The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-05-23
Everyday Giants,

The man in the household is not
popularity an object of much solicitude
on the part of the members of the
family. There is an erroneous idea
that he STAYS down town all day having
q good time, that he is always smoking,
or telling stories. or going out to see
that mysterious other man, and Mat
the hard. dull routine Of business is the
last thing he ever troubles himself
about, aud when he goes home at night
his wife looks at him suspiciously and
says in . 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 Der Cousins funeral, and
there's no fire in the range. o. dear!
If girls knew when they were we'll 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 a
| whistle about Home, Sweet Home"
strangled in his throat, and it chokes
him into silence; he tries not to think
of a sweet, serene face with an aureole
of white hair that used to look at him
with fond, appreciative eyes until a
few years ago, when the film of death
blotted him out. His mother. who had
always a kind word to welcome him
with; to whom he had taken all lis
foolish boyish hopes, his little torment
ing cares, his frequent disappoint-
ments, whose eyes held flame of love
that lighted his path even yet-his
mother!
John, did you see about that boiler
to-day?'
There! 1 knew there was some
thing I had forgotten, Nellie, but we
were invoicing all day."
Invoicing! yes! More likely having
a game of something to pass away the
time. But l suppose l can 60 down to-
morrow and see about it. l haven't
anything to do, women never do have,
you know"
John doesn't say anything; being n
man he can not talk back and preserve
his own self-respect; he hasn't the heart
to whistle, and it would only make
matters worse if he did. He would like
to cry-yes, he would, just as he used
to when he was 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 he? So he smokes or reads
the paper, helps undresS the baby and
wonders, as he looks at it, if life is in
deed worth living.
There may not be any necessity for
Johns wife always meeting him with a
smile and roses in her hair though she
was ready enough to do that when she
was not his wife, but she has other du-
ties now. But just because he is big
and strong. and comes in with the home
quickstep, there is no use of her nag
cling at him as if he were mere calcu-
lating. money-making machine. There
is no little downy-cheeked, rosy-lipped
baby that loves being petted any better
than that same stalwart Johni He needs
to be praised. too, and to feel that he is
appreciated. and he doesn't want to
wait until he has typhoid fever or pneu-
monia, either. in order to be of some
consequence at home. The Indians be-
lieve in hardening their braves so that
they can endure mortal pain and make
no sign, but they are savages. 1t will
not enervate the household John to send
him from home with a kiss and well
come him back with smile, and. Nell
lie, don't you forget it. The armor Of
love is triple-plated.-Detrott Free
Press