Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-03
How a Woman Reads a Letter.

Diu you ever mana woman letter Just as
she was about to sit down to dinner? II you
are married man, and very careful, you have
PROBABLY done so about once year. IL you
are not very careful, you have possibly forgot
ten yourself and committed that foolish act
several times year. It is awfuliy wearing on
man to bring home letter to his wife at
meal time more than opcea year. Sometimes
II h,1 rs wearing On the woman especially If the
husband Is Quick-tempered, and impulS1ve,
At noon Mr.. Pettibone starts for home and
dinner. On his way he stops at the post ofIice:
and, perchance, gets letter directed to his
wife He has been through the mill, he has,
and, With chuckle, very carefully places the
letter In his inside coat pocket, and mentally
necides that Mary Jane viii not get that letter
at the stratagem Of his little game. he proceeds
Joyfully homeward, his appetite waxing sharper
eacn moment. AS he enters the house the sa-
Johnny also salutes him, with kiss, and leaves
his imprint Going into his pocket for his hand
kerchief Mr.. PettibOne pulls out the unlucky
etSe1 TO- fen4n f He makes
percepttve wife is too quick for him and sue
cessfully reaches for the missive She studies
Tor the superscrtption, and declares it Is from
ner cousin Anna. Then she looks closer and
"No, it isn't either, it's from Mrs. Smith. You
remember Mrs Smith, John, who used to at
nice woman. She said She would Write to me
as soon as they got settled in their new home
hLin-where Is 1t, now, they have located?"
T.. Jonn remembers the Smith family with pain
ful distinctness. They traded at the store when
they were In town and went away forgetting to
neuidaie good-sized bill for goods. He does
not Know where they are now, but knows where
=, His wife refers to the post-mark to ascertain
Inc name OF the town where the Smiths live.
me mark Is not plain, and she has to study
some tlme: John becomes impatient for din
ner, ana MS w1fe tells him 1t Is all ready, aud
O,os mm go arc sit down, and she will be right
along. He oDeys and she opens the letter "illst
10 see now long It u.s." She glances at the sg-
tence instead OF Mrs. Smith. It Consists of six
pages, ana Aunt Patience writes such lovely
ietters that she can not resist the Temptation or
BY this timeJohn calls from the dining roono
the9}ueTstng her TO come and pour the tea and
neip Johnny to dinner. She goes to her Mace
Jane, viii you lay aside that letter a mo-
ment and pour the tear"
saws IN ane !, momeat my dear Aunt Patience
II she had little more room she would Invite
us all down to stay month. Isn't she kind"
BY this time John gets quite '.riled," so to
Jane Pett1bone, Will you drop that internal let
terlong enough to pour cup Of tea tor me?"
MIS-. Pettibone flares up instantly. Throw.
shoves 1t across the table, saying, "John Henry
Pett1bone, you are the most unreasonable man
ever saw: You act as though you were in
danger OF dying In moment for want OF tea.
Half OF the time you drink water at dinner, and
II lt were not for tnterrupting me, you would
not think OF drinking tea this noon. You know
cannot eat meal with an unread letter In
the house. You're just as mean as you can be!
You're a bear, that's what you are. I'll 60 home
to ma to- day, so, now! Boo-hoo- hoo."
BY this time PettibOne has finished his dinner,
after fashion, and hastily arising from tn
table ne tells his wife to go home, or go to bed,
or anywhere 1t suits her to go. Jamlning hi.
hat down over his eyes, he leaves the house.
:, the next time he gets letter for his wife on
MS way to dinner, he returns to the store.
Wife saying business Is SO rushing he viii dine
at restaurant to- day. He says that is a neat
and quiet way OF avoiding a ssscene." About
dodge, but it never WORCESTERSHIRE Home
Seminal N