Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-07-17
Mrs. Gays Hint, and How it
Was Taken.
BY LOUISA NJ. ALCOTT.

"My dear Mrs. Merrill, what's the
matter? Is the baby sick?" asked a
pleasant voice as a neighborly form ap-
peared at the door of a dull, disorderly
room, where tired woman sat crying in
the twilight.
"The children. are all well and asleep,
thank heaven, but l am so anxious and
discouraged that l couldn't help having
a good cry" answered Mrs. Merrill, WHIP
ing her eyes as if already comforted by
the arrival of a friend.
"Tell me all about it," said Mrs. Gay,
the newcomer, as she pOked up the
fire till a little blaze frightened up the
whole room.
II wouldn't tell anyone but you, and I
am afraid I'm partly to blame in some
way, yet don't see how" began Mrs.
Merrill, leaning back with a sigh of re-
lief at the prospect of a chance to tell
her troubles and receive sympathy if not
advice
off the babies are all well you cannot
have any very heavy grief, dear. But
know that the small trials are often the
hardest to bear; so cOnfide in me, and
we will see if we cannot make the bur-
den lighter" said Mrs. Gay, patting the
hand that held the handkerchief with
such a CHEEKY face that her friend open
ed her heart freely.
"Pm worrying about John, and you'll
see that have cause to do so when 1
tell you that for the last month he hasn't
come home to his supper half the
time, but spends the evenings at the tav-
ern. He comes in late, and so cross and
berry / can't be glad to see him. If it
goes on much longer he will take some
thing stronger than lager, and 1 shall be
a drunkard's wife"
Here the poor little woman fell into
sobbing again as if her heart was broken.
But Mrs. Gays kind arms were around
her, and the friendly boy said hopefully ::
at will be your own fault if you are,
my dear, for John Merrill is too good q
man to do anything of that kind unless
driven to it."
"What will drive him? Not poverty
or trouble, for we are doing well and
haven't debt in the world" said Mrs
Merrill, with an air of honest pride.
"The want ola comfortable home will
do it for him as for many another man."
"What do you mean? I am sure this
is a nice house, and l do my best to
keep it So" cried the well-to-do mechan-
les wife, surprised and little offended.
Forgive me, my dear, but I want to
help you, and can only do so by
giving you pain. Now look around the
sort of home that tired man wants to
come tor"
A long pause followed the bold speech
as Mrs. Merrill looked at the scene be-
fore her eyes, that seemed to see the
clearer for the tears lately shed. The
room was comfortably furnished, but in
the state of disorder which three lively
children would produce during the day.
Toys lay about the floor, chairs stood
here and there, work was heaped upon
upon sofa, and supper was spread upon
table in the corner. Not a tempting
meal, an untidy joint of cold meat, heavy
looking bread, lump of butter and cold
tea. The cloth rumpled, the lamp unlit,
the fire untrimmed, and the wife sat
red-eyed and respondent in her wrap
per, with her hair half down, waiting to
receive her husband with tears and re-
proaches.
For the first time she seemed to see
herself in a new light, and after that long
look she gave a great sigh, and said hum
bly,;
on John, but I get so tired and he
doesn't seem to care. I've lost my pride
in things and got shiftless. How can I
do better2"
CPL show you. Practice is better than
preaching. Go up and make yourself
nice, and tell me when you come back
if things are not improved" answered