The Opelousas courier., 1888-02-18
FRED's WIFE.
BY W. N. JENKINS.

she amt without her ~faitin's."
Il suppose not. If there's anything
on your mind you needn't be afeared to
tell me, for you know never repeat
anything"
Il know you hev alters been keerful
about such things. Wall, to speak
plain, she's dredful extravaganza"
my dear Mis- Lee, you don't say sor'
eyes, do, and it's a fact. Now,
Mis- Green, this is a painful subject,
and / wouldn't mention it to anybody
else. But Minna wants ribbons and
such things, and then, she don't under
stand cookin'. | pave seen enough to
know what I'm talkin' about. / told
Fred before he married her that he
might do better, but he wouldn't hear
to me. She cm paint and sing, but
she aia't fit for a farmers wife. Fred
is smart, if he is my son, but he's got a
poor wife,
"Wall, it's a pity, but ! really think I
must be goin' now. Do come over soon,
dear Mis- Ice"
Meanwhile a far different scene was
being enacted in a low, dingy farmhouse
which was the home of Fred and Minna.
Fred was reclining on a hard lounge in
the long, narrow dining-room, suffering
with the headache. 1t was a pretty
sight to see the tall, graceful girl bend
ing over her stalvSart young husband,
bathing his throbbing temples. He had
been very proud of his lovely bride, and
half the young men in town had suffered
when he won the prize.
At length Fred declared his head was
easier and told Minna she could see
about supper, but stiff she fingered by
his side. Finally she said in trembling
tones:
Erred, there is something I want to
ask YOU
Every well, Minna, go. ahead; but 1
hope it is nothing very dreadful. You,
look pretty seEi9us. "p9
. "Pioasc don't laugh, Fred; 1T isa,ar
!. = : Iee
You don't know how lonely liam
without my papers and magazines"
HDon't you have enough to do toq oc-
cupy your time, Minna?'
-, Yes, but lido love to read, and"
You can borrow the Weekly dVon-
der of father any time"
but | want q few magazines. Cant
I have them, Fredg"
"Minna, /. am surprised. No won
der that mother thinks you are extrava-
gantd'
docs she think so, Fred2"
You know quite well that she does,
but / did not think you could be so
girlish a. married woman, twenty-one
years old, wants to pass her time read
ing love stories and fashion articles. /
hope you will Danish such ridiculous
ideas.
Poor Minna went about her work
with a heavy heart. Her peerless Fred,
the man she had believed almost per-
feet, had actually spoken harshly to her.
She thought Of the past and Of the
present, and was obliged to admit that
there was a great difference. Her girl
hoods home was spacious and elegant,
with flowers, books and magazines, and
an organ. Fred was d thriving young
farmer, but during the hflf year Of their
married life he had only provided the
bare necessaries. Minna made some sad
failures, as far as cooking was con
cerned.
one day Fred came in to find his pref
ty wife in tears.
"Whati il the matter, lover he asked
tendcrly.
ss0h, Fred, 1 don't know what to do.
/ can make anygood bread
sYon will learn, Minna.'
~ hope I shall she responded, bit
terly. But as the day passed she did
not seem to improve. Tho bread was
heavy, the pastry a complete failure, and
even the potatoes were not ~paletable.
&@ed.A A#MS
The ncighbors talked, the hired men
grurnbled, and Fred la~agghingly declared
that they would soon be confirmed dys-
peptics but it was NO laughing matter
to Minna. She often shed bitter tears
over her failures.
Minna still longed for her papers and
magazines, although she did not ask
fer them again, and Fred decided that
slid was quite sensible. after all.
But n pleasant a~fternoonshe walked
ID the p~ostofiics and carried ! mystic
rious packase; and afserthat her spirits
wcre very changcable. At times she
MAS very IaIkative and light-hearteds
mon agafn she was Very respondent;