Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-03
HIS SONS WIFE.

When, after prolonged resistance on the
part OF the rate payers, the school board at
length invaded the suburb of Abuey. N. W.
and erected schools superior in every respect
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
OF one by one till the embittered and sorely
mortified man was compelled to resign his
post
fortunately he had saved enough to live
on, and so, having no need to 20 in search of
fresh employment, be was able to devote the
best part of his time to the studies in which
he had formerly delighted.
He was now a man of nearly 20, with
broad, though rounded shoulders, and a face
that would nowhere pass unnot;eed. Deep
burrows scored his forehead an bracketed
ms firmly closed mouth; sparse white hair
vs brushed unevenly about his head; be-
negth heavy hrows peered out the peda-
gogues eyes, alert, shrewd, suspicious. He
w&quick to find fault, impatient of ignor-
20 slow to trust, hard to please, butts
he ~ % 9NtN Niiust III every UdLuTef-
fec,sA capable of strong, self forgetting af-
baIion; and the wife, who for forty years
tn. oeen his faithful helpmate, often said
pSrsss'she had never had an unkind word from
him
HIS distress may be imagined when one
day this cherished wife, VINO had fretted her
self into low state of health over his recent
humiliation, fell grievously ILL Reuben sent
Tor the doctor, young man in the first flush
of his professional gravity and dignity, who,
after examining the patient very carefully,
4 seated himself to write a prescription in
ominous silence. Reuben watched him a,
once anxiously and distrustfully.
$" hat dost think of her, young manr' ht
~ssed at LIST
ss~~-She is in a very critical state, and ough
never to be left. Is there no one to share tn,
nursing with you7'
Reuben threw up his head sharply. "Ther,
isn't woman in the place but I'D be prout
to be called TO the bedside OF my Vary, but
won't trust any of EN- She an l, view
always done for one another, and / can
have Il meddlesome neighbor in now"
Have you no daughter!7
None but ny sons wife, and she's naugh
but tricked out fool Used to be a milliner
gal, and learnt to dress the outside of he
head instead o the inside. Got fine lon
pane like lady's, but don't know who il
Gus Cesar was, and calls the top of q puC
ding the bottom because it's turned out low
est-poOhl'
A sort of grim smile flickered across Re,
ben's face us he made this last singular charg
against his daughter, but it only lasted m
ment.
1.-THE old woman's bad, them he said, b
eyes fastened apprehensively on the doctor
face
II am afraid So" said Mr.. Walter
gravely Il wouldn't refuse help in Il
nursing if l were you. You might regret
when it was too late"
"Let me alone, young manl' retorted Re
ben, fiercely. Dye think I'm no better thf
a silly womanl I've got a good head on Il
shoulders, and my wife's more to me thu
she is TO any one else. Tell me what ought
be done. and I'll do it
"Very well, Mr. Sparrow" said the doctc
coldly, "bnt remember that You are huma
and if sleep overtakes you just when YOU a
most wanted, you will be responsible for t
consequences
He gave several minute directions, and Il
the house, vexed at Reuben's obstinacy. B
the next morning, when he called, the sol
wife was already installed by the patien
bedside, and Reuben, with an air of INNER
knowledge and superiority, was passing
to her the instructions received by him t
previous day
snow, girl, lift her bit. Lori can't
do it without sticking stack of hair into
eyes, Stand aside-now seeI'
He put his arms under the old womt
whose breathing was quick and difficult, a
cleverly raised her into an easier position.
The doctor came forward, little curic
to see the d!sparaged daughter-in-aw.
far as exterior went, she answered pretty
curately u Reuben's description of her, hi
ing figure obviously nodded by tight
ing, and face Swallowed by quantity
black hair brought down to her eyes f
clothes were unsuitably dressy, and on
table lay Il number of cheap silver bangl
apparently taken of at Reuben's directi
But she had pleasant, intelligent smile. a
bore her father-in-law's structures witt
modesty and good temper which augu
well for her readiness to submit to instr
ton, end to pick up the little devices
nursing upon which patients comfort
ponds.
Old Mary Sparrow was much worse,
Reuben, who turned his penetrating e
alternately upon her face and the doctc
felt cheered by neither.
you look worn, Mr.. Sparrow Go
lie down, urged Mr.. Walters.
"NIind your own work, young man.
not your patient How is she1p
Mr.. Walters did all he could for the
woman, and then, drawing Reuben out
the room, broke TO him as gently as he CT
the certainty that his wife could not
many hours Reuben would not believ,
and gave vent to expressions Of savage
tempt for the whole race of doctors
But next day poor old Mary died, and
stricken husband shut himself up to be a
with his grief. Even at the funeral be w
not exchange O word with the many xii
mourners who gathered round the grave
The following morning, however, he
for his son and his daughter-in-law,
made arrangements to live with them
their little boy.
"Gwendolne,' he said, more gently
usual, you did your best for her. Y,
worth more than thought. Wed bette
live together"
'Of course, father" said his son, hear
''we'n make you comfortable, and CIV
try to take mothers place"
keep sensible tongue in your
boy said Reuben, with slow scorn. az!
wife's a well meaning gal, may be, but 6
norant es Q baby. Mothers place, inG
My Mary's placer
He leant his heavy head On his hands
would not speak again.
As Luke Sparrow walked away will
wife he asked her seriously whether she
ready to bear with tho old mans diff
temper.
Nobody couldn'5 help putin up Wi
old man like that, remarked Gwen, v
grammar was hardly 50 genteel as her Il
"Never you fear, Luke; we'll git alon
right"
But herein Gwen was too sangutne
the time she and Reuben became the in
of the same little house her every actio
harshly criticised, if not severely bli
her management of the house unfavc
compared at every turn with that c
mother-in-law; her ignorance mad
source of daily complaint; her occa
Eighty manner the theme of never e
lectures
Nothing but admirable patience and
humor, and a real humility that accept
Judgment as better than her own, could
enabled the girl TO persevere as she d
her determination IN please the old maj
Difference to his vi as she simplifie(
style Of dress put her thick hair tidily @
face, and discarded all jewelry saw
wedding ring and little brooch given /
old Mary. Sarcastic and unkind as
Reubens tone in speaking to her, 81
doubtedly prohted by his fault finding