The Osceola times., 1881-07-23
WHAT FOLKS SAID OF OUR FAILURE.
BY MILDRED EvYLIN.

Ell
Have you ever noticed, dear reader,
that when q man fails in business his
wife is almost invariably blamed as the
cause of his failure His success is an
other thing, almost always due to his
own abilities. Now, while l admit that
a mans wife has great deal do with
success and failure, she often receives
more blame than she deserves for the
latter. In my own checkered life /
have experienced this as well as many
other things. When we were married,
Mr.. Brooks and l, to say that / was the
most fortunate girl in our village Is not
saying too much, and that thought my.
self the happiest am certain; for coun>
try villages as well as cities have their
great catches" and, as the son of the
richest man in the village, Ralph cer~
tainly occupied that enviable position.
The wooing and wedding over, next
came housekeeping and settling down
TO business. A year before Ralph had
gone into the mercantile business in a
village ten miles distant-his father
the prettiest little nest | have ever seen,
and our furniture and entire belongings
were the admiration of the place. Can
you afford it, my dearp' timidly in
quired my mother, upon her first visit
as she viewed the many handsome and,
indeed, unnecessary articles of furniture
added to my modest outfit, until / was
almost lost TO view. l cannot help
laughing as I recall the look of import
ance assumed by me as assured her
that that was little of what we could sf-
ford. Dear mother, her faith in rs was al
most as great as her own. Mother Brooks,
however, was not so. "Times were
changed, and folks, too; in their day
they began plain and expected to better
where their father left off. Well, we'll
see, we'll see." But brusque as she was,
she was a sterling friend in need. Well,
happier little housekeeper was never
installed IN lovelier little home than l,
nor assumed the domestic reins in
greater state.
Now, in those days there was not so
much "help" kept as now, and in so
small family as ours was, mostly dis
pensed with altogether. l fully intend-
ed doing our own work, but Ralph
would not hear of it. Was his Matte
to be only household drudge? he could
afford to keep one servant, and he
would. Flattered and delighted, l was
easily persuaded that | did need all the
care he was so willing to bestow. | at
tempted study, to complete my educa-
ton, which was detective, but so many
things came to hinder, that could not
apply myself. Music | loved, and my
improvement in it was source OF de-
light to both Ralph and myself. We
visited great deal, and of course had
great deal of company. In our abb
sences. which were frequent, the store
was in the care of a clerk, the house
OF our maid, and we were perfectly cons
tent.
Time passed, and our little Eddie
came to claim our love and care; so
with that dear charge in hand, hardly
visited the kitchen at all, Those were
golden days, for if doing wrong, l was
unconscious of 1t, and my content was
perfect. l had noticed from time to
time shade Of care upon my husbands
brow, but attributed 1t to anxiety for
myself, as my health was long in being
re-established; but grew better, and it
continued. | ventured to ask him, but
he evaded my questions saying he never
was in better health, and, treasured for
his health, was satisfied, for no other
evil occurred TO me. So time sped until
autumn, when | went home for long
visit. Ralph for the first time sending
ne alone, and, as he said, keeping
louse.
Such charming visit marred only by
Ralph's absence. l always think OF 1t
as season OF woIdrous peace and calm
happiness. | visited alternately at
father Brooks and my own dear fathers
and in gay circle of brothers, sisters,
cousins, etc, spent a couple OF weeks de-
| hghtfully. Ihad not heard from Ralph
| for almost a week; what could it mean?
He was to come for me toward the close
| of my visit. but that was distant week
or two; unless, as be tenderly said,
when bidding good-by, he grew too
lonely without his pets, and If so he'd
come sooner. But sense of impending
evil oppressed me; grew restless, and
so much did this feeling grow upon me,
that when a week elapsed without let
ter, | announced my intention Of return
ing Immediately to Westville. | was at
father Brooks, and they all joined in
joking Lle Tor being homesick, and said
that Ralph would probably arrive before
night, and laughed at my firm conviction
that he was i'll. But all persuasion fails
ing to convince me, father and mother
Brooks said they would go home with
me. believe had infected them with
my fears, which grew so upon me that
every minute seemed drawn to the
length of an hour. We were on the
way at last in the old ca.ryall, having
sent message explaining to my parents
our buried departure. The old folks
strove to pass the time chatting pleas
antly, but my heart was heavy with its
sad foreboding, and they began TO be less
cheerful as we approached westvllle
without meeting Ralph. We entered
and drove through town; was not sur
prised that some whom we met regarded
us, thought, curiously. They are
looking at the woman who was visiting
when her husband lay sick. perhaps dy.
ing" thought, As we approached the
house observed, without surprise, that
the store was closed. But father, star
ting violently, exchanged looks with
mother that plainly said, she wss right