San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-21
WHAT HE BELIEVED IN.

That's a great note of Jem's, do
think, marrying church woman. They
say she teaches in Sunday school, too,
and has face as fat and solemn as a
half-baked pancaker'
"What-Jem Knight--has he married
reg neutrality-suspicious. and
| be-good woman, and him one of the
| jolliest, take-it-easy- you-darn-
ed-please cusses between here and Chi
cagop"
"That's the talk"
Great Jee-rusalem! a sweet time
he'll have. Jest fancy her making him
slick up to the music of slow church
bells Sunday mornings and marching
him of. stead of having good time at
the gardens, to a STRAIGHTFORWARD pew to
listen to Gospel mushr'
Thus spoke couple of Jem Knights
familiar chums, amid a knot Of the
same ilk, who were seated in the enjoy
ment of their customary beer and cigars
at Bottler's popular saloon. Tom Win
ter, third one of the party, seemed to
be particularly impressed by the CONVEX
sation. He was sharp-eyed young
chap OF % or thereabouts, who was
noted for the almost reckless manner in
which he went in for "having a good
time" Not that there was anything
really vicious about him. He was
straightforward, manly, and honest,
but full of desire to enjoy life in its
freest-going aspects, and especially lib
eral IN his views touching the obser-
vance of Sunday as a religious ordin-
ance. No one had ever heard of his
going to church, or that he cared
button either one way or the other
about church-going or any of its
straight-laced arrangements. Hence it
was with more than common surprise
that his chums heard him say:
"Well, / don't undertake to know,
gents. II Jem's wife is the right wo-
man otherwise, should say he'd made
good strike, getting one who goes to
church. | don't 60 much on churches
myself. fused to go with the old folks
when was little shaver about knee
high to a duck. But that was when |
had to- Its good many years now
since | was inside of one. As 1 said,
don't go much on it myself. It's too
slow for my taste. At the same time, /
believe in a woman going to church.
I've noticed the women that 90 to
church are generally the best sort. A
man can depend on 'em. They keep
things straight at home and bring the
children up right A man can feel safe,
when he's away having mis- own fun,
that they won't be running into any of
the blamed dance-hall and beer-garden
foolishness that winds up SO often in
disgrace to q mans home. o, YOU boys
may sneer. allow it may be all hum
bug, and too slow for men like us. But
it's dead sure; women who 90 to
church are the steadiest sort man can
tie to. don't care how much you
laugh and poke fun. I've seen too
many wrecked homes and ruined lives
grow out of picking wives from free
dances and Sunday picnics. There's
too much nonsense in it for me- If
ever marry shall do as Jem has done
pick wife that goes to church"
And he did. To the increased sur
prise and establishment of his chums,
the joyial. rollicking, devil-may-care
Tom, who had all his life gone in for
every species of free-and-easy enjoy
ment; made fun of parsons and what
he called long-faced, church-going milk
sops, more recklessly than any of them,
actually married member of the Rev.
Mr.. Gracely's church, woman who
was noted for the solidly serious aspect
of her face and strict observance of the
Sabbath.
A nice-looking woman, TO be sure,
and steady, with not bit of nonsense
about her. A rare good housekeeper,
too, who kept herself and all things
about her in the very best of ''apple-pie
order" That much was conceded;
only, as one of the boys put it:
Too laundering orderly! A nice
time poor Tom'll have, now. We shall
see him creeping about with a face
as long as fiddle"
This proved mistake. So far as
outer appearance was concerned, Tom
lost none of his old-time jollity of speech
and demeanor, and he seemed to retain
all his old pleasure-loving disposition.
Whenever he met the boys he was as
keen as ever to have a good time;
neither did he fall into going to church.
On the latter point ne remarked once in
strict confidence that it was all right,
and mighty good thing for woman
to 60 to church, but too slow and hum
drum for mans enjoyment
Still, it came to be noted after awhile
that he was not exactly the old Tom.
| As the years rolled by and three hand
some children began TO accompany
their mother to Sunday-school, and who
were SO neatly clothed and well-behaved
as to call forth the admiring comments
| of all who saw them, their father grew
a trifle more staid and dignified, as one
beginning to be somewhat impressed
with the more serious aspects of life; to
feel that man was made for some
| thing more serious than an endless
round of careless frolic. 1t was seen,
too, that he was more careful not to let
the good times he INDUCED in come
| within the scope of his home surround
ings. This much, at least, his wife's in
fiuence had accomplished.
II don't go to church." he said apollo
getically to friend one day, "but it
wouldn't be the right thing to let those
boys of mine get to know Of their father
free didos. It's all right enough 80 far
as l am concerned, because / know
when I've gone far enough. But it's
best to let the children come up sort
of straight, the way their mother
! wants"
A most admirable woman this same
mother had turned out to be, as Tom
very well knew, and no little be was
re- b Continued