Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-08
MRS. GAYS HINT.

| MY dear Mrs. Merrill, what's the matter?
Is the baby sick?' asked pleasant voice as
neighborIy face appeared at the door of a
| dull, disorderly room where tired woman
sat crying in the twilight.
The children are all well and asleep,
thank Heaven, but Pm so anxious and dis
couraged that couldn't help having good
cry" answered Mrs Merrill, wiping her eyes
as if already comforted by the arrival of q
| friend.
Tell me all about it." said Mrs Gay, the
| nSw conner, as she poked up the fire till a
| little blaze frightened the whole room.
81 wouldn't tell any one but you, and I'm
afraid In, partly to blame in some way, vet
| | don't see how" began Mrs. Merrill, lean
| ing back with sigh Of relief at the prospect
| of a chance to tell her troubles to somebody
md re i've sympathy il not advice
ii the babies are all we'll you cannot have
! NV vCrv heavy grief, dear. But J. know that
the small trials are often the hardest to bear
so confide in me, and we will see If we can't
make the burden lighter" said Mrs. Gay,
patting the hand that he'd the handkerchief
with such CHEEKY face that her neighbor
opened her heart freely.
Pm worrying about John, and you'll see
that have cause to do it when tell you
that for the last month he hasn't come home
to his supper half the time, but spends the
evenings at the tavern. He comes in late,
and so cross and beery l can't be glad to see
him. Ii it goes on much longer he will take
something stronger than lager, and / shall
be drunkard'S wife,
Here the poor little woman fell into sob
bing again as if her heart was broken. But
the friendly voice said hopefully
1T will be your own fault if you are, my
dear, for John Merrill is too good man to
do anything OF that kind unless driven to
it"
What will drive him? Not poverty or
trouble, for We are doing well and haven't
debt in the world" said Mrs. Merrill with
an air of honest pride.
The want of a comfortable home will do
1t for him as for many another man."
What do you mean? Pm sure this is a
nice house, and do my best to keep it So"
cried the well-to-do mechanics wife, sur
prised and little offended.
Forgive me, my dear. but l want to help
you, and can only do so by giving you pain.
Look around this room, and tell me frankly
II 1t Is the sort of home tired man likes to
come tO?'
A long pause followed this bold speech.
as Mrs. Merrill looked at the scene before
her with eyes that seemed to see the clearer
for the tears so lately shed. The room was
comfortably furnished, but in the state of
disorder which three lively children would
produce during the day. Toys lay about the
floor, chairs stood here and there, work was
heaped upon the sofa, and supper was
spread on a table in the corner Not a
tempting meal, an untide int of cold meat, |
heavy looking bread, lump Of butter, and
cold tea. The cloth rumpled, the fire unlit, !
the lamp untrimmed, and the wife sat red |
eyed and Respondent in her wrapper, with |
her hair half-down, waiting to receive her |
husband with tears and reproaches.
For the first time she seemed to see her |
self in new light, and after that long look |
she gave great sigh, as she said humbly,-
Il see what you mean. 1t is hard Oh John, |
but get so tired, and he doesn't seum to |
care. Eve lost my pride in things and got |
shiftlesS. How can do better?"
'Tll show you. Practice is better than |
preaching. Go up and make yourself nice,
and tell me when you come back il things
are not improved" answered Mrs Gay, with
a nod and smile that seemed to lift the other
woman out Of the Slough Of Despondency
like magic.
I'm ashamed to let you, but will for
Johns sake. II he will only comer' and
Mrs. Merrill ran away to hide the trouble in