The Portland daily press., 1881-09-09
brooklyn Eagie.l
A Matter of Business.

''You were out late last night, DEAR" said
Mrs. Breezy, taking her seat at the breakfast
table and fumbling nervously with her fork.
"Oh, no. said Mr.. Breezy. sit wasn't late.
You see darling you were asleep when came
in and
"No, Mr.. Breezy. l was not asleep, but as
you say, it was not late for you. Nothing
would convince you that the clock struck three
as you closed the hall door. OF course busi-
ness detained you, my dear. 1t is wonderful
how much business man will find to transact
after midnight, but of course we women know
nothing about such things We never can un-
derstand you men, can we dear? We are al
ways imaginging all sorts of horrible things
when you happen to stay away day Or two
without sending US even line Women are
so nervous, are they not dear? What silly
creatures we are, to be sure. If we would only
go to bed and go to sleep, it would saye us
world of trouble, wouldn't it dear? We might
know that you great strong men can take care
of yourselves. If yon are obliged to sit up
until two or three O'Clock in the morning
talking business with your customers, it is
really ungrateful in us to complain, for of
course you have the worst of it, don't you dar-
ling? How it must have bothered you and
how tired you must get and think that it
is all for cur sakes. When you come tottering
home so tired that yon can hardly get up stairs
and throw yourself on the bed without even
the strength TO remove your boots, we should
appreciate your devotion in thus laboring TO
support us. Now, last night, dear when you
stumbled over the rocking chair, and found
yourself obliged to cling to the head board TO
support your weary form, you presented real
ly sad example of the oyerworked husband and
father. When your shattered nerves caused
you to upset my fresh bottle of cologne and
scatter the contents of my workbasket over the
floor You really looked the typical martyr of
married life. OF course you do not remember
it, dear. You we're too tired and worn out
with that horrid customer to remember any
thing. What a dry, stupid time you must
have, talking business up to three o'clock in
the morning, and you look so sleepy and tired
and used up, this morniug. L really would
imagine you had experienced severe illness
II didn't know it was those terrible, racking
business cares which pull you down so. l see
you have quite lost your appetite, dear You
haven't even touched your steak. Now dear,
this will not do. You must not apply your
self so closely TO business. 1t is killing you,"
and Mrs. Breezy's mouth curled into decided
sneer as she dug table spoon into the fired
potatoes.
iBut, my DEAR" said Mr.. Breezy, making
heroic effort to swallow little OF the steak,
sit was a most important engage
"Of course it was" said Mrs Breezy, as she
poured out a cup of coffee with trembling
hand. "Of course 1t was, love. Your engage
ments are always important. They will never
keep over until morning, never. What OF
these engagements-tbese very important en-
gagements-do occur five or six nights out OF
the week. 1t is a sign of your prosperity
Should l complain if you find yourself obliged
to meet your customers at theatres and concert
halls and at poker parties in out of the way
hotels? No, dear, you are obliged to adapt
yourself TO your customers, mode OF life. 1t is
ali in the way of business, and we short sighted
wives are very unreasonable TO suppose for
moment that you frequent such places out OF
choice, when even instinct should teach us
that you would much prefer being home in the
bosoms of your families You dear, abused
husbands How patient you are, to be sure,
with us fidgety, unreasoning, creatures" and
Mrs Breezy pushed back her chair with jerk
and left the room.