The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-11-29
HOUSEHOLD TYRANTS.
The Species Is by No Means Con-
fined to Ono Sex.

IlCAA ~ ~AAC h~~~-a
The man who stipts his. family il.
order to indulge himself has Tor So
long been held up 10 the scCrn Of the
reading public that the other side Of
the subject has been entirely lost sight
Of Some time ago was calling on an
acquaintance, who had a number of
new purchases to isplay--article5 Of
furniture, decoration. etc, and some
lovely table ware. Knowing her in
come /? pc no larger than my own
asked: Is
But how can you afford such hand
some things? I can not even think Of
making such purchases"
She gave me an intent look, then,
dropping her. voice confdentially,
said:
4 save It out Of the housekeeping.
For a long time l have saved at least
half OF my monthly allowance, and
this month I viii save more. I want
to buy me a new sllk-something
really elegant, n,.z.4
.s'.But" I said, ''can you save 50
much and still mako your family com
fortable?'
II suppose they are comfortable
enough she said, as If offended
! I'm sure what's good enough for
me is good enough for them!"
She had detained me so long bring
J ing out one thing after another 10 dis
/ play, that tea-time approached, and
her little boy, child of nine or ten
years of age, came dsshiug in, say
ing:
30 mai I'm so hungryi Is there
! any thing for supper to-night?'
Certainly, my son, we viii have
the supper we always have.
600 ma! Nothing but cold corn
bread and milk! OAr'
Hush! Ii co2n-bread and milk is
| good enough Tor me, it ought to be
good enough for the rest OF you" she
answered, sternlY.,
Yes, but, ma, you lske 1t and all the
rest Of US hate it. Why can't we ever
have any thing the rest OF US likeP"
That viii do. II you are not hun
! pry enough TO eat what we have, you
can 60 without"
| hastily took leave, and as 7 shut
the front gate I heard the poor little
. fellow burst into a perfect storm Of
| sobs. l no longer envied her the
beautiful things she had bought. She
had paid too dearly for them. After
that l used to watch her children
passing by on their way to school
Thar once rudy faces grew sallow
! and piuched, while deep sCOwls Of dis
] Z r-.-. hal H.
u-l to them Ia a few weeks the
mother returned my visit, arrayed in
the really elegant silk dress. AS
soon as there was an opportunity l
asked:
| And how are your chiIdrenP" She
frowned. -
I don't know what ails them, they
| seem so droOpy and cross They
were such healthy babies, and their
father and I, too, have always been
strong-I don't understand it sup
pose I shall have to take them some.
where for a change, but it seems an
! awful extravaganceIn
May not such woman be, without
exaggoration, likened TO a vampire,
draining the life blood, or its equiva-
lent, from the family 10 indulge her
self? never returned that visit, and
could only think Of her afterwards
with loathing.
A friend used to have lived q short
distance from town, on fruit farm
One spring day I heard she was get
ting ready for her usual summer trip,
so i, thlmble in pocket, went out to
spend the day and help with her
preparations. She received me Joy
fully, and we were soon deep in the
mysteries of ru1les and cores. Though
not intimately acquainted, had loved
her dearly. That night I went home
thinking her a selfish little boast Al
dinner time her husband came in tired
and hungry. She had left me sewing
and gone out half an hour before Il
the kitchen and now called Us out tC
dinner. The table was set with beau
tiful china, and there was dish o
squash and a small plate OF bread anC
butter, and pitcher of water, moth
ing else. She made no reference K
the scanty fare, but seemed to think i
was all as it should be. l did not car,
for myself, knowing that L would be q
I
but did pity her husband l knew
that he could have eaten every mouth
ful upon the table and still be unsatis
fed. The bread plate was sool
emptied. lie looked hesitatingly a
his wife and then said: s4
Ny dear. is there any more breadP'
YES" she said. without moving
- only cut what think will be eaten
1t gets SO dry"
The plate is empty ne S,-- a.
Perhaps Mrs. Sunshine would lax
some more"
"Would you like some more Mr'
c,,-sh;ne2'5 she said, turning to me-
OF course said no.
He waited several minutes the
said:
III it isn't too much trouble TO G
il, would ike another piece.