The Red Cloud chief., 1881-02-17
HARRY HARCOURT'S DREAM.

HARRY HkRCorRT was not given to
dreaming on ordinary Occasions; i'm
fact, ne seldom decamt ut all. for he
uasva SQUAD sleeper. with a stomach
like an s,igator's and a conscience like
n baby's.
an easy conscience and good diges-
ton are the best promoters of healthy
sleep the world over, and | do not won
der chat Harry ~Iiarcourt slept well.
Harry Harcourt had a hobby. Most
practical and impractical people have
hobbies. My hero's hobby was the inn
ji4pary financial. political, legal and
every way possible superiority of mems
Responsibilities over woman's duties in
raising "A family and providing for the
household.
Mrs. Harcourt was q pale little wo-
mm with a big family. Pale little
women are very apt 10 be mothers of
big families.
Mrs. Hareourt's children were boys,
GnJdy, rollicking, jolly little romping
follows. whose knees would peep
Though their trousers and whose ell
bows would get ragged i'm spite of their
p~aloanother' untiring assiduity.
hai' pAiiAi llplS ~ Wv lilsifl
you have. Mrs. Harcourt, | am sure |
could keep the children's jackets and
trousers in order," said Harry Harcourt
one day when Ben and Billy came rush
ing into the great, unfinished farm
house. driving a tandem team of the
Other boys, and tracking mud upon the
newly-mopped floor.
The BOYS walked the baby, who had
just fallen asleep after an hour of in
cessant rocking. while the mother had
YEARLY piled her needle; and they up
ST her work-basket in a heap rs they
gsSoped around the room in high glee.
Harry always said Mrs. llarcourt"
when he meant TO be extremely digni-
fled.
Mrs. Harcourt was not always as
weak as she looked, as her husband
had many a time discovered, to his
vcoSt. She had "A will of her own when
accused. and Harry Harcourt had once
Hore unwittingly aroused herby riding
his strongest hobby directly athwart her
sense of Justice, when she was nervous
from over eXertion.
- If | had nothing more TO do than
YOU nave, Mr.. Harcourt, or if had the
control of nv own earnings as you do,
I'd once in a while. be able to buy the
fchildren something new TO wear so
they wouldn't always have to depend
upon patches"
That's all a woman knows about
You'd break me up in three
nAmths if YOU had 4 free swing at the
finances. New clothes for the children,
indeed, Let 'em wear their old ones!"
That's what they have been doing
all along, Mr.. Harcourt. and thew were
mostlr de up of old clothes in the
first Ii | was only free from all
the I'm, n drudgery that You impose
upon me wi. ,ut any remuneration
Whatever, ! woL I earn money and buy
clothes for the children rs fast as they
eNe needed but L have to be cook,
nurse, laundress, dish-washer. dairy
maid. scullion. mop rag, needle-woman
and general scapegoat all the time. and
all for the sake of being supported 1t
wasn't so when | was a school-ma am.
] had my w money then. and no
thanks to anybody for it, eitherr'
After delivering herself of this TRADE.
vMrs. Harcourt shook the screaming
haby till it grew silent from sheer ex-
bauS,ion. and then laid it back in the
cradle. while she renewed her efforts
with her needle.
She was patching a pair of old and
dizzy trousers which had reached the
yekatious age that required patch upon
-Satch to make them p~resentable.
IL could do more work than you do,
Mrs. Harcourt, and get along with less
money. and carry a rail on my shoulder
oil the time. ut thatf' said Harry Har-
court, contemptuously.
..Could YOU. now?" asked the pale
little woman, with a bitter smile.
..Of course Icould. Women have no
>Sponsibiities. 1 support my family
.nd bear all the burdens of life. L can
remember. too. since reflections are in
order Mrs. Harcourt, that there was n
t;r,c when | had no cares nor response
Utilities. no wife nor children to bother
me. and nothing under the sun to rufiie
ms1empcr."
sWpaid you like to be rid Of me-
The indignant husband did not an
swsr m words; but he gave ent TO a
nr6on.aed whistle. and left the room,
BANGING the door after him with a vim
tbafiarred the whole house and set her
nerves a-tingIhS iihe 81 many hS
hk in swarming time
1fhe baby sobbed itself into agrieved
and uneasy slumber, the tandem team
and ~rollicking drivers skurried off into
the woodshed, and the house was still
In a little while the trousers were
mended. but the overturned contents of
the upset work-basket fairly appalled,
her as she contemplated the promis-
cnous pile--socks, out at toes and heels
and ragged in the ribbing; shirts. minus
ihuttons, with sleeves torn atthe elbows,
and wristbands frayed at the edges;
jacketsssith Innings torn and pocket
mittfstwo school-books TO seover. and
lunch-bag TO supply with a new strap,
II was&fhf6st supper time, too. and this
was Saturday.
Mrs. Harcourt was far too conscien-