The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-21
Honest for a Day.


fore. Thinking over the insincerity of
life and people generally, Mrs. Brown
had suddenly decided that for one day
she would be true as gold-honest as the
sunlight. She made a solemn compact
with herself that for one twenty-four
hours she would think, speak and act the
truth. That she would do nothing insin-
cere Just because society demanded it, or
her own good nature suggested it; but
that for one single day she would be
honest.
Now one of Mrs. Browns strongest
creeds, although unformulated, was that a
wife should never disagree with her hus.
band. No matter what her real opinion
was, it was so much more comfortable to
agree than not to agree that, in their mar
ried life of ten years, Mr.. Brown had ever
held high opinion of his wife's good
sense. Imagine his feelings, therefore,
when upon this memorable morning the
following little scene took place. 1t
was before breakfast, and they were dress
ing. Mr.. Brown was standing in front of
the bureau that contained the only mirror
in the room, brushing his hair with a
leisurely nicely that was trying to the
patience of Mrs. Brown. She was not
half as far advanced in her toilet as her
husband, and her luxuriant hair was
awaiting its turn of brush and comb and
mirror. She heaved sigh and said,
"Oh, dear p
ain hurry, Sarah Be through in a
moment. You don't think I'm long; do
you p
Now any other morning but this Mrs.
Brown would have answered sweetly
ooh no, dear, take your time" But this
morning, true to her vow of sincerity, she
said frankly: "Well yes; do. I've been
waiting some time; and my hair is much
more troublesome to fix than yours, you
know"
If roll of thunder had suddenly
growled overhead, Mr.. Brown would not
have been equally thunderstruck. In
sheer amazement he moved aside and
gave her place. Then said:
"Got out of the wrong side of bed this
morning; didn't you ?"
"No," answered Mrs. Brown truthfully.
~ think l got out at the same side that
always do"
"Phew whistled Mr.. Brown. "You
are nice and cross this morning, or |
shouldn't say so "
i
think it is you who are quick-tempered."
"Well gasped Mr.. Brown &C. never p
And he never had. He went out and
slammed the door. Mrs. Brown sighed
but went on arranging her hair and
finished her dressing. She resisted the
momentary impulse she had to run
after her lord and smooth down his feath
ers, and soon felt the sustaining glow OF
self.approval.
"It's hard" she thought, "but 1 will
do it. Surely society is in a bad state
when the simple truth appears to be &c
very unexpected"
At the breakfast table she was serenely
placid, eating and drinking in calm sor,
of way, and paying no attention to the
scowl on the face of her husband oppo
site, although usually any such symptoms
would have been soothed and smoothec
away at once with sweet words and anx
ious care. This morning she was honest
she didn't think he deserved soothing
and she wasn't going to give in. Mr.
Brown went off to business out of humo
with himself, his wife, and everything il
general. After he had left, Mrs. Brown
went down stairs to see the butcher
She said to the boy:
"This is poor piece of beef; and you
know it,"
"Marm ?" said the boy, his eyes star
ing.
You take this back to Mr.. johnson
and tell him thatI think that it is cheating
to send me such a poor piece of meat Al
this, when l pay him the very highes
price for everything"
"Yes'm," said the boy, still staring.
"Well Take it and 60 long"
"Yes'm," said the boy, still dazed, a
he lifted the piece into his basket ant
turned to go. He was amazed. Neve
before had Mrs. Brown found fault ant
they had palmed off on her in times pas
many piece of beef not weighed in tn
scales of justice.
Bridget was standing open-mouthet
near by.
Mrs. Brown gazed meditatively owe
the top OF her head, and her glance, Il
Bridget's eye, seemed a trife severe.
"Plaze, ma'am, phat is it 2" she said
humbly.
81 was just thinking, to tell the truth
Bridget, said Mrs. Brown, with a laugh
how nice and wavy your hair was, an,
wishing that had it. You don't have t
put 1t In orimp papers over night;
you 2"
"Oh noa, ma'am beamed Bridge,
81 doan't Shure but it's the plague O
me life it is; always tanglin' up that tigh
there's noa coamin' it dacently."
swell; it's very pretty" answere
Mrs. Brown, " and, if it was mine, I'd b
curling it all the time, I'd be so proud q
it,"
"Shure it's welcome ye'd be to it, if
could only give it to ye," laughed Bridge
as she turned aside to wash up the breal
fast dishes.
Mrs. Brown now went upstairs, an