The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-11-14
" JOHNS WIFE"

$50 John is married?" said DR.. More
land. Had the smallpOX-failed twice
in business-lOst all he invested in the
Middlecomb mining stocks-and now,
by way of a grand finishing stroke, has
committed the last blunder that he can
possibly be capable Of-getting married! !!
Just like John p
DR.. MOreland was a 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 un-
mingled 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 tbree-and-thirty.
Hopes Pll like it 2" repeated the iras-
chile doctor. "Why don't he commit
suicide at once, and then send word to
me that he hopes I'll be pleasedp
''But she's a very beautiful girl"
"BeulHiftHF' DR.. MOreland elevated
his aquiline nose in double-distilled
scorn. "And of course she'll want India
shawls and sets Of coral and silk froeks,
to deck off her beHay-and where is
John to get emp
"And she is a pOetess, Uncle More
land"
'Worse and worse?' groaned the old
man. Burnt puddings - button less
shirts-dust in all the corners, and inky
fingers. A POetess? Just like Johnp
'But you'll call, uncle, won't you ~
"CaH? What should I call for?0
sharply demanded DR.. Moreland. 81
~, ToI,v,
for think she is a fool to do it. can't
congratulate him, for think he's a
bigger fool still to entangle himself with
a simpering doll baby of a wife, who
writes verses! Pah! I've no patience
with the folly of this wOrld!
eyes, but uncle"
"NIy DEAR" interposed DIR. Moreland,
brusquely, "Pm particularly engaged
this morning, SO perhaps you'd better go
down stairs"
eyes, uncle" said Keziah Moreland,
meekly. She was used to her uncle's
rebufs, and took them with philoso-
ply which was worthy Of better cause.
In spite Of this vituperatiOn, however,
Dr.. MOreland did call on the bride. He
rang the dOOr-bell of No. 80 BOltby Square
at an early hour, as he CHANGED to be
passing.
aTll catch her in curl-papers," said he
to himself, his lips tWitching with ma
icious smile.
A little maid in a frilled cap and white
apron, answered the door-bell.
keep a girl, eh?' said DR.. Moreland |
savagely, to himself "And on Johns
salaryI A pretty mode Of eoonomising,
that p
The little maid showed him into a sum
ny parlor with an Open-grate fire on the
hearth, and hyaCinths in the window, !
where a very pretty young lady was seat
ed 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.
q suppose you are Johns wife?0 said
he.
The young lady smiled.
"Yes," said she, 81 am Johns wife. |
And 1 conclude that you are Johns un-
Gle, DR.. MOreland."
"What, do you keep a servant for?" de-
manded the doctor, plunging abruptly in
mediaS res.
''To do the work, ," said Mrs. John, open
ing her eyes rather wider than usual.
'Why don't you do it yoUrself?'
Because I don't like washing windows |
and scrubbing door-steps," calmly re-
sponded the bride.
'AIy mother did her own work" curt /
ly remarked the doctor.
"But l am not your motherp
Mrs. Johns feminine spirit was e7i-
IDENTIFY becoming aroused.
''NO," said Dr. MOreland, "you are one |
If f,n vrrorronv, Of tho ,,ovioI W., -,-c
fer to sit with folded hands, while your
husband tolls his life out to scrape to-
gether a little money!
"YOu are mistaken there, Dr. More
land, said the bride. 81 may be one of |
the women of the period-in fact, l rath-
er glory in the title-but 1 am also one
who firmly believes in husband and wife
sharing alike the burdens of life as well
as its pleasures"
'Humph T said Dr. Moreland. And
if ever mOnosyllable expressed a whole
full of obnoxious epithets, it
was that "humphP' "You write poetry,
don't yOuP
eyes" said Mrs. John, not without a
certain defiance in her tones" I write
poetry"
'Let me give you a piece of advice"
iald Or. MOreland, with hands III his
pocket 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 this world.
do you think SOP said Mrs. John.
eyes, 1 think so?" said DR. Moreland.
'Tm very sorry not to agree with you,"
aid Mrs. John, ''but 1 take a different
'iew Of things.
ooh, very well, said DR.. Moreland,
Using from his seat in high dudgeon.
Think as you please; it's free country.
.uite free !"
"WOn't you stay and take lunch with
is, Uncle Moreland? said the bride,
/,
"No, I thank you" said DR.. Moreland.
But there's one thing want to impress