, 1885-03-08
HIS SONS WIFE.

spoct 70 those AlrcoQJ extstiuk IN tuc pafAAaf
there was no ons whom the change affected
more than IL did old Rsubsn Sparrow. the
master OF the Fras Collage for Boys His
pupils had never iiksi him much, and now
they dropped OF ono BY ons tll the imhit-
tered and sorely- mortified mai was com
PEELED TO resign his post
Fortunately he had saved enough to live
on; and 80, having no need to 10 In search
OF fresh employment, he was able to devots
the best part OF his time TO the studies in
which he had formerly delighted
He was now a man OF near 10, with broad,
though roundsd shoulders, and a face that
would nowhers pass uimoticed- Deep fur
rows scored his forehead and bracketsi his
firmly Closed mouth; spare white hair was
brushed unsvenly about his head; beneath
heavy brows psered out the peiagogus's
eyes, alert, shrewd. suspicious he was quick
to find fault, impatient Of ignorance, slow to
trust, hard to please, butts there
mot a saving clause In every natursl-hs was
capable Of strong, self forgetting Affection
and the wife, who for forty years had been
his faithful helpmats, often said that she
had never an unkind word from him.
His distress may b, imagined when one
day this cherished wife, who had frsttsd
herself into a low state Of health over his
recent humiliation, fell ~grisvoualy Ill
Reuben sent for the doctor, q young man in
the first flush Of his professional gravity.
and dignity, who. after examining the
patient very carefully, seated himself to
write a prescription in ominous silence.
Reuben watched him at once a~nxlously and
distrustfully.
what dost think OF her. young mAnf' be
asked, at last.
ashs is in a very critical state. and ought
never TO be left. Il there no one TO share
the nursing with your
Reuben threw up his head sharply.
"Thers isn't a woman in the place but 'ud be
proud 10 DO called to the bedside OF
en-. She and l. we've always
done for ono another. and l can't have a
meddlesome n~eighbor In now"
Have you no daughterf"
"None but my sons wife, and she's naught
hut a tricked- out fool. Used TO be a millin-
er's gal. and learnt TO dress the outside Of
her head instead o the inside. Got a fine
long name like a lady's, but don't know who
Juhus Cesar was, and calls the top Of n pud-
ding the bottom because its turned out low
est-poohI'
A sort of grim smile fickered across
Rsuben's face as be made this last singular
charge against his daughter, but it only
lasted u moment
aa8 1Ao WoAAAA b0ar LIZ nLA1f -
eyes fastened apprehsnzively on the doctors
face.
II am afraid So" said Mr.. Walters
-gravsly. II wouldn't refuse help In the nurs-
ing II i were you. You might regret Il when
1t was too late"
"Let me alone, young manI' retortsd Reu-
ben hercely. "D'ye think Pm no better than
. silly womani I've got a good head on my
shoulders, and my wife's more to me than
abe Is to any one else. Tell me what ought
70 be done. and I'll do it,"
"Very well, Mr.. Sparrow" said the doctor
coldly; but remember that you are human,
and II sleep o~vertaksB you Just when you are
most wanted, you will be responsible for the
consequences"
He gave several minute directions, and
left tho house, vsxsd at Reubsnis obstinacy.
But the mex morning. when he called, the
sons wife was already Installed by the pa
TENTS bedside, and Reuben, with the air Of
immense knowledge and superiority, was
passing on to her Instructions received by
him tho previous day.
"Now. girl, lift her a bit. Lori can't ys do
1t without sticking a stack OF hair into hsr
syesi Stand aside-now seer
He put his arms under the old woman,
whose breathing was quick and difficult, and
cleverly raised her into an easier position.
The doctor came forward, a little curious
TO see the dispsraged daughter-in-law. As
far as exterior went, she answered pretty
accurately to Rsuben's description OF her,
having 4 figure obviously nodded by tight
lRcing, and a face shadowsd by a quantity
OF black hair. Thought Town to her eyes.
Her clothes were unsuitably dressy, and on
the table lay a number OF cheap silver
bangles, apparently taken of at Reubsn's
direction. But she had a pleasant, intelligent
smile, and bore her father in-law's structures
with q modesty and good temper which
augured well for her readiness to submit to
instruction and to pick up tho little de vices
Of nursing Upon which a patients comfort
depends.
Old Mary Sparrow was much worse, and
Reuben, who turned his penetrating eyes
Alternately upon her face and the DOCTORS,
felt cheered by neither.
you look worn, Mfr. Sparrow. Go and
lie down" urged Mr.. Waltsrs.
Mind your own work, young man I'm
not your patient How Is shsf'
Mr.. Walters did all he could for the sick
woman, and then, drawing Reuben out of
the room, broke TO him as he could the GER
tainty that his wife could not live many
hours. Reuben would not believe II, and
CAV vent to expressions Of savage contempt
for the whole race OF doctors.
But next day poor old Mary died, and the
stricken husband shut himself up to be alone
with his grief. Even at the funeral he
would not exchange a word with the many
kindly mourners who gathered round the
grave.
TIL following morning, however, he sent
for his son AMI daughter in-law, and made
arrangements to live With them and their
little boy.
n-m--I-ls-. - A.
usual, "you did your best for her. You're
worth more than l thought We'd better
all live together"
"Of course, father" said his son heartily;
well make you comfortable, and Gwen'll
try to take Mother place."
Keep a sensible tongue in YOU head boy"
said Reuben, with a slow scorn. "Your wires
a well-msaning gal, maybs, but as ignorant
as a baby. Mothers place, indeedi Ny
Mary's placer
He leant his heavy head on his hands, and
would not speak again
As Luke Sparrow walked away with his
wife, he asked her seriously whether she was
ready to bear with the old mans difficult
temper.
Nobody couldn't help putin up with an
old man like that" replied Gwen, whose
grammar was hardly 30 senteel as her name.
"Never you fear, Luke; we'll git along all
right"
But herein Gwen was TOP ansut . From
tho time she and Reuben became the In
mates OF same little house. her every action
was harshly criticised, IL not severely
blamed; her management OF the house un-
fayorably compared at every turn with
that OF her mother-inlaw; her Ignorance
made the source Of daily compliant; her oc-
casionally fighty manner the theme Of
never-ending lectures
Nothing but neutrality-suspicious. and good
humor and a real humility hat accepted his
Judgment as bstter bar her own. could nave