McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-03-05
A POCKET-PIECE.

her hands-a thing she very seldom
did--looked ruefully at the breakfast
table with its array of unwashed
dishes, at the pile of mending in her
work basket near the window, and,
last and longest, at the heap of letters
in her lap.
They were bills, every one of them;
even the MISUNDERSTANDING square
white envelope, which no one could
have suspected of being dun, held
the DOCTORS memorandum of the sum
due ''for professional services during
past six months.
There were bills from the grocer,
from the butcher and the baker, the
traditional candlestick-maker being
formidably represented by the gas
company with its quarterly statement.
The total made her sick at heart.
Yet she had tried so hard to be
economical!-too hard, she thought
bitterly, as she remembered in her
secret soul that Johnnie's attack of
pneumonia might have been averted
by stout rubber boots and by new and
warm under clothing in place of the
old fannels she had patched and darn
ed so faithfully.
The new garments had to be pur-
chased after all, in spite of her short
sighted thrift. They were the Doc
tors first prescription after the crisis
was past.
She thought, too, how, 10 save the
expense of sick nurse, which they
could so ill afforG, she had tried to
care for the sick boy day and night,
at time when her own physical sys-
tenn called for rest. OF course, she
had broken down in the effort, with
the result that she, as well as JOHNNIE,
had to be nursed, and the doctor had
two patients instead of one. We all
of us make such mistakes, now and
then.
Well, there was no use in crying
over split milk; at all events. she had
no time to sit down for any such pur-
pose, SO she went about her duties
with willing hands, if with a heavy
heart.
There was one thing she could do,
if only John could be made to con-
sent. The new cloak, which made
such heavy item in Draper & De
Lanes bill, and which John had given
her for Christmas, could be returned.
She had not worn it, and its pur-
chase had been conditional on her ap-
proval.
John, who, as every one will under
stand, was her husband, Mr.. Ruther-
was bookkeeperin downtown store,
with salary which scarcely sufficed,
with strict economy, to buy bread and
butter, clothes and shelter, for his
little family.
Still, they managed to keep mod
crate bank account, and this was the
first time they had really run behind
hand. But while she was sick there
had been no one to watch and guard
against all possible leaks, ard the gro
Gerry bill was double what it ought to
have been. AS for generous, warm.
hearted John, he had never stopped to
count dollars, much less pennies, with
his wife and boy living i'll, the house
had been kept like an oven, and the
amount of coal and gas used had been
frightful.
She thought of all this again and
again throug h the long day, and there
was small wonder if her children
found her absent-minded more than
once. That sum total haunted her like
a nightmare, and for the first time in
her life she dreaded her husband S
coming, because of the burden of care
which awaited him.
She put the hateful envelopes out of
sirht-at least he should eat his sup
Der in peace and comfort-and made
the children tidy for their father
homecoming. The fact that New
Years is legal holiday in no wise
shortened his davis work; the books
must be posted before taking account
of stock.
1t was long after dark, when at last
she heard the sound of his latch key
in the lock of the front door, and she
fastened to hurry up supper, as the
children rushed pell nell to welcome
their father. He came in smiling, as
usual, the center of small tumult OF
joyful noise. ''Maybe you think il
isn't cold out of DOORS" he said
brightly. Supper most ready? I'm
as hungry as a hunter" And then
with glance at the mantel, mo let
ters?-only one delivery to-day. l re
member
81 think they might have let you of
early this afternoon" she answered
evasively. :.
impossible, my DEAR" he replied
"why this is the very busiest part O.
nv year. Don't you know that, little
woman >,
Il ought to, by this time" she said
with sorry attempt at laugh; 'bu
couldn't help hoping all the same
come, supper is ready"
Both Mrs. Ruther and her husband
had long ago tacitly agreed to surren
der to the children the first hour or 81
after his return every evening. 1t wa
the ."children's hour" and unless
there CHANGED to be company at tea
all conversation in which ,1,a .neS c mut;
% r1v hadtime.