The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-05-29
Every Day Giants.

Ihe man IN the household is not
popularly the object of much solicitude
on the part of the members of the FAM
lily. There IS an erroneous idea that
he stays down town all day having
good time, that he is always smoking,
or telling stories, or going out to see
that mysterious other man, and that
tie 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 suspiciopslv and
says i'll a fretful voice:
Il Should think you would want to
come home sometime. John. Baby's
sick. Harry has CUT his finger and the
girl has gone to her cousins funeral.
and there's no fire in the rance. O,
dear! Ii girls knew when they were
wen on they would never get mar
riedr'
And John goes into the kitchen.
Whistles all the time he is making the
ilre, holds the baby and whistles until
1t goes to sleep. and is still whistline
softly Home, Sweet Home" when his
wife calls out:
FOR mercy sakes, John, ~ s+o,, ~ ot
wnlstlng and come r, simmer OH
my poor headr' . s"pPei' vi:
flo 49,, % supper; there is a whis-
s.laS Home, Sweet Home" stran-
;. 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 finn of death blot
fnn hi I. 4
ways kind word to welcome him with;
to whom he had taken all his foolish
boyish 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 that boiler
to-day?"
''Therel knew there was some
thing L had forgotten, Nellie, but we
were invoicing all day.
'1nvoicing! yes! More likely having
game of something to pass away the
time. But l suppose l can 90 down to-
morrow and see about it. | haven't
anything to do, women never do have,
you know"
John doesn't say anything; being
man he can't talk back and preserve
his own self respect; he hasn't the
heart to whistle, and ii 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, with
his face downward on his own little
bed, with his mothers loving hand ca
ressing 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
indeed worth living.
There may not be any necessity of
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 need of her
nagging at him rs if he was mere cal
culating, money-making machine
There is no dOwny- checked, rosy-lip-
ped baby that loves being Setted any
better than that same stalwart John!
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 pneumonia, either, in order to be of
some consequence at home. The In
dians believe in hardening their braves
so that they can endure mortal pain
and make no sign, but they are saw
ages. twill not cnervate the household
John to send him from home with
kiss and welcome him back with
smile. and, Nellie, don't you forget it!
The armor OF love is triple-plated.-
Detroit Free Press.