Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-10

fever sufferers" said she at once, ssand
[ think we are to blame for not hav-
ing contributed more to their relief"
"Who's been here ?" [ asked.
GA man who has just come from
that country. And only think, dear,
he is the only one living out of a fam
lily of eleven. He lost his wife, eight
children and q grandmother, and was
reduced from competency to beggary.
Chow much did You give him p I
asked dryly.
81 didn't give him anything"
"Then he wasn't collecting" said I
surprised.
No. he wasn't, SO you need not get
cheap wit"
"Well, what was he doing? He
, wasn't telling his story from door to
door just to pass away time. was he ?"
"He was earning his living; [
bought three nutmeg graters from him
and | think you will say they are the
incest little machine you ever saw. /
know I had no need of three" said
she hastily, as if she saw a remark
about then on my tongue, ''but |
thought we would put one in the next
missionary box for Kansas, as probab-
ly they do not have many of the com.
forts Of life out there, and [ think
Mrs. Peters will like one. The other
will save enough nutmegs III one day
to pay for itself; just see how it will
work off the very last bit of nutmeg"
During all this [ had been getting
into awhile heat.
"My dear, said I, & always say
''my dear" when I am particularly and
especially exasperated): "My dear
and I always trcar my wife with the
greatest politeness, for only in that
way can husband and wife preserve
mutual respectfully dear, you are a
natural born idiot The humbug does
net exist that you would not believe
in. 1t is only wasting words to talk
with you about your foolish bargains,
but will show you how you have
been taken in again for the thousandth
time. What did you pay for your
nutmeg graters p
twenty-five cents each and you
may run them down all you please I
no not care. I did not buy them be-
cause l wanted them, I did it to help
the man. When he told me about the
loss Of his family, and that he was
working to build monument over his
grandmother's grave, I'd have bought
the graters if they were not good for
anything but they are good. for I
have tried them, SO there -
"NVas the man tall, lean one?" |
asked.
"Yes.''
"Had white plug hat, with Grape
around it,"
Eyes"
"And no had lost grandmother,
had he p
81 will not stop to hear any of your
w.t." said she, with a fine scorn.
"You never have anything but poor
jokes when l tell you of the sorrow
and misery in the world
s'You ridiculous woman said I,
81 have ntohing to say against the
graters, they are good enough what
is more to the purpose, they came out
of my store and were sold at Is cents
q dozen, [ sold such man as you
describe a dozen this morning, and
just before I came away he was in for
another dozen. AS be was paying for
them I heard him tell the clerk that
business was looking up, for he had
Just sold three to a woman on this
street who bought them because he had
lost his grandmother. Just think how
Ridiculous you are when such crea-
lures can laugh at you"
! But she had gone away. She doesn't
believe a word Of it, thinks its one OF
my jokes, and, ten to one, she will put
ore of thoee graters in my stocking on
Christmas eve. But if she does I'll
we'll l will tell you when the time
comes