The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-05-26

| IOu CeIlulull Cul JulB6 VI BOOu
article, Robinson"
"Ah, Smith, the one I've secured
now is beyond price. She's just the
kind of goods 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
her. ?"
"Well, no, Smith. She can't con-
verse and reason as her mother can, nor
has she her mothers appreciative quail
ties. Annie's 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 1
expressed it as my opinion that his hap
piness would last. 1 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 fne-looking
woman, with a 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 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
was chatting with his wife. 1 came
away convinced that marriage must be
very pleasant thing, with a little wife
like Robinson's, and my bachelor quar-
ters looked exceedingly dingy and
forlorn.
1 don't know how it was, but took
an extraordinary interest in Robinson's
marriage, and was sorry to see a cloud
on the matrimonial horizon before six
months were over.
"We've gone to housekeeping, you
know" said Robinson. 81 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 go
house-hunting with Annie and to help
her pick out the furniture. But I had
already secured a 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 Of
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" I 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. 1 took
the dear little woman in my arms and
kissed her, and felt my heart lightened
of very heavy load that somehow had
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 me
of robbing Annie of any legitimate hap.
piness, but she conveys some such i'm
preston to my mind and it makes me
feel like malefactor. I'm so fond of
my wife that the thought of depriving
her of the smallest joy is mistry to me-"
"Well, these little trifes will all come
right, Robinson. 1t isn't as if your
mother-in-law lived with you"
"She's only round the corner, Smith.
l thought of that when 1 took the
house, that it would be so comfortable
for Annie to live near her old home,
and have the attention and advice of her
mother. AS heaven is my Judge, Smith,
l have tried to take every burden from
my wife. I've opened accounts with
the neighboring grocer, butcher, baker,
and hired an excellent servant. I leave
a generous margin for sundries, which L
look into rigidly at the first of every
month, and settle with the other ac-
counts, when we begin again with clear
fresh record. A woman certainly ought
to be happy when she has nothing to do
but enjoy herself. I've even persuaded
her to put all her little expenses down
in my book, so that she knows where
every penny of her money goes; and, as
1 said before, take care of the house
hold expenses myself The servant
comes to me every morning for orders
before l go to business, so that Annie
scarcely knows what she's going to have
for dinner. Could man do more than
that, Smith %
"Perhaps he might do less, Robinson.
I'm only a miserable bachelor myself,
and know nothing about women but
the question is, if you're not erring on
the generous side-if you're not taking
too much upon yourself"
ga man can't do too much, Smith,
for the woman he adores."
Just then a customer came in, and |
was glad to get away. Robinson evil
IDENTIFY had the best intentions in the
world. He loved his wife. He even
esteemed his mother-in-law. 1 never
saw man work so hard in what he con-
sidered his line of duty, and so utterly
fail to recommend it to others, as poor
Robinson. But he began to be brighter
and apparently happier. The anniver-
sary of his wedding was close at hand,
and he was interested in a gift to his
wife.
81 was puzzled what to get," said
Robinson. "You see she's got almost
everything, Smith; her wedding pres,
ents embraced so many little adorn.
ments and knickknacks. At last 1 hit
upon a black silk dress-a woman can't
have too many, and 1 can get bargain
. | down in the store inst now She said