Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-05

The doctor said nothing, but he was very grave The homecoming of the bride was not gay one. To be sure, old Mrs. Rider came over to call on the first afternoon, and showed the young housekeeper great deal Of politeness and kindness; but Kate did not, to use her own expression, ''take to her." The old lady was homely and coun- trified, and used the English language as carelessly as do most old country ladies and she wore homemade brown alpaca, and a cap with a border all round, tied under the she bade her goodbye.
 But the husband went far on the road with hls mother, and was not ashamed to shed 8 few tears; and coming home, he wished aloud, unheard by any thing but the old cow who grazad in the lane, and who seemed to turn her head and listen, that he had never met Kate Stephens. For other and less tender reasons he wished 1t very often during the ensuing year. The good family cooking was superseded by the inar- tistic efforts of series of poor cooks-the ancient "help' of the household having left in indignation to follow the fortunes of her old mistress. For weeks together there would be no servant, and Kate openly de- clared that she couldn't cook. Then meals of tea and bread and butter wore out the hard-worked doctors patience, until, after repeated visits to the city, Q new servant was found, and 8 new list of misdemeanors was rehearsed for his benefit every night ct supper time and every morning at tho breakfast table.
 He was very uncomfortable but he had not ceased to love his wife. She was only eighteen years old, and much was not to be expected of her powers in the housekeeping line. He hardly wished to see her in work n ut 1yyith hAp cd n, labor and 8 cooking apron on. Her dainty helplessuess had 8 charm in it. Her soft hands and unrufded attire pleased him nightly, and there were moments when he was very happy.
 But no man can remain SO ill-fed; and the daily discomfort, combined with the twinges of remorse which he felt whenever he saw his mothers patient face or his sis ters' indignant countenances, quite altered his temper by slow degrees.
 He did not reproach his wife at any time, but he sulked behind newspaper, or spent long evenings out by himself, and now and then alluded to mothers pies and dumplings in tone which wives understand very well.
 All this merely confirmed Kate in her dislike of her mother-in-law and sisters-in- law; and when the first baby came she re- fused, with a little string of spiteful re- marks about old-fashioned names, to have it christened Margaret after it's grand mother. 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 congre- gation. Kate's 'sairs' had wounded the old lady too far at 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 a nursemaid was added to the establishment, and the trouble with cooks went on, until one day, Kate, led by an advertisement supposed to be in- serted in the paper by an unexceptionable servant, penetrated into the dirtiest streets of New York, and into room where the bed.
 "Poor craytheri" said the mother "What ails him don't know;" and Kate in the sympathy of motherhood, patted the child's head and spoke to him kindly, and advised a warm bath, which the matrou took US an insult. The efficient servant l however, was engaged, and Kate wen, home to feel conscious ln a few days of be | ing very unwell, and to break down at last | and take to bed, while her anxious husband felt that at last the greatest trial of theil l married lives had come upon them, for Kate had taken the smallpox in one of it's very l worst forms.
 "Shall send for your sister, my dearn asked he, after breaking the news to hi. wife as tenderly as possible. l ''To RoseW said Kate. "Oh, no. Sh, wouldn't come, and I couldn't expect it Don't send for any one. Let me die; shal be pitted if l live, and after that wha would life be worthl"
 II should love you as we'll" said the bus band; "but I'll save your pretty skin a well as your life, if can; but there's g tria before you, and before me, too. I wish
 He paused, and did not say: II wisl 1 mother was here"
 As for sending for her, he had no sucl thought. The servants had fled in dismay l and 8 half-witted boy who was not afraid of smallpox, inasmuch as he had had 1t him self the year before, was ''minding" tn children in the apartment farthest remove,
 from the sick-room.
 | There was not nurse in the place wh would undertake such case, and the neigh
 bors would have bolted their doors agains
 him. What should he dol How contriv
 for the safety of his babesl Suddenly
 voice smote his ear:
 ''This is time of trouble, Henry. Let oI
 scores be forgot Jane is dressing the chi
 dren to go home with Fannie, and will sta
 herself to help me. Don't fret about nott
 ing, my boy. We'll do the best the LOT | allows us."
 Henry took her in his arms.
 My good mother," he said, "how can yo
 be so good to us3''
 As for Kate, she was fast falling into tha
 condition when she could speak or think C
 nothing.
 But brave old Mrs. Rider did, as she ha
 promised, the best the Lord allowed, an
 her best was very good and wholesome
 Jane made all comfortable in the htchel
 and Fannie cared for her brothers babes
 tho new home in which she had wept {
 many bitter tears for her old one. And {
 last Kate passed from under the shadow (
 the death-angel's wings, and her face too
 a likeness to itself again and reason r'
 turned.
 Then who was tender of her as 8 new-bor
 babe, save old Mrs. Rideri And who fe
 her with dainty blanc naanoe and jelly b,
 dimpled Janet And who came to tell hs how the children were growing, and ho
 well they were, but Fanniel Until ct las . paler and thinner, and with her soft ha