Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-25
THE OLD MANS CHRISTMAS.

Though there was wrong on both sides,
they never would have separated had it
not been for the old man.
He was Bens father, and Ben was an
only child-a spoiled, selfish, high.tsm-
pered lad, who had grown up with the idea
that his father, Anson English, or the
sold man." as his dutiful son called him,
was much richer than he really was, and
that he bad no need of any personal effort
any object in life aside from the pur-
suit of pleasure.
Bens mother had died when he was fifteen
years old and his father had never married
again. Yet it was not any allegiance to
her memory which had kept Arson Eng.
lish from second marriage. He remem-
bered her, to be sure, and scarcely a day
passed without mentioning her. But after
her death, as during her weary life, he
used her name as a synonym for all that
was undesirable. He compared everything
to '''Liz'b beth, and always to her dead
vantage. He had word of praise and en-.
coursgement and approval for every house.
wife in the neighborhood except-his own.
Whatever went wrong, in doors or out,
"'Liz' beth was tae direct or indirect
cause.
During the first five years of her mar
ried life Elizabeth made strenuous exer-
tions to please her husband. She wept Ger
sweet eyes dim over her repeated failures.
Then she found that she had been attempt.
ing an impossible labor, and grew passively
indifferent-an indifference which lasted
until death kindly released her.
Elizabeth had been a tidy housekeeper
during these first years.
You'd scrub and scour a man outer
house an home !" wss all the praise her
husband gave her for her order and cleanli-
ness and to his neighbors, to whom he was
fond of paying informslvisits, he would often
say" Liz beth's at it again-sweepin'
and cleanin, SO l cleared out. Never see
her without broom in her hand. I'd a
good deal rather have a little more dirt
than so much tearin round. LIZ beth
tires me with her ways.
Yet, when in the indifference of despair
which seized upon Elizabeth b-fore her
death, she allowed her house to look after
itself, Arson was no better satisfied.
" I've come over to lind place to set
down." be would tell his neighbors "'Liz-
'beth's let things 'cumuiate till the house
is sight to see-she's gettin' dreadful
slack, somehow, A man likes order when
he goes home to rest from all his cares"
Even when she died she displeased him
by choosing busy season for the occasion.
Just like LIZ beth, to die in haydn
time, he said. Everything got to stop
hay spOilin'-men idle. Women never
seem to have no system about work mat
ters-no power of plsnnin things, to make
it convenient ike for men folks,
Yet after she was gone, Arson found
how much help she had been to him, how
wonderful her economy had been, how
light her expenditures. He knew he
could never find any one to replace her, in
these respects, and as money considera-
tions were the main ones in his mind he
believed it would be the better economy to
remain a widower, and hire his work done.
So during those most critical years OF
Ben's life, he had been without woman g
guidance or care.
At IS he was all that arrogance, con-
ceit, selishness and high temper could rem.
der him. Yet he was q favorite with the
fair sex for all that, as he had a manly
figure, and a warm, caressing way when he
chose, that won their admiration and pleased
their vanity.
=
and began to think it would be better all
around If Ben should bring a wife home.
She could do the work better than hired
help, and keep the money all in the family.
And Ben would not waste his time snd
means on half dozen, as he was now do.
ing but would stay at home, no doubt,
and settle down into sensible, pract ca
business man. Yes, Ben ought to marry,
and his father told him so.
Ben smiled
I'm already thinking of it," he said
He had expected opposition from his father
and was surprised at his suggestion.
Yes" continued the "old man" a,
Ben already designated him, I'D like t.
see you settled down before you re twenty
one. But you want to make good choice
There's Abby Wilson, now. She's got tn,
muscle of a man, and amt afraid Of any.
thing. And her father has a fine propert,
a CROWN property. Abby Il make maj
good vigorous help.mate, and she IL brin,
him money in time. You'd better shin,
up to Abby, Ben.
Ben gave a contemptuous laugh. "T,
as soon marry dressed-up boy, " he said
" She's more like boy than girl in he
looks and in her ways. have other plan
in my mind, father, more to my taste.
mean to marry Filth Gilman, if she'll tax
me, and I think she will.
A dark frown contracted Arson Eng
lish's brow.
Edith Gilman ?" he repeated ''why
that puny schoolma am, with her baby fac
and weak voice II never help you to get
Twin, Ben. What are you thinkin' of -
"Of love, father, guess. love her
and that's all there is of it. Aud l sha
marry her, if she'll take me, and you cs
like it or lump it. as you please. She's
good girl, and if she's treated well a
round, she'll make good wife, and she
the only woman that can put the chez