Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-04-14

OF toll and sorrow stravine.
One hope alone brought fondly back,
Its toll and grief repaying.
Like him, alas, see that ray
Ofhope before me perish,
And one dark minute sweep away
what years were given to cherish.
HOW JOHN KEPT HOUSE.
Have you forgotten the time that
you left John to keep house while you
went home on q visit?" You laugh at
the idea of forgetting that little expe-
rience. Although the ''baby'' is as tall
as his father now, the memories of that
time are as fresh in your mind as if
they had only occurred yesterday.
Baby Merle was just four months old,
and you had dismissed the nurse and
was doing the work of two, because
you we're a prudent little wife, and
knew that it took every cent of Johns
alary to make both ends meet; 80 no
wonder that things went wrong and
you felt that a visit to the dear old
home would be better than any medi-
cine.
-Four years of married life had not
changed the childish feeling that no
one like mother could soothe, advise,
understand and sympathize with you,
and there was a world of inconsistencies
in your voice when you said. "Baby
is four months old to-day, and it is
over six months since I was out to
mothers, and dear, kind-hearted John
stroked back your brown hair and
asked, "Does the little mother want to
60 so much?' and then you just laid
your head on his shoulder and cried
because that was just what you want
ed, but could not say so; John only
patted your cheek and said in that
CHEEKY way of his:
"Well, what is to hinder you and the
babies from starting tomorrow? 1 can
not leave the shop for even one day, but
I can get away long enough to put you
on the train and you can write to have
some one meet you.' His proposal
was very tempting, but a vision of
John coming home to q cold dinner
and tireless hearth, rises before your
minds eye and you shake your head.
You would 90 if it were not for leaving
him at home alone, but you could not
see how he would get along without
you. What hearty laugh greeted
your protest. Bless her dear little heart
if that is all that troubles her. Dis
miss it from your mind forever for l
am confident that an opportunity only
is warting to develop first class cook,
and as for the rest-a contemptuous
wave of the hand sufficed to express his
opinion of the rest of housekeeping.
Just leave the house to me, my dear,
you will not have the least necessity in
the world to worry on that score.
Stay two weeks if You want to, can
get along.
So it was settled. You spent two
days cooking and baking and putting
the house in apple-pie order, so that
John would have fair start
in his role of housekeeper
Then, after telling him for the fortieth
time to be sure and give the birds fresh
seed and water every morning, to keep
the CRATE closed so that no Goals could
fall out, to be sure and refill the lamps
before they burned dry (for your little
village had not then ''struck" natural
gas,) with a dozen more important
things that must not be forgotten.
yourself, three-year-old Jack and baby
are settled in seat in the homeWard
bound train.
With a hasty kiss all around and a
last injunction not to worry about him,
but have good time, the dear fellow
left you and your heart flew into your
mouth as you saw how rapidly the
train was moving on, but you caught a
glimpse of him as he swung lightly to
the platform and stood waving his
hand as you sped from view.
The week flew by, but each day
brought postal from John. He was
getting along famously, and liked
housekeeping first rate; then the sixth,
cheerful as the others, but he would
be glad when somebody got home, for
it seemed as if a house needed a woman
as much as man did to keep them
running straight.
You were feeling completely made
made over with the rest and change,
and wrote that you would be home
next day. 1t seemed very pleasant to
know that John wanted you, although
he would not say as much. Still you
knew it, and with happy heart you
caught a glimpse of certain handsome
face looking eagerly for you among
the crowd at the depot the next day.
Then followed eager greetings and
questions, as John marched off with
baby and big valise. he declared that
you had grown prettier than ever. You
only laughed, but no ticed that a but
ton had been sewed on Johns coat
with green silk, and that he looked as
though he needed brushing up little,
but of course you said nothing of the
kind. Just as you reached the porch
steps John observed, somewhat rueful-
ly:
Il am afraid, Fannie, you will find
things somewhat mixed, for it is rather
hard for fellow to remember where
everything belongs" But you we're
prepared to find things pretty well
''mixed,' and encouragingly observed
that ''you could soon put things to
rights" John soon had the fire glow
ing brightly in the CRATE, and as you
removed the children's wraps you took
a survey of the situation.
A boot-jack in the music rack, q
coffee pot beams from the mantle,
cigar stubs in your work basket and
upon the piano, which you had care
fully covered with an old spread, but
which had been as carefully turned
back, stood several glasses and =
pitcher that had held lemonade. You
did not scold bit, for full well you
knew you would find traces of nothing
stronger than lemonade. upon the pol
ished rosewood surface, although q