The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-29

The 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 a
good time, that he is always smoking,
or telling stories, or going out to see
that mysterious other man, and that
tho 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 in fretful voice:
II should think you would want to
come home sometime, John. Baby's
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 would never get mar
riedr
And John goes into the kitchen,
whistles all the time he is making the
fire, holds the baby and whistles until
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 whis-
tie about Home, Sweet Home" stran-
gled in his throat, and it chokes him
into silence; he tries not to think of
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 blot
ted him out. His mother, who had al
ways kind word to welcome him with;
to whom he had taken all his foolish
boyish hopes, his little tormenting
cares, his frequent disappointment,
whose eyes held flame of love that
lighted his path even yet-his mother!
John. did you see about that boiler
to-dayP'
There! knew there was some
thing l had forgotten. Nellie, but we
were invoicing all day"
'Invoicing! yes! More likely having
a game of something to pass away the
time. But suppose can 60 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 can't talk back and preserve
his own self respect; he hasn't the
heart to whistle, and il 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 we'll 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
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 as il he was mere cal
culating, money-making machine
There is no ny-cheeked, roxy-lip-
ped baby that loves being petted any
better than that same stalwart joint
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 enervate 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