Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-05-25
HER LITTLE POEM.
A Confiding Wife Gives Her Husband a
 Genuine Surprise.

Genuine surprise.
 "I had not intended to tell you, Billiger,r said the young wife of Mir. McSwat, but l can't keep secret any longer"
 "Is 1t possible, Lobelia, exclaimed Billiger, incredulously, that you have been able to keep secret at allf"
 Ut Is And you would never guess it, either"
 Been making me dressing gown or an embroidered night capp'
 "No."
 "You haven't been running up Q bill at Spotcash & Co. 'sg' he inquired, with a suspi- cious look and cold feeling in the region of bis spine.
 Guess again.
 "Been taking lessons at cooking schoola" be asked, paling visibly.
 "No Guess again"
 clammy perspiration broke out all over him and he leaned against the mantel for sup port as he gasped:
 "Lobelia, is Aunt Jubilee coming to spend the summer with usg'
 The young wife laughed gleefully.
 "No," she answered You'll have to try again, Blliger"
 "Ten me what it is" he said, with return ing self command "I feel as If could stand any disclosure now"
 "l think you're real mean, Billiger, but will tell you A little poem of mine is going to be published in the next Century Maga- zinen
 "Whewr'
 This is the time honored way in which a long low whistle of astonishment has always been represented in print by the most suc- cessful wrestlers with the language from the Old Masters down to H. Rider Haggard The reader, therefore, will kindly understand that Mir Billiger McSwat gave utterance to a long, low whistleJ
 'In the days of our courtship, Lobelia," he continued, staring hard at the ceiling, you never told me you wrote poetry. didn't know you were addicted to it, or'-
 "Or whatr she demanded, with some as rerity
 "NothinG-nothingr he exclaimed. hastily. And so you are to have a contribution in the next Century, How much is the editor to pay you for it. Lobeliaf"
 "l don't know. l haven't heard from him yet"
 Then how do you know be is going to print tp'
 How do knowl Because he hasn't re turned it. sent it to him nearly two weeks ago"
 "O You didl You inclosed stamps for re turn postage. of course"
 "Why, no, Billiger. 1 never thought 0! that. Is it customary7"
 "Er-nol That IS, not always" replied the young husband, mastering his emotion by 6 desperate effort Ut probably wasn't ueces sary in the case of your poem, Lobelia- And you have saved at least two centsl"
 Mrs. McSwat was not exactly sure whether be was in earnest or not She looked at him with some suspicion. but bis countenanct wore that look of unearthly gravity and inno cence that may sometimes be seen on the fact of boy at school just after be had rolled z double handful of bird shot over the floor
 'Lobelia," be said, after a pause, "yor haven't spoken of this-this poem of your. that is-er-ah-going to be printed next month to anybody else besides me, have youf
 "No.n
 "Then don't do it, Lobelia," he said "I you can manage to hold in till the poem | printed. which" and Billiger held hi handkerchief to his face and coughed convul svely in it for few moments-''which vii be only two weeks longer, you know it vii be all the greater surprise to everybody. Anc when that poem is printed in the magazine my dear, I'll make you present of pair O diamond earrings"
 The trusting young wife pillowed her heaC on his bosom in an ecstasy of gratitude, anC as Billiger McSwat smoothed her golden hail and murmured in her ear soft assurances O his willingness to bankrupt himself, if neces sary in order to give her costly presents as | token of his pride and adniration-as soon a the poem appeared-he could feel himsel l growing meaner, and smaller, and more de i spicable every moment 0 young wivesI Be warned in time ! When temptations to write poetry for tn magazines assail your souls do not yield Re sist them It is terrible thing to do any thing that causes young husbands to fee themselves growing smaller than they ar already !-Extract from "Frightful Warn ings of History" from the French of Denni Mulcahy.-Chicago Tribune.