The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21
JOHN GOLDING'S MIRROR.
BY HORATIO ALGER, JR,


have a genius for finding fault. 70 this
class belonged John Golding. Not that
he was 10 general an ill-tempered man, but
there we're some day when everything
appeared to go wrong with him. Bush
ness troubles whenever they molested
him, were sure to be visited on his wife.
She, poor woman, was Woodworking
and accomplishing. Her husbands fret
fulness grieved her, and often brought on
q fit of weeping, but never induced retail
alton. So that the habit grew upon
John Golding, until he had become
what be would have been very much sur
prised to be charged with, source of un-
happiness to his wife, and his presence
was no longer looked forward to at home
with Joy, but with something OF an oppo-
site feeling. Had he known this he
would doubtless have felt much aggriev-
ed, but his eyes were not open to his own
prevailing fault.
Let me give an illustration of his mis-
chievous propensity.
One day he came home fretted and i'm
patient. He had just received tidings OF
a recent loss which though not large or
important, was yet vexatious as all losses
are. This was perhaps more SO than
usual. because he could easily trace it to
his own carelessness.
When he entered his yard he found
that the gate had been left open. Under
the influence of different feelings he
would have quietly closed it and not suf-
fered it to remain in his thoughts. But
when one is already vexed it requires lit
tie to add to the vexation.
Accordingly he slammed it to with We
hemence, and entered the house. deter
mined to call somebody to account for the
dereliction The first person he met was
his wife and to her he at once broke out:
"How does it happen that the front
gate is left open, 1 should like to know?
It looks perfectly shiftless."
at don't know, 1 am sure, john" an.
swered his wife. 81 dare say it may have
been some boy in the street"
"More likely it is some one in the
house." said her husband, determined to
visit the blame upon his wife.
ST don't think any one has been out OF
the house this forenoon-that is out OF
the front gate, since you went in the
morning"
Mr.. Golding was now compelled to at
tribute the act to the boys in the street
or else charge himself with it, which OF
course he had no mind to do. His ingen.
ious mind devised another tack upon
which he might assail his wife.
"Well," said he, SIT it was the boys in
the street, they wouldn't be allowed to
NEEDLE with the front gate il I was al
home-I hope should have energy
enough to see to that much"
"Perhaps, john" said his wife mildly
''if you had dinner to get and the house
to take care of you wouldn't find time to
be looking out of the window"
"My business is as complicated as yours
I should imagine" said Mr.. Golding with
some contempt, "but find no trouble
in attending to all the details"
Just at that moment there came to his
remembrance the fact that il he had been
as attentive as he boosted, he would moi
have experienced the loss which had
that morning befallen him. Accordingly
he thought it best to change the subject
"Why isn't dinner ready" he inquired
"Seems TO me it is always behind hand.
Its all ready TO bring up, john" said
his wife.
"Well, let me have it as soon as posi-
BILE. My time is of too great value to be
wasted in waiting for dinner"
Mrs. Golding went out and busted her
self in assisting the servant to lay the
dinner on the table.
"What, roast beef again to day2" de.
manded John Golding, surveying the
principal dish with an ominous frown
81 should think you supposed there was
no other kind of meat but beef. Beef
two days in succession is little toe
much for me"
"But you know, John, we had roast
mutton yesterday" said Mrs. Golding
mildly.
"Well, then, it was the day before that
we had beef. 1t makes little difference
1t is altogether too soon to have it again
1 wish You would be little more consid-
crate, Mary"
This was said with an injured air, as il
Mrs. Golding had really been acting in a
very reprehensible manner, and stood in
need Of rebuke. But without word OF
reprosch, although she was grieved at the
fault finding spirit of her husband, she
said by way of explanation:
"The fact is, John, the butcher had no
other kind of meat, except sausages, and
those you never eat. SO was forced to
do the best could"
This remark gave Mr.. Golding an op-
portunity of indulging in an inVective
against the butcher for conducting his
business with so culpable lack of at.
tention TO variety.