Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-04
FOR WANT OF THOUGHT.

"I'm sure don't know what to dol"
Mrs. Eyebright sat leaning over the
cradle, where the smallest baby of all
the baby flock turned and tossed in
the restless slumber peculiar to the
period of teething.
There was a basket of unmended
clothes-that terror to all young
mOthers-on the table. An open cook
ery-book, out of whose leaves poor
Joanna Eyebright had vainly been
striving to find some new receipt that
contained not too extravaganza ingredi-
ents, lay open beyond; a bonnet,
which she had pulled to pieces to re-
trim it after later style, met her eyes
on the adjoining window-sill In the
study, close by, Mr.. Eyebright was
writing.
Pm not beggar," said Mrs. Eye
bright, her vision momentarily, OBJ
scured by tears. I'm sure | earn my
living, and that by the hardest work.
But there isn't penny that l spend
for the meanest household detail that
! don't have to go to him for standing
like a suppliant. 1t isn'tfair! 1t isn't
right! When i"
"Joanna!'-it was Mr.. Eyebright's
voice, sharper and curter than perhaps
he meant it to bel wish you'd put
stop to those boys quarrellng under
my window! How can | be expected
to write when they are making such
a noisePn
Mrs. Eybright sighed.
Her husbands summons had reused
the baby into screaming protest.
She took it YEARLY on her arm, and
tapped with her thimble-tinger on the
glass of the window. Sooth to say,
she had forgotten all about John and
Guy, who, just recovering from the
measles, could not be sent to school,
but were deal too full of mutual
electricity to be allowed to stay in
doors.
Boys, come imp said She You
disturb your father"
1t took some time to settle the TWO
conflicting elements and calm them
down to a game of dominoes. and to
hush the baby once more TO sleep.
Mrs. Evebright sat down to the
amateur millinery once more, and she
was creasing the folds of faded velvet
and the ragged ostrich-tips with a sort
of scornful disgust, when Miss Ballan-
tyne, who lived in the nearest house,
tripped in.
masquerade at Mrs. Lavelle's?n said she,
You used to be the best dancer of us
all, and"
Its a subscription affair. isn't it?"
Yes; but the cost is very trifling,
and"
Mrs. Eyebright shook her head.
'My husband don't 60 out on eve-
nings."
but is that any reason why you
should live the life of an oyster in its
shellPn cried Indignant Jessie Ballen-
tyne.
''And BESIDES" added Joanna. color
ing little, MIR. Eyebright finds it
necessary to keep down all expenses"
But he belongs to the Amateur
Club"
''Oh, that's part of his professionr'
HE smokes the best cigars, doesn't
hep"
Yes; but he says they are so quiet
ing to his neryesr
land he gave dinner to the Editors
Coterie last week, didn't he, at Month
celli's?"
1T is very necessary, he says, for
an author to be on good terms with the
newspaper men," murmured Joanna.
Ibis profession, you see"
"Oh. Understandable Miss Ballan-
tyne. but what about your pro-
fession?n
Il haven't any,"
No? Are you quite sure of that?
Housekeeper, nurse, companion, seam.
o1v
chambermaid," recounted Jessie, using
her fingers as a sort of calculating ma.
chine-''if these don't constitute pro
fessiou. what does?"
Mrs. Eyebright smiled family, but
shook her head.
joanna cried Miss Ballantyne
''why do you look so tired? Are yor
sick?n
mo; only have no girl at present
and baby keeps me awake at night"
And | can remember you as tn,
brightest and merriest girl of all ouI
SET" said Jessie, who, at thirty, never
dreamed of calling herself by the op
probrious title of '.old maid" If thi.
is matrimony, why, deliver me from
it-that's all | have to say. Well, 10
I'm sorry for you"
And Miss Ballantyne took her leave
Mrs. Eyebright looked sadly at he
little expense book"
At that moment she heard her hus
bands voice in the hall, raised, as if il
some annoyance.
Joanna" he said petuantly, ..it'
very strange you cannot protect M
from Interruptions, when l have 5,
often told you how important it is to
brain-worker to keep his thought-cur
rents intact
What interruptions. Clarence?"
''The door bell raug twice-th
second time as if someone were deter
mined to jerk it out by the wires"