Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-22
HIS SONS WIFE.

part Of the rate payers, the school board at
length invaded the the suburb Of Abney, n.
W., and erected schools superior in every re-
spect to those already existing in the parish,
there was no one whom the change affected
more than it did old Reuben Sparrow, the
master of the Free College for Boys. His
pupils had never liked him much, and now
they dropped off one by one till the imbit-
tered and sorely mortified man WAS COM
PEELED 10 resign his post.
Fortunately he had saved enough to live
on; and so, having no need to go in search
Of fresh employment he was able to devote
the best part of hi, time to the studies in
which he had formerly delighted
He was now a man Of near 40. with broad,
though rounded shoulders and d face that
would nowhere pass unnotIced. Deep fur
rows scored his forehead and hracketei his
firmly closed mouth; spare white hair was
brushed unevenly about his bead; beneath
heavy hrowS peered out the pelagogues
eyes alert, shrewd. suspicious. He was quick
20 find fault, impatient Of ignorance, slow 10
trust, hard to please, butts there
not saving clause in every naUure3-he was
capable of strong, selffOrsettiug affection;
and the wife, who for forty years had beeG
his faithful helpmate, often said that she
had never an uukinI word from him.
his ulslTts> p- lull1lIleu NlitIl one
day this cherished wife who had frettei
herself into low state of health over his
recent humiliation, fell grievously i'll.
Reuben sent for the doctor, a young man in
the first flush of his professional gravity,
and dignity, who, after examining the
patient very carefully, seated himself to
write prescription in omincus silence.
Reuben watched him at once anNiouSly and
distIuStfuly.
What doSt think of her, young man!' he
askei, at last.
-She is in a very critical state, and ought
never TO be left l. there no one to share
the nursing with your
Reuben threw up his head sharply.
There isn't woman in the place but 'ud be
proud to be called TO the bedside of
my Mary, but l won't trust any of
'em. She and l. we've always
done for one another, and l can't have a
meddlesome neighbor in now.'
Have you no daugnterH
"None but my sons wife, and she's naught
but a tricked-uut fool Used to be a millin-
er'S gal, and learnt to dress the outside of
her heaG instead o. the inside. Got fine
long name like a lady's, but don't know who
Julius Caesar was, and calls the top of pud-
ding the bottom because its turned out low
est-poohn
A sort of grim smile fickered across
Reuben's face as he made this last singular
charge against his daughter, but it only
lasted moment
The old woman's bad, them" be said, his
eyes fastened apprehensively on the doctors
face.
Il am afraid So" said Mr.. Walters
gravely. Il wouldn't refuse help in the nurs-
ing if We're YOU. You might regret it when
it was too late
Let me alone, young manF retorted Reu-
ben fieTcely. "D'ye think Tn no better than
silly womanl I've got a good head on my
shoulders, and my wife'S IN re to me than
she Is to any one else. Tell me what ought
TO be done, and I'll do it"
very well, Mr.. Sparrow" sad the doctor
coldly; "but remember that You are human,
and if sleep overtakes you just when you are
most wanted, you will be responsible for the
Consequences
He gave several minute directions, and
left the house, vexed at Reuben's obStinacy.
But the next morning. when he called, the
sons wife was already installed by the pa
tient's bedside. and Reuben, with the air of
immense knowledge and superiority, was
passing on to her instructions received by
him the previous day.
NOW. ueT u ull- JJf. Cau We 10
it without sticking a stack of hair into her
eyesi Stand asde-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 disparaged daugnter-in-aw As
far as exterior went, she answered pretty
accurately to Reuben's description of her,
having figure obviously nodded by tight
lacing, and a face shadowed by quantity
of black hair, brought down to her eyes
Her clothes We're unSuitably dreSsy, and on
the table lay a number of cheap silver
bangl S, apparently taken off at Reubens
direction. But she had pleasant, intelligent
smile, and bore her father in-aw> structures
with a mo1esty and good temper which
apgured well for her readiness to submit TO
instruction and to pick up tho little d-vices
of nursing upon which a patients comfort
depends
Old Mary Sparrow was much worse, and
Reuben, who turned his penetrating eyes
alternat ly upon her face apd the DOCTORS
felt cheered by neither.
You look worn, Mr.. Sparrow. Go and
lie down." urged MIR. Walters.
mind your own work, young man. Pm
not your patient. How is she.'
Mr.. Walters did all he could for the sick
woman, and then, drawing Reuben cut OF
the room, broke to him he could the GER
tainty that his wife could not live many
hours. Reuben would not believe it, and
gave vent to expressions of savage contempt
for the whole race Of doctors.
But next day poor old Mary died, and the
stricken husband shut him elf up TO be alone
with his grief. Even at the funeral he
would not aychanra q word with the many
kindly mourners who gathered round the
grave.
The folio ring morning. however, he sent
for his son In daughter-in-law, and made
arrangements to live with them and their
little boy.
"Gwenioline," he said more gently than
usual, '.you did your best for her. You're
worth more than / thought We'd better
all live together"
"Of course, father" said his son heartily;
.well make you comfortable, and Gwen'l
try to take mothers lace"
"keep sensible tongue in your ad boy
said Reuben, with slow soorn. "Your wiIe's
a well meaning gal, maybe, but as ignorant
as a baby. Mothers place, indeedl Ny
Mary's place"
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 so genteel as her name.
"Never you fear Luke; we'll git along all
right"
But herein Gwen was too sanguine From
the time she and Reuben became the in
mates of same little house, her every action
was harshly criticised, if not severely
blamed; her management of the house un-
favorably compared at every turn with
that of her mother-in-law; her ignorance
made the source OF daily complaint; her oc-
casionally fiighty manner the theme of
never-ending lectures.
Nothing but admirable patience and good
humor and real humility that accepted his