The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-06-15

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matters for hours together, while Annie
thums over her new piece on the piano,
and Mrs. Page has told me, time and
again, if there's one thing more than
another she admires in my character it's
the interest take in little domestic
details that most men despise or hold in
utter indifference. You see, Smith, mar
riage is q sacred obligation"
Undoubtedly, Robinson"
"And requires study, Smith. /
wouldn't have been q successful buyer
if hadn't inquired into all the little
intricacies of our line of business"
You certainly can judge of a good
article, Robinson"
"Ah, Smith, the one I've secured
now is beyond price. She's just the
kind of goods a man wants to rest his
eyes upon when he's tired of shams and
shoddies. Annie isn't brought up to
dazzle and deceive. Her mother has
taken great pains to inculcate in her
daughter qualifications of mind and
character that will make her good wife
and mother. Mrs. Page is an excellent
woman, Smith"
"And suppose her daughter is like
herP"
"Well, no, Smith. She can't con-
verse and reason as her mother can, nor
has she her mothers appreciative quail
ties. Annies mind is less astute."
Well, she's young yet"
"She's as simple and pliable as lit
tie child. I'm happy man, Smith"
was delighted to hear him say so,
and told him so, and at the wedding [
| ov,oxoeeo1 - nc Y,ory o,,ir,ir,, 4bot hse 1,o,,
piness would last. / was charmed with
his wife. She seemed such nice, jolly
little creature, so unaffected and simple
in her manner, and had a wonderful
magnetism about her. She was as plump
and round as little partridge, with big
black melting eyes and pretty little
mouth. / can't say was so much drawn
to her mother. She was a fne-looking
woman, with deep voice, and some
thing very firm about the contour of
her jaw. Mrs. Page had more of what
they call character in her face than her
daughter would ever have; but L haven't
the admiration for face with character
that some men have. Robinson always
said he liked that kind of thing, and he
certainly had it in his mother-in-law.
Robinson spent the better part of an
hour talking with her that night, while
1 was chatting with his wife. 1 came
away convinced that maria ge must be
very pleasant thing, with little wife
like Robinson's, and my bachelor quar-
ters looked exceedingly dingy and
forlorn.
I don't know how it was, but I took
an extraordinary interest in Robinson's
marriage, and was sorry to see cloud
on the matrimonial horizon before six
months were over.
"We've gone to housekeeping, you
know" said Robinson. "I was afraid
Annie would want to board at home
with her mother, but Mrs. Page agreed
with me it was better to build little
nest of our own. She took the kindest
interest in everything, and wanted to &c
house-hunting with Annie and to help
her pick out the furniture. But 1 had
already secured house, and bought
the furniture of friends of mine in the
business, who would favor me in prices
/ AS to bed-linen, carpets and things oi
| that sort, got them here in the store
at cost. In heavens name, Smith, is
} there any reason why man shouldn't
| hire his own house and purchase his
: own furniture ?"
"None whatever" 1 replied, "unless
} it may be that his wife desires the same
privilege"
"But she didn't Smith. Annie said
she was glad to leave it to me. tool
the dear little woman in my arms anC
. kissed her, and felt my heart lighteneo
of very heavy load that somehow haG
= rested there since my last interview
with her mother. But Mrs. Pages
+ manner is very unpleasant, Smith-very
: don't want to say that she accuses mt
of robbing Annie of any Legitimate hal;
7 piness, but she conveys some such i'm
4 preston to my mind, and it makes mC
= feel like a malefactor. I'm so fond O
1 my wife that the thought of deprivine
< her of the smallest Joy is mistry to me.
t "Well, these little trihes will all com,
/ right, Robinson. It isn't as if you
mother-in-law lived with you"
: "She's only round the corner, Smith
a 1 thought of that when L took tn,
a house, that it would be so comfortable
t for Annie to live near her old home
b and have the attention and advice of he
r mother. Asheaven is my judge, Smith
n have tried to take every burden from
t my wife. I've opened accounts witt
r the neighboring grocer, butcher, baker
and hired an excellent servant. 1 leav
n a generous margin for sundlies, which
e look into ngidly at the first of ever
IS month, and settle with the other &C
counts, when we begin again with clea
l. fresh record. A woman certainly ough
|. to be happy when she has nothing to d
e but enjoy herself. I've even persuade,
it her to put all her little expenses dow
II in my book, so that she knows wher
every penny of her money goes; and, a
a said before, l take care OF the house
IS hold expenses myself. The servan
d comes to me every morning for order
IS before / go to business, 50 that Ami
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