Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-11-06
Annals WAY.
Her "Iron Shoe" and the Use She
Made OF It.

The village of Oxford was alive with
curiosity that Sunday morning to see
the bride that Bob Trench had brought
home. He had wooed and won her in
New York, and none of his family had
seen her until her arrival among them
the night before. 1.-The whole thing"
said DR.. Tanner, "done, no doubt, at
a white heat, after the fashion OF the
Trench family"
The Trenches were a large-bodied,
hot-blooded race, always making
talk In the county by sudden outbreaks
into vice or into big, heroic deeds OF
virtue.
The quiet, slow-going, Scotch-Irish
Presbyterians who made up the COM
munity OF the village OF Oxford found
the virtuous Trenches quite as discom-
posing and uncomfortable 10 live with
as the wicked ones.
Radical religion" said Deacon
Vale, lis like balkin' horse. He
may intend to drag you up the hill,
but he lands you in the ditch at last.
Give me an old. steady PAGER on the
road or in the church"
The Trenches had front pew (for
which they sometimes forgot TO pay),
and it was here that Bob led his wife
this morning. She was small woman
with light eyes and hair, and looked
oddly white and cool and insignificant
among the big-boned, black-browed
Trenches. She knew that the whole
congregation were sitting in judgment
on her eyes and nose and gown, but
went through with her devotions in
absolute calm. Old DIR. Mcleod, in
the pulpit, casting curious glance
down at her, was appalled, by catching
her pale eye fixed rebukingly upon
him, and flurried through the sermon
in headlong haste.
When the plate was passed for the
collection. honest Bob. in the fervor of
his soul, pulled out hundred-dollar
bill; but the bride neatly intercepted
1t and dropped in five instead. On the
way home she gave the note back to
him.
"Why did you not let me give it,
Annap My heart was so full OF thanks
giving! / have you! i wanted some
body to be the better for it,"
Five dollars is quite enough to
spend yearly on the conversion Of the
jews" she said, smiling. 1--WE will
make out list of charities. calculate
what we can afford to give to each,
and divide"
Bother! i like to make a squirt
when / feel charitable" grumbled
Bob; but he squeezed her arm and
looked down on her adoringly. "How
just you are. Anna. Pom my word |
believe you are perfect"
81 try to do what is right" said the
little creature, walking beside him
with trim, measured steps. There
was not touch of citation or Pharisee-
ism in her tone, yet Bob somehow felt
belittled beside her, and shuffied in
his body and his spirit like big,
guilty school-boy.
Luncheon was the first meal at which
the family had met since her arrival.
Now Grandma Trench, who was seven
ty and victim of tic-doulourex, had
long ago yielded the care OF the house
to Kate, the eldest daughter. There
had been fierce suspicious in Hates
mind that the newcomer would try to
wrest the reign Of sovereignty from
her.
She'll take the head OF the table;
you'll see," she told her sister Josey,
vehemently. "She must understand
from the beginning that you and ]
contribute TO the expenses, and that i
manage. I will never take second
place-never! What can that child,
brought up in city boarding-school,
know Of housekeepingP"
But the child in her babyish white
gown seemed to understand the situa-
ton by second-sight She came into
the room where luncheon was served,
her arm about grandma's waist, softly
smiling as the old lady chartered.
Kate. tall and grim, stood behind the
chair of honor. In an instant Anna
had seated the old lady in IL.
my dearr' she cried, amazed.
This is not my placer Kate, or
or you -"
mo, no, deari Sit still. or course
the place OF precedence is yours" said
Anna, gently. THAT is right. / will
sit by you and do the work." sliding
quietly into a chair.
Kate, in a dumb rags, found herself
deposed. But what could she dop
Anna was right. She was right. too,
when Bob sent up for third cup OF
green tea, in leaving IL untitled.
"You think you want MORE" she
said, her light, smiling eyes holding
his firmly. But you are mistaken,
Robert; you do not. You only think
So"
IL is n fact memorable among the
Trenches that Bob never asked for a
third cup again.
These Trenches were undisciplined
In their eating. as In every thing else.
When grandma asked for deviled lob
ster, Anna, with an innocent face,
gave her cold chicken.
THE child did not hear me-" the
old lady thought. and she quietly ate
her vapid fare. But Kate was not de-
ceived.