The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-10
ole aateIiaetG2G.
THE GRUMBLER's'Bo BOOK.

instead OF blue. At church she observed
that the minister's necktie was awry, Thu
singing bad, the organ out OF tune, ant
"the old church had never looked 81
shabby and old.iashioned before" A
home, they "never had things as othe
folks had them" The parlor carpet wa
old.fashioned and worn, every room in tht
room was too small, and she was "tired Il
death OF those everlasting old stoves, wher
everybody else in town has CRATES" The
same spirit OF complaint went with her t.
school, where she found cross teachers
lessons longer than had ever before beer
given, and mo sense in them anyway"
"What sense can there be in that intol
cradle me,lSd, inerSr, melSam, n1er1Sa, EieIlsd
should like to know"
"Annd, AnnB, Annic, AMMAN! What has
come over thespirit Of your dreams lately
1t seems 10 me you've been an accusatiye
case long enough. Can't something be
done to remove the blue glasses from your
eyes, so you may see things as they really
are?" This from Brother Fred.
"That girl must be miserable in order
to be happy" remarked Uncle John, as
Anna left the room.
Fred resumed his reading. He was fol-
lowing Capt. Barnaby on his "Ride to
Khiva," and had just finished the cap.
tain's account OF riding "a camel in love"
when he overheard his petulant sister
severely reprimanding certain geranium
which had obstinately refused to blossom:
"see here, Sis" he called, you've found
some fault with everything that has
crossed your path for week past; and
I'll acknowledge I've worn blue glasses q
part OF the time myself. 1t relieves one
immensely 10 say Just what he thinks
once in awhile, and l must confess
rather enjoy 1t. However, am aware
that materiamilias is not at all pleased
with some OF the outspokenness INDUCED
in by her children, and I've been casting
about for some plan which would enable
you and to sputter TO our hearts con-
tent, and still not offend the mother; and
I've hit on just such plan. Want to
hear it2"
The serio.comic air with which Fred
delivered this speech brought smile to
Annals face, in spite OF her efforts TO keep
on frown; and curiosity to learn his
"plan" prompted her to give an affirmative
hWell," said Fred, turning back few
pages in his "Ride TO Khiva," "listen to
this. Capt. Burnaby, describing tho sta,
ton house along the road which he travel
ed in Russia. says, among other things:
"A book in Which TO inscribe complaints
was kept, and any traveller who felt him
self aggrieved would write down hisgriey-
ance, which would be subsequently in
was 10 perform this task once month";
Now, ! propose that you and | keep a
grumblsr's book, and, instead OF splitting
out our grievances as fast as they come to
US, causing the mother sore heart and
everybody else a great deal OF annoyance,
we will write them in this book. Then
we will constitute Uncle John inspector,
and It shall be his duty 10 investigate the
contents OF the grumbler's book every Sat
urday night, in the presence OF the entire
family. What do you say to writing
book In this way?"
Fred. was obliged TO wait moment for
a reply to his question. The fact was,
Anna did not feel at all inclined to favor
this project, for she realized that, in
measure, the so.called satisfaction arising
from speaking ones complaints would be
lost in an attempt TO write them; for really
there was more truth than there seemed
to be in Uncle Johns remark that the she
Unjust be miserable in order to be happy"
All grumblers will understand this. More
over, the idea that all her complaints for
a week were to be brought before the fam
lily every Saturday night did not seem to
her quite pleasant one. Still, after a
moment or two, she remarked 10 Fred
that,if he was willing to do his grumbling
In this way, she would undertake 1t too;
SO the matter was settled.
On the following Monday morning a
blank book was given to Fred by his un-
Gle, and placed Fred and Anna only knew
where. Mrs Parker was not in the "se-
cret," and, as day after day passed and no
word Of complaint was heard from either
Fred or Anna, her surprise almost equal
ed her delight. Only mother placed in
exactly the same situation can realize
what week that was for Mrs. Parker.
Saturday night came in due time. All
were gathered Ground the evening lamp"
busted in varied ways. Mrs. Parker, Uncle
John and Fred absorbed in their occupa.
tions. Anna, however, appeared restless
as leaf, taking up now this, now that
piece OF work, turning the leayes Of several
books, but TOO uneasy to undertake TO
read; and finally she was forced to in
Quire:-
Erred, will the inspector attend TO his
duty tonight"
Mrs. Parker glanced at Anna with a
wondering look, evidently bewildered by
her question; and she was not at oil en-
lightened when Fred, closing his book,
remarked, with merry twinkle in his
@Guess, as he's Russian parsonage,
he's either frozen to death or has been
eating too much"
Uncle John laid aside his writing, and,
, looking up, with laugh, said:-
"Bring the book, Fred, and the inspec-
e tor will be ready for duty at once. You
: know, sister," he continued, as Fred left
!, the room, THAT Fred has literary turn
4 OF mind, and his great ambition is to
:, write a book. Well, he has commenced
his book this week."
: "My book, rather" interrupted Anna,
a dor I've written nearly all OF it"
"The fact is," continued Uncle John,
z Erred has read somewhere Of grumb-
. ler's book. kept at the station houses in
s Russia; and be and Anna have concluded
10 keep book OF complaints, and thus
enjoy the pleasure Of grumbling without
annoying others. l believe the Russians
have inspectors to investigate their
!, grumbIers' books at stated times, and
;. these young people have asked me to take
: up this role, making my investigation
! every Saturday night" :,
: "This accounts, then, for the small
J amount OF iault.fnding / have heard this
week. Well, as Fred came in with the
:, book, which he gave TO his uncle, "it We
) must have complaints, let us hear them ii
q lump, once week"
Uncle John began to read frop TIT
book: