The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-13
A POCKET-PIECE.

Mrs. Ruther sat down, and foldin
her hands-a thing she very seldol
did--looked ruefully at the breakfa,
table with its array of unwashe
dishes, at the pile of mending in he
work basket near the window, anc
last and longest, at the heap of letter
In her lap.
They were bills, every one of them
even the aristocratic-lookin squar
white envelope, which no one coult
have suspected of being dun, hel,
the DOCTORS memorandum of the sun
due ''for professional services during
past six months.
There were bills from the grocer
from the butcher and the baker, thu
traditional. candlestick-maker being
formidably represented by the gai
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 hannels 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, to save the
expense of sick nurse, which they
could so i'll 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
,he result that she, as well as Johnnie,
1ad to be nursed, and the doctor had
TWO patients instead of one. We all
If us make such mistakes, now and
hen.
Well, there was no use in crying
over split milk; at all events. she had |
10 time to sit down for any such pur-
pose, so she went about her duties |
With willing hands, if with heavy
ieart.
There was one thing she could do,
only John could be made to con-
ent. The new cloak, which made
UGH a heavy item in Draper & De
.ane's bill, and which John had given
er for Christmas, could be returned.
he had not worn it, and its pur-
base had been conditional on her ap-
roval.
John, who, as every one will under
sand, was her husband, Mr.. Ruther-
as boolIkeeper in downtown store,
18th salary which scarcely sufficed,
18th strict economy, to buy bread and
htter, clothes and shelter, for his
title family.
aStill, they managed to keep a mod !
tate bank account, and this was the
rst time they had really run behind
and. But while she was sick there
I'D been no one to watch and guard I
yainst all possible leaks, ard the gro 4
Try bill was double what it ought to
I'VE been. AS for generous, warm. f
'arted John, he had never stopped to +
,unt dollars, much less pennies, with 7
s wife and boy lying i'll, the house r
I'd been kept like an oven, and the q
Mount of coal and gas used had been o
ightful. 4
She thought of all this again and
ain through the long day, and there T
as small wonder if her children N
und her absent-minded more than I,
ce. That sum total haunted her like Il,
nightmare, and for the first time in II
r life she dreaded her husbands
ming, because of the burden of care q,
lich awaited him.
She put the hateful envelopes out of s..
iht-at least he should eat his sup
+ in peace and comfort--and made al
; children tidy for their fathers n,
The fact that New RI
ar's is a legal holiday in no wise he
)rtened his days work; the books sh
lst be posted before taking account
stock. vi
t was long after dark, when at last
} heard the sound of his latch key
the lock of the front door, and she co
stoned to hurry up supper, as the sill
ldren rushed pell NELL to welcome w
ir father. He came in smiling, as al,
lal, the center of small tumult of 81
full noise. maybe you think it Sc
t cold out of DOORS he said RI,
ghtly. Supper most ready? I'm me
hungry as hunter" And then, fol
h glance at the mantel, mo let II.
ss-oniy one delivery to-day. re- spt
mber." n5;
1 think they might have let you off Sec
ly this afternoon" she answered 70
sively. kin
Impossible, my DEAR" he replied, Z.
ny this is the very busiest part of car
year: Don't you know that, little buy
nano" stii
ought to, by this time" she said. wit
| a sorry attempt at laugh; "but be
dn't help hoping all the same; pie,
e, supper is ready" had
9TH Mrs. Ruther and her husband wa,
long ago tacitly agreed to surren- thii
to the children the first hour or so it I,
his return every evening. 1t was MOI
"children's hour" and unless bed
CHANGED to be company at tea. AISLE
conversation in which they could to D
take part was postponed until it tc
their early bedtime. shol