Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-19
DISCONTINUED.

My friend is very plain, homespun
sort of man, who takes matter-of-fact
views of things, and entertains COM
nonsense opinions. Yet he is a man
of taste-proud, sensitive and particu-
lar-though not by any means grum-
bier or fault-fnder.
He is a professional man, dresses
well, attends to his business, makes a
good living, and something besides,
and has everything around him COM
Portable and in order.
He passed the meridian of life some
wears since. His locks are grey, his
head is bald, but his step is yet firm,
and a countenance rather stern in re-
pose is usually lighted upwith a smile,
while the hearty laugh that anon
breaks out reveals n remarkably fine
set of teeth-but I would not like to
say whether they are natural or artifi-
cial.
The members of his family have all
reached maturity, and it would seem
that he might feel very contented and
happy in his own snug little home, free
from want, and as free from care as
an earthly home well can be.
Yet my friend is not quite happy; he
has a skeleton in his hOuse-rather airy
and ghostlike, must confess, yet new
ertheless a skeleton-a yeritable cause
of sadness, if not of sorrow.
''My wife," says he, lis one of the
strangest women | ever saw. She can
never see any beauty or merit in any
thing that she possesses, or that sur
rounds her in her own home"
Il 8 -
of her natural modesty and lack of
self-esteem," suggested.
mo, that is not it" he replied. st
is her disposition to depreciate every
thing she has, while she over-estimates
and goes into ecstacies over everything
she sees her neighbors have"
''That Hay be,n | added, lowing to
the fact that she is familiar with the
defects OF the articles she uses and
sees every day, while she is not cogni-
zant of the deficiencies of those pos
sessed BY her neighbors. But it is I'M
fortunate, if it makes her dissatisfied
and complaining.
"Oh, she never complains nor finds
fault; nor does she ever indulge in eX-
pressions of satisfaction, or act as if
she felt contented and happy. have
tried time and again to carry home
something that would surprise and
please her and awaken some eXcla-
nation of admiration and enthusiasm.
But it is of no use. All my efforts fall
dead.
THAT is rather discouraging," l an
swered.
s'Yes,n continued he ':To illustrate,
| will give an incident or two. She had
a good silk bOnnet-good enough for
most women to wear; but / thought [
would surprise and please her little.
So | bought her a fine black silk velvet
hat-as nice as | could find-richly but
not gaudily trimmed. / would not
have it sent home-I carried the band
box myself. ! wanted to enjoy pleas
ant surprise. walked triumphantly
into the sitting-room with it, and put
it on the table before her.
''She opened it and examined the
bonnet, picked at the feathers, inspect
ed the lace, and every article of trim
ming, not excepting the material. [
felt sure all must be right, and Iwaited
for n word. But no word came. and
she quietly laid the hat in the box and
put on the cover. l began to feel a
little fidgety.
We'll, said l, 'how do you like it?'
"'Oh,' she replied, it is very nice;
but you ought to see Mrs. Jones's vel
vet hat-royal purple, and such a
beauty!
1T was al up with me. My heart
tiguratively sank into my boots, and /
actually felt weak in the knees as |
left the room."
He paused for a moment, and a
shade of deep melancholy settled over
his countenance. | said nothing and
there was pa"Se of half minute,
Then, seeming to recollect himself, he
looked up, the muscles of his face re-
laxed and he INDUCED in kiud OF
forced laugh.
did you ever notice Mrs. Jones
hat?" enquired /.
Yes; and upon my word it was not
half so good looking nor expensive a
hat as l carried home. But | never
preached the subject again to my wife.
shortly after, , he continued. ''when
/ had IN measure recovered from the
shock, / made up my mind to purchase
my wife a black silk velvet cloak.
did not count cost. | searched till
found one THAI suited me, and which
thought would suit her. l ordered il
sent home, and was sure to be there
when it was delivered. | was certain
this time l should make a hit, as l had
heard her express desire for such a
cloak. But / was again doomed to
disappointment. Mrs. Smith had one
"a green or blue, or some other IN
appropriate color-that was a great
way ahead. 1t was of no use; l have
subsidized and given up all hope OF
pleasing her"
Perhaps you would succeed better i
you allowed her to select these things,
| suggested.
No, believe / have tried to have
her do that, but she insists on my pick
ing and choosing for her, though
have never yet succeeded in making
her say she was pleased with my pur
chase.
'And it is lust So" continued he