Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-14
HALF A MINUTE LATE.
How It Happened That Mr.. Smith
Missed His Train.

Ouc-udll uuluutc, dIu uc was III d lurlOuS
temper over the matter. He lived in a
pretty, Countrywide suburban village,
about forty-five minutes ride from the
large city in which he had his place of
business, and he was accustomed to take
this particular train every morning.
Not once in three months did such
thing happen as his being late for the
train; but on this occasion he felt like
declaring that half the time he had to
rush himself clear out of breath to reach
1t, or else miss it. He was in that exas-
perated state of mind where he wanted
to blame somebody, abuse somebody; a
state of mind which, in condition of
development little nearer the savage,
would impel to acts of cruelty toward
any thing or any person on whom anger
could be wreaked. The person on whom,
in this instance, he could most quickly
end with the least impunity cast blame
was his wife. 1t was all her fault.
Why could not she manage. household
affairs so that he could get his breakfast
earlier? He worked like a slave at his
business ten hours a day; he gave her
full control of the house and furnished
money to run it; she had a servant, and
it was pure and utter shiftlessness in
her, that breakfast could not be ready in
proper time. Thus, with flashing eyes,
soliloquized Mr.. Smith as, with anger
flushed face, he watched the train dis
appearing in the distance.
1t was a full hour and half till the
next train. it was nearly half a mile
back to Mr.. Smiths house. He paced
back and forth nervously for a few min
ntes on the station platform, debating
~ L t. .1x Il -
there for the next train or go back home.
AS he unused. his anger grew. He would
go back home and give his wife such a
piece of his mind as she would remember
for months. She should be made to feel
that it was no light matter to have
breakfast five minutes late. He turned
his face homeward and stamped heavily
along, with the air of man determined
to do desperate deed. His face was
flushed with anger and his eye cleaned
fercely.
But, as he FASTENED along, somehow
or other his attention was diverted by
the song of a bird among the trees that
lined his path. He looked up involun-
tarily. How brightly the sun was shin
ing; how blue the sky was; how balmy
and fragrant the air; how peaceful every
the green spaces on either side of the
village street. The trees were putting
forth their tenderest green; so was the
grass. He noticed the fragrance of the
crab-apple and wild plum blossoms; he
distinguished tho peculiar strain of q
bird he used to hear in boyhooI. 1t was
the wood-thrush. He had listened te
that bird when, years ago. he had walked
in the meadows and lanes with the pref
ty, shy young girl whom his heart was
then bent on winning for his wife. She
was his wife now. She was the mother
of three rosy, active children; they were
his and hers. She was not as pretty nov
IS she was then; she was thin and care
worn. The plump rosiness and merr!
smile were, for the most part, gone
BE- what good, true wife she had beer
to him. How had her economy ant
faithfulness helped him in getting tn,
start he now had in the world. How
little she saw of the outside world, or o
diverting pleasures. How self-denyinJ
and accomplishing she had been, ant
what devoted mother to their children
And on that bright, sunshiny morning
he had been thinking hard thoughts o
her and meditating what sharp, cuttin.
words he could say to her-and all for
trivial little loss of an hour from bust
ness. Mr.. Smiths pace slackened; hi
countenance relaxed; his heart melted
On srsS morning he could not, woult
not, by harsh words mar the harmon.
and beauty of the sunshine and bird
and the green things growing. No; i
he could not speak kindly, he woult
hold his peace.
As Mr.. Smith neared his home, he fell
: certain shrinking from meeting hi
wife directly. He almost feared h
might betray on his countenance SOM
Of the harsh thoughts he had beef
thinking. So he went around the sid
OF the house and entered the kitchen
door. Bridget was standing with per
plexed and exasperated expression OF
her face, looking into the kitchen stove
In which smouldered dark, dying fire
ssWhat is the matter, Bridget"
Faith, sur, it's the stove that break
ne heart entirely. The CRATE is broker
ana the stove-pipe smokes, and whin
1khrive to make quick hre, here's tn
TvSx IL serves mo.
,sWell. Bridget, believeit IS all M.
VI ,11k Your mistress has told me mani