said /;
''but it's SC pleasant to get nome and
rest. Is dinner ready-I am very
hungry 2'
just then the tinkling bell an
nounced dinner, and they were pres
emily seated at the table. Minnie,
the two-year-old, was already in her
high chair, and no sooner did her
mother appear than she began, ''Ta-
TO. tato, bread, milk, butter"
A shade passed over Franks face,
but he said nothing, as he helped
Mrs. Meryin and Mollie and Henry
and Willie to the roast before him.
For minute or two at time Min
ME was still, but as soon as her eyes
rested on any dish she had not seen
before, she began, "cake, cake, rails
ms, sugar." and nothing else could
be heard. Mrs. Mervin, intent on
stopping her clamor, gave no atten-
tion to anyone else at the table
Frank drew a long breath, and said
in an undertone to himself: 81 do
wish she could eat before we do and
be asleep when come home"
In response to this Mrs. MerYin
said, in petting tone, to Minnie
''Ittie darling doesn't want to eat all
alone and 90 to bed fore papa
comes, does she ?" ...-i.}
The other children were all over
four years old, and had been train
ed in table manners by their father
so well that their presence was no
annoyance; but this little Minnie he
couldn't manage, and, cunning and
pretty though she was, she was a
real torment to ber father when he
came home worn and tired with the
business of the day.
At last the dinner was over, and
the baby put to bed,t to Franks great
relief. '"Now l can talk with Mary
said he to himself, and H'forget the
fatigues and cares of the day." and
he went to his overcoat and drew
from his pocket the last new maya
zine to show to her when she came
in. .....-.....
Entering with her rk-basket in
hand, Mrs, Mervin began: "Such a
time, Frank, as I've had to-day; l
wouldn't tell you before, you looked
so tired; but Bridget went off this
morning to see a sick cousin and did
not get back until dinner was ready,
so that had everything to do, and
Minnie to take care of beside-she
has got a double tooth coming, and
is awful cross. Right in the midst
of my work Mrs. Kingfsher called,
and l had to leave everything and
dress to see her, and she stayed so
long that my fire got low, and /
thought l never should get dinner
in time; then Henry came home from
school with the ear-ache, and l
thought l never should get him qui-
ct, but l did at last. Oh dear, such
aday as Pve hadp' VA A
"I've brought home the new mag.
azine, Mary" was Fank's only re,
sponse to this long catalogue of ills;
but his mind ran back over the tolls
that had brought to him heavy bus
mess anxieties, annoyances that
pierce to the quick, disappointment
that involved more than he dared tC
compute, aud he looked on his pleas
ant surroundings with wistful air
and half wondered why they brought
HIM SO little pleasure. If he had no
taken off his coat and boots b.
would have made an errand into th'
streets and dropped into his club
where he was sure of meeting half
dozen jolly fellows, and hearing onl,
cheerful and pleasant things. Blu
only that night as he walked through
the gathering twilight, he though
of the days Of his courtship and ear
lv married life; and the long eve
nings that Mary and he had spen
in reading Milton and Homer, an,
Scott and Plato and Bacon an
Thackeray and Dickens; how h
dreamed that she would always b
his chosen, intellectual companion
no less than the partner of his life
but now she seemed settling into
mere nursery-maid, a hum-drur
housekeeper, good seamstress, wit
no other thought than to provide fC
the physical well-being of her house
hold. What could he do about it
He would buy the new magaziu
and read aloud to her, and see