The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-23
APOCKET-PIECE.


her hands-a thing she very seldom
able 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 ono could
have suspected Of being dun. held
the doctors memorandum Of the sum
due ''fOr professional services during
past six months"
There were liils from the grocer,
from the butcher and tho baker, the
traditional! candlcstick-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 flannels 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 q sick nurse, which they
could SO ill afforL, 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, II with heavy
heart.
There was one thing she could do,
IL 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 APP
proval.
John, who, as every one will UNDER
stand, was her husband, Mr.. Ruther-
was u bookkeeper in downtown store,
with salary which scarcely sufiiced.
with strict economy, to buy bread and
butter, clothes and shelter, for his
little family.
Still, they managed to keep q 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, aid 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 ami 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 through the long day, and there
was small wonder II 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 husbands
coming. because of the burden of care
which awaited him.
She put the hateful envelopes out of
sight-at least he should eat his sup
per in peace and cOmfOrt-and made
the children tidy for their fathers
homecoming. The fact that New
Years is legal holiday in no wise
shortened his days 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
hastencd to hurry up supper, as tho
children rushed pcll nell to welcome
their father. He came in smiling, as
usual. the center of a small tumult of
joyful noise. ''Maybe you think it
isn't cold out of DOORS" he said
brightly. Supper most readye I'm
as hungry as a hunter" And then,
with glance ut the mantel, mo let.
ters?-only one delivery to-day. re-
member"
81 think they might have let you of
early this afternoon" she answered
svasively.
impossible, my DEAR" he replied.