Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-04-03
Mr.. Grunlbler's Cure.
: A LESSON FOR HUSBANDS.

"rhe old story-the coffee cold, fire
nearly out, and the room full of sitting
smoke"
Mr.. Grumbler 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. Grumbler. a pretty, timid-
looking woman with soft blue eyes
and brown braids, sand I don't think
the room is very cold AS for the smoke.
am sorry. but the man promised to
have the chimney seen to Yesterday"
"Of course he did; nobody ever keeps
promises to u.s." eroaned Mr.. Grumbler
IF it had been Smith, now, the chin
ney would have been seen to long ago
Do give me piece of steak that is at
least warmed through, we're not canni-
balls that know Of to eat our meat raw.
But that's always the wayne never
had cook that understood to broil a
steak.n
''But, my dear" said Mrs. Grumbler
"Don't tell me-, interrupted Mr..
Grumbler. II know Just how things
ought to be done The paper hasn't
come get, Isuppose? No, of course not
I really wish somebody would enlighten
me as to why my paper is always half
an hour later than anybody else's. If
that baby don't leave off crying, shall
certainly go crazy"
'Its teeth trouble it,n sighed Mrs.
Grumbler, leaving the break fast table,
to walk up and down the room with her
fretful little charge.
'Oh nonsense!u said Mr.. Grumbler,
sharply charging at slice of toast with
his fork; "you coddleit too much, that's
ALL"
Mrs Grumbler thought of the general
commotion into which the house had
been thrown about month previously,
when Mr.. Grumbler had the toothache.
But she nestled the baby's velvet head
against her shoulder, and said nothing
-woman's way of disposing of great
many little martyrdoms.
'sNow, then, where's my hat?" de-
manded Mr.. Grumbler, rising and look
ing around. Very singular that hat is
never in its place"
ut is just where you hung it yourself,
papa, in the hail." said little Harry,
from behind his spelling book.
"Children shouldn't talk SO much"
said Mr.. Grumbler, tartly. my dear,
that rent in the lining of my top coat is
not mended yet; why did you not see to
it ?"
II intended to do so,n said his wife,"
alphabetically, "but you know we had
company last night, and the baby slept
SO badly that l rose rather later than
usual this morning, butt
always some excuse" interrupted
her liege lord. II 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. Grumbler, instead of rebelling
against her husbands iron rule just sat
down to crying. Oh! those comforting
tears how many grievances float into
Oblivion upon their blessed tide; how
many heart wounds are healed by their
balmy drops. Woman may lose all her
privileges, one by one, but as long as
she can cry there is some consolation
remaining to her.
Mr.. Grumbler wasn't by any means
bad husband. He really loved his wife,
and believed himself to be a pattern OF
conjugal anIiability; only. he had, some
how O. other. fallen into the uncon-
scious habit of fanlt-tinding; and like
many another individual, whenever he
couldn't find anything else to do, he
grumbled.
"Crying again, Bessie!' exclaimed
HCA oioLACis CoAuhS III JuSt I'LL uOuA "
two later
''Now that's too bad. Isuppose Hen
ry has been treating you to another do
mestic growl? I've great mind to tell
him how uncomfortable you are made
by his little eccentricities. Shall I,
Bess Y'
No, no; I wouldn't have you breathe
a syllable to him for the world !" eagerly
exclaimed Mrs. Grumbler, hurriedly
drying her tears ''He has the kindest
heart in the world and know he loves
me-"
II dare say he does,n said young Mr..
Carlton, "but why is he fretting and
fault finding hour after hour? Think
it is an oversight in our laws that there
is not one to punish married men who
scold!"
What was Grumbler's surprise, on
coming home that evening, fully primed
for TRADE on the subject of a button
which had drifted from his shirt front
during the day, to find his especially
easy chair, and corner of the fire, occu-
pied by an asthmatic old man, whose
head and face were enve]0ped ina silk
handkerchief, and whose feet were in q
tub Of hot water. He stopped short in
amazement and horror.
This is Uncle Tompkins. Harry"
said Mrs Grumblcr, who was busy
warming basin of Cruel over the fire,
and the old gentleman extended one
fl Oor wifhOut fs1rninu his head and