The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-04-03
JOHNS WIFE"

$50 John Is married?'' said DIR. Moreland.
Had the small:pox-failed twice in business
lost all he invested in the Middlecomb
mining stocks-and now, by way OF grand
finishing stroke, bias committed the last
blunder that he can possibly be capable Of
getting marr1ed! inst like John,
Dr. Moreland was bald headed man, with
aquiline features, sparkling eyes, and an iron
gray fringe of hair around his temples-and,
as the moneyed man of the family, all his
relatives looked up to him with the utmost
respect. not unmingled with a little awe;
for he had what is called a temper of his
own.
HE hopes you'll like it. uncle said John
Moreland's sister, timid little old maid of
two or three -and-thirty.
"Hopes Pll like it2 repeated the irascible
doctor. "Why don't he commit suicide at
once, aud then send word to me that he
hopes I'll be pleased?"
But she's very beautiful girl
'Beautifull" DIR. Moreland elevated his
auuiIine nose in double distilled scorn.
"And of course she'll want India shawls and
sets of coral and silk frocks to deck of her
beauty-and where is John to get emp
aAnd she is .poeteSs, Uncle MOreland.
'sWorse and worse!" groaned the old man.
Burnt puddings-buttonless shirts-dust
in all the corners, and inky fingers.
poetess2 Just like John"
Call? What should 1 call for?" sharply
demanded Dr. Moreland. 81 can't congrat-
ulate here on marrying John, for l think
she is a fool to do it. / can't congratulate
him. for think he's bigger fool still to en-
tangle himself with simpering doll baby
of a wife who writes verses Pahi I've no
patience with the folly OF this world"
Yes, but uncle"
my dear" interposed DR.. Moreland,
brusquely, "rm particularly engaged this
morning, so perhaps you'd better go down
"Yes, uncle" said Keziah Moreland,
meekly She was used to her uncle's re-
bluffs, and took them with philosophy which
was worthyof a better cause.
In spite of this vituperatiOn, however, DIR.
Moreland did call on the bride. He rang
the door bell of 80 Bobby square at an early
hour, as he CHANGED to he passing.
''rll catch her in curl papers" said he to
himself, his lips twirling with malicious
smile.
A little maid in frilled cap and white
apron answered the door bell.
keep a girl, eh? said DR.. Moreland saw
agely to himself "And on Johns salary.
a pretty mode of ecoromizing, that"
The little maid showed him into sunny
parlor with an open CRATE fire on the hearth,
and hyacinths in the window, where very
pretty young lady was seated at her needle
work She rose to greet him-and he was a
little disappointed to see no trace of either
curl papers or inky fingers.
II suppose you are Johns wltef" said he.
The young lady smiled.
Yes said she, 81 am Johns wife. And
/ conclude that you are Johns uncle, DR..
Moreland."
''what do you keep a servant for?'' de-
manded the doctor, plunging abruptly in
nicolas res.
TO do the work. said Mrs John, opening
her eyes rather wider tnan usual.
why don't you do it. yourselfr
Because / don't like washing windows
and scrubbing doorstePs," calmly responded
the bride.
MY mother did her own work." CURLY
remarked the doctor.
But l am not your mother"
Mrs Johns feminine spirit was evidently
becoming aroused
NO" said DR.. Moreland, ''you are one of
the women of the period. You prefer TO
sit with folded hands while your husband
tolls his life out to scrape together little
money"
You are mistaken there, Dr. Moreland, 5"
said the bride. II may be one of the women
of the period-in fact, 1 rather glory in the
title-but am also one who firmly believes
in husband and wife sharing alike the bur
dens of life as well as its pleasures"
"Humphr said DR.. Moreland; and if ever
monosyllable expressed whole dictionary
full of obpoxious epithets 1t was that
''humphp' You write poetry, don't your
Yes" said Mrs. John, not without a Ger
tain defiance in her tones, 81 write poetry: J"
Let me give you piece of advice" said
Dr. Moreland, with hands in his pockets and
nose in the air. "Just burn up all your pens
and paper, roll up your sleeves and go to
work. That's the, only way to get ahead of
his world"
.'Do you think so?" said Mrs. John.
eyes, think So" said DIR. Moreland.
a. lww~skA
said Mrs. John, but l take different view
of thing"
'Oh, very WE'LL" said DIR. Moreland, rising
from his seat in high dudgeon. Think as
you please; it's free country; quite freew
Won't you stay and take lunch with US,
Uncle Moreland?' said the bride soothingly.
mo, / thank you" said DIR. Moreland.
''But there's one thing l want to impress
upon your mind, and perhaps it would be as
wei. f0- you to mention il to John, too"
what is il, Uncle MorelandF'
"Iuss this: that if you come to want
when ven come to want would perhaps be a
more correct expression-you don't come to
me for aid l wash my hands OF you and
your poetry"
Mrs John Moteland smiled.
al assure you, uncle" SAID she, 1--WE never
had the least idea of becoming pensioner,
upon your bounty"
perhaps you had, perhaps you hadn't, =
wish you a very good morning"
And he descended the stairway two steps
at a time and shook the dust of the offend
ng household from his feet.
Scarcely Jnree months afterward poor lit
tie Keziah came in with a red nose anC
swollen eyeIids, to tell Uncle Moreland tina
POOR John vas dead.
dead, is hep said DIR. Moreland. -
said when he married that pOetry-writinl
girl that he had committed the last blunde
ne could be capable of. but 1t seems | wa
mistaken, He could die and leave her OF
our handsl"
son. Uncle Morelandl" shifted poor LITTLE
Keziah, between her tears.
Don't be a fool" said Uncle Moreland
IT liked John as well as you did until b.
wore my patience out. And I'm sorry tina
he must needs go and DIE ana put US al
the expense OF a funeral"
whats to become of Johns wifeY' fal
tered Keziah. timidly.
al don't know that that's any OF. my bust