The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-24
MY LITTLE WIFE.

Matte had fiery temper, but that was her
worst fault When she married Marsh Hunter,
people said
Shell make his life warm business for
him
Bat Matte thought differently.
"lll show them what a triumph love Will
work. I'll toaeh thom LIN not tho vixon
SEEM
And so she married him. The wedding was
very pleasant aiiar--something to look back
on AZ long AS they lived. Matte looked very
sweet III her new white Swiss. Her long, jetty
Curls trcmble1 and shone In the brilliant light,
her eyes sparkled like twin stars, and her soft
cheeks were mantled IN softer bushes as she
leaned trustingy on the strong arm of the stall
wart man who was to be her guard and guide
through life.
The honeymoon was rich with the pleasures
of new-marred lite to the humble par; but
the time soon came when the bride must leave
the old rOoitrec for the uEtricd realities OF IA
home of her own This was the first sorrow
the trial Of leaving home and mothcr--uut
il was tleeting, Tor, IN the excitement of the
Setting up h. keeping in the white cot,
tage GA 'Squu 3lackburns farm, the little
sorrow was di ned.
1t was very any, and Marsh laughed and
Matte laugh' when just they two sat down
to the little new table and ate the viands pre-
pared by Mattie's own hands
Everything was new and strangely sweet.
Everything went on nicely, and Matte was
triumphant But all things earthly must
change. The weather grew warm and the
kitchen hot and one of the hottest days of the
season Matte had the headache and the sup
per must be ready at ) O'clock Matte tried
to g, it ready, but burned her wrist then she
burned the bread. Then she looked at the
clock and saw that it had stopped and look
Ing out at the door she saw Marsh.
rs supper ready he asked, and she blurt
ed out something, and they had their first
quarrel,
Oh, dear me- the first quarrel How sorry
il made the poor little woman.
But Marsh looked sulen, and went off with
out kissing her. They never talked that quar-
rel OYER, simply because they were both toe
proud 10 breach the subject. After that quar-
rels came oftener ana easier They did moi
mean 10 quarrel but somehow angry words
would come up.
After awhile "a little boy came to their house
hold, and 1t seemed for month or two good
deal like the well-remembcred honeymoon
but Matlcs wretched temper would fly to
pieces again, and the happiness was spoiled.
ITS curious we can't get along without SC
much quarreling," said Marsh one winters
day.
Matte lei: the tears in her eyes IN a mo-
ment and her heart soflencd towards Marsh
and she was about to confess her failngs and
ask forgiveness, when he continued
"lts all Jour hateful temper Mattie-you
know 1t is"
That was enough and what was meant Il
be reconciliation was simply another quarrel
'Oh, dear me- IL IS my wretched temper
know 1t isl sObbed Matte after Marsh went
out, "Dut he needn't have said so"
'If only wasn't so blunt" SAID Marsh t
himself with a sigh.
So things went from bad to worse Little
mistakes were imagined into terrible wrongs
The nelgE5ors had their fill of gossip abou
the matter, aud finally, one day when Marsi
was away, Matte thought the thing over.
81 am a Wrctched little nuisance" she sale
mentally: Il don't know why am So either
her eyes filing with tears "I've great minC
10 take Neddie and go home and stay there
Ny shame conldn be any greater than it is
She clasped the baby close in her arms; anC
The tears fell fast on his curly head
Her heart seemed bursting within her, bu
abe wrapped the child IN her shawl, and witt
aouickening step she fled the place and hui
ried across the snow-covered fields to he
mothers.
"Whals the matter, child ?" asked her moth
er, as Matte, pale and shiyering, appeared a
the door
Don't ask me, mother" sobbed the wretch
ed little woman
You Amt left homer"
Afes. mother, foreyerln
Don't say that 10 me- You shall go bacl
thss,n5fsrt" sad ter mother, thinking Of th'
7 - go ~