The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-31
Mrs. Wonders Dream on New
Years Eye.

lVul y lIVI
~ wish there wasn't o man or child on
the earth-there nowW Johnny got a
sharp box on the ear and Mittie was set
down on chair with jounCe that almost
shook the little house 10 its foundations,
and Mrs, Wonder proceeded to get supper
for the IMAM" They were the torment OF
her Iiie-these children and that imam"
The first thing in the morning and the Inst
thing at night she has hurrying and work
ing and Contriving Just for them. No
peace or comfort or rest did she know
nor they either, for that matter. II was
New Years Eve, and, as is natural with US
ALL she had been reviewing her life for the
past twelve months-just as she had done
eaCh New Years Eve for the past five years,
and, Just as u great many OF us have been
after such u retrospect, she was n good deal
discouraged; encouragement seldom has
the effect TO make us good-humored,
and wO always attempt to believe
that the blame lies with somebody
beside ourselves, and We often
feel that II we could lift the whole world up
and set II down with jounCe, II would do
us an amazing amount OF good. Just 80
Mrs. Wonder felt when she gave utterance
to the pointed remark at the beginning Of
the chapter, and her feelings were depicted
on her Countenance as Mr.. Wonder opened
the door, and with AN inquiring look stepped
into the room MS she placed tho lust smok.
ing dish upon the tea-table.
"Therc, wish you'd eat your supper and
get to bed out Of the way" WIS the gentle
Invitation for the children topartnke OF tho
evening meal, and they followed instruc-
tons hurriedly and silently as they could.
Mr.. Wonder, who had long 0gO become used
to these little diversions, got himself of
down town us soon rs practicable, and tho
unhappy, discouraged, overw0rked, impa-
ticnt and iretful wife and mother was left
alone for the balance Of the evening.
II was two hours before she was able to
feel that her work was done for the night,
and that she might ait down in chair to
rest; for though men declare and maintain
that women, as housewives, don't have
"anything much" to do, they are mistaken,
nevertheless, and women will dispute this
point with them till the crack Of doom, and
probably at that important period neither
will have arrived any nearer the same con.
clusion than they arc now. Mr.. Wonder,
rs lie meandered down town at that iden.
tical hour, was wondering what Hannah
could find to do that made her so cross and
tired all the time. Why couldn't her work
be done at six o'clock, as was his? And
why couldn't she sit down and read,
evenings, as he did. And Mrs. Won.
der might have told him, as she had
told him hundred times before, that
there were some buttons off Johnny's coat
that must be put on when he wasn't wear.
ing II, and q rent in Mites apron that
must be sewcd up before tho child wanted
it in the morning, and stockings 10 darn
and gloves TO mend, and thousand little
things Just right for "women to do OF eve
nings," rs Grandma Parsons used to say.
Mr.. Wonder however, was a very good
sort or q man, and tried to make the best
OF things, and nobody will maintain that he
was to blame II Nature hadn't given him
the sense and reason TO fully understand
the circumstances Of the case, and 80, rs he
sat in the club room, where lie had been
indirectly sent by Mrs. Wonder, tho latter
sat by the fire at home alone, and soon fell
into q heavy Blumber, and as she slept she
dreamed.
III ucl ulchhl MIS' WOhuSl 5eShiSu w
have been transported to q strange coun-
try, and her arrival and appearance was Il
matter Of rs much curiosity To the people
she met as were they to her. The most
she could make OF them was that they
were human beings, but the manner in
which they were clad, left II an open. qucs-
ton as to which six they belonged her
first impression was that they had arisen
In haste TINT day, and each thrown an |
empty coffee sack over the head after first |
cutting hole for the eyes and mouth.
She seemed 10 have spent week among
this mysterious community, going whittier |
she pleased and helping herself 10 what
ever she Could find 10 eat. She at last dis.
covered that her companions understood |
her position far better than she understood |
It herself, and TINT they laughed among
themselves rs they watched her inuuiring |
and vouChsafed no Commeh |
taries Upon the situation, until she, unable |
TO endure the suspense and strangeness Of |
the surroundings, at last broke forth with
eager questionings, after sho had disCov.
cred, 10 her horror, the true state OF the |
society into which she had been thrown.
t'Where arc your husbands7' she In. |
uuired one day, finding herself surrounded
bya dozen OF the strange community which,
ale had become satisfied consisted Of
women only.
They Immediately broke forth into tho
most ubmislakable expressions OF scofn