Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-04


and kindness but Kate did not, to uss
her own expression, taRe to her" The
old lady was homely and countrifled,
and used the English language as care
lessly as do most old country ladies and
she wore a homemade brown alapaea,
and q cap with border all round, tied
under the chin. Kate reioiced over her
resolution as she bade her goodbye.
But the husband went far on the road
with his mother, and was not ashamed
to shed q few tears and coming home,
he wished aloud, unheard by anything
but the old COW who grazed in the lane,
and who seemed to turn her head to
listen, that he had never met Kate
Stephens. For other and less tender
reasons he wished it very often during
the ensuing year. The good family cook
ing was superseded by the inartistic ef-
forts OF a series of poor cooks-the
ancient "help' OF the household having
left in Indignation to follow the fortune
of her old mistress. For weeks together
there would be no servant, and Kate
openly declared that she couldn't cook.
Then meals of tea and bread and butter
were out the hard worked doctors
patience. until, after repeated visits to
the city. new servant was found and
new list of misdemeanors was rehearsed
for his benefit every night at supper time
and,every morning at the breakfast table.
He was very uncomfortable, but he had
not ceased to love his wife. She was
only Is years old, and much was not to
be expected of her powers in the house,
keeping line He hardly wished to see
her in working attire, with her hands
redeemed with labor and cooking apron
on. Her dainty helpessness had charm
in it. Her soft hands and unruflied attire
pleased him nightly, and there were
moments when he was very happy.
But no man can remain so If ill.fed and
tho daily discomfort, combined with the
twinges of remorse which he felt when
ever he saw his mothers patient face or
his sisters Indignant cOuntenances, quite
altered his temper by slow degrees.
He did not reproach his vito at any
time, but he sulked behind a newspaper,
or spent long evenings out by himself,
and now and then alluded to mothers
pies or dumplings in tone which wives
understand very well.
All this only confirmed Kate m her
dislike of her mother-in-law and sisters
la-law: and when the first baby came
~ho refused with littlo string Of spite
.dl remarks about old-fashioned names,
10 have it christened Margaret after its
grandmother. Then Henry refused to
think of "Rose," but yielded when his
wife cried over it; and Kate's sister
came to the christening, though the
Grandmother did not, to the great
scandal of all the congregation. katos
"airs" had wounded the old lady too far
ut last She had resolved never to enter
her sons door again, and Kate rejoiced
thereat.
So the baby grew to be two years old,
and another came, and nursemaid was
added to the establishment, and the
trouble with cooks Went on, until one
day, Kate, led by an advertisement sup
posed to DC inserted in the paper by an
| unexceptionabo servant, penetrated
into the dirtiesE streets OF New York,
and into q room where the dirGiest OF all
created children was i'll in bed.
Poor craythur" said the mother
"What ails him don't know, and Kate,
IL the sympathy Of motherhood, patted
the child's head and spoke 10 him kindly
and advised a warm bath, which tho ma
| tron took as an insult. The efficient scr
want, however, was engaged and Kate
,ent homo to feel conscious in few days
| of being very unwell, and to break down
| 20 last and take to bed, while her anxious
husband felt that at last the greatest
| rial of their married lives had come upon
| them, for Kate had taken the smallpox
| in one of its very worst forms.
Shall send for your sister, my dear?"
asked he, after breaking the news to his
wife as tenderly as possible.
ITO Rose" said Kate, ooh, no. Sne
wouldn't come, and l couldn expect it.
| Don't send for any one. Let me die; |
| hall be pitted il ] live, and after that
what would life be worth?
| II. 1.z,. Ill ~ cgaiH h.s
| husband; "but I'll save your pretty skin
as well as your life, if can; but there !,
8 trial before you, and before me, too. |
| wish"
lie paused aud did not say-"I wish
mother was here"
IS for sending for her, he had no such
thought. The servants had fed in dis
may, and q haif-wittod boy, who was not
afraid of smallpox, inasmuch as he hal
aad it himself the year before, Aus
..minding" the children in the apartment
,arthest removed from the sick room.
There was not nurse in the place
who would undcIta.H such a case, and
he neighbors woutJ have bolted their
DOORS against him What should he do
,.ow contrive for the safety OF his babes
suddenly voice smoto his ear.
This is a time OF trouble, Henry. Let
| old scores bo forgot. Jane is dressing
the children to go home with Fannie and
sill stay herself to help me. Don't fret
about nothing, my boy. Well do the
best the Lord allows us.
Henry took her in his arms.
My good mother, he said, chow can
YOU be so goodto us?'
AS for Kate, she was fast falling into
that condition when she could speak or
think of nothing
But brave old Mrs. Rider did as she
had promised, ue best the Lord allowed,
and her best Was very good and whole
some. Jane made all comfortable in the
o.tchen, and Fannie cared for her
brothers babes ia the new home in which
she had wept so many bitter tears for her
old one. And al last Kate passed from
| ander the shadow of the death angels
wings, and her face took u likeness to
itself again and reason returned.
Then who was tender of her as of a
newborn babe, save old Mrs. Rider
And who t,d her with dainty blanc
mango and Jelly but dimpled Jane? And
vino came to tell her how the children
we're growing, and how well they We're,
but Fannie? Until at last, paler and
thinner, and with her soft hair cut short
on her neck, but with u skin as smooth
and fair as over. Kate went into her
husbands little Office one day. and find
irg him alone, knelt down at his feet.