The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-03
HUSBANDS.
\ Word for the Poor, Timid, Tortured, Shrink
ing Things.

ing Things.
Detroit Free Press.
The man in the household is not popularity an
object of much solictude on the part of the mem
bers of the family. There is erroneous idea
that he stays down town all day having a good
time that he is always smoking. telling
stories or going out to see that mysterious O. er
man, and that the hard. dull routine of business
Is the last thing that he ever troubles himself
about, and when he goes home at night his wife
looks at him suspiciously and says i'll IL fretful
voice,
Il should think you'd want to come home
sometimes, John. Baby's sick and Harry cut
his finger. and the girl has gone to her cousins
funeral, and there's no fire in the range. O, dear!
If girls knew when they were well off they'd
never get married"
And John goes into the kitchen. whistles all
the time he is making the fire, holds the baby
and whistles till it goes to sleep, and is still
whistling softly Home Sweet Home when his
wife calls out
For mercy sakes. John. do stop that whistling
and come to supper Oh. my poor head"
John goes to supper; there is u whistle about
Home, Sweet Home stransed in his throat,
and it chokes him into silence: he tries not to
think of d sweet, serene face with an aureOle of
white hair that used to look at him with fond,
appreciative eyes until few years ago when
the film of death botted him out. His mother,
who had always kind word to welcome him
with; to whom he had taken all his foolish. boysh
hopes his little tormenting cares, his frequent
disappointments, whose eyes held flame of love
that lighted his path even yet-his mother
John, did you see about the boiler to night!n
There! | knew there something had
forgotten, Nellie, but we were invoicing all day"
Invoicing yes! More likely having game Of
something to pass away the time But | sup
pose can go down to morrow and see about it.
haven't anything to do, women never do have,
you know"
John doesn't say anything; being a man he
cannot talk back and preserve his own self-re.
spect; he hasn't the heart to whistle, and ii
would only make matters worse if he did HI
would like to cry-yes, he would, Just as he used
to when he was a boy face downward. on his
own little bed with his mothers loving hand
caressing his hair
Men are only boys grown tall
Hearts don't change much after ALL"
But he would look well crying now wouldn't hel
So he smokes or reads the paper helps undress
the baby and wonders, he looks at it, if life is
indeed worth living.
There may not be any necessity for Johns
wife always meeting him with smile and roses
in her hair-though she was ready enough
to do that when she was not his wife. but she
has other duties now But just because he is
big and strong, and comes in with the home
quickstep there is no use of her nagging at him
as if he was a mere calculating money making
machine, There is no little downy-cheeked
rosy-lipped baby that loves being petted any
better than that same stalwart John! He needs
to be praised, too. and feel that he IS appre-
ciated. and he doSent want to wait until he has
typhoid fever pneumonia, either. in order to
be of some consequence at home. The Indians
believe in hardening their braves so that they
endure mortal pain and make no sign, but
they are savages. 1t will not enervate the
household John to send him from home with q
kiss and welcome him back with a smile, and
Nellie don't you forget it. The aImor of love is
triple plated