The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-09
FRED'S WIFE.

ing SQOko, mas cOmm1CteQ the IaSI duu
greatest folly possible, getting married!
Just like Fredl"
"He hopes you'll like it, uncle" said
Lulu, Fred Gilderoy's sister.
"HOpes I'll like til" repeated the doc
cor. "Why doesn't he commit suicide at
once, and then send word that he hopes
III be pleasedI"
"But she is a very beautiful girl, uncle"
Beautiful" repeated the doctor,
scornfully. "And Of course she'll want
India shawls and diamonds and silk frocks
to set off her beauty, and where is Fred
to get them?"
.7And she is an authress, uncle Glide
Worse and worse1" groaned the old
man. "Burnt buildings, b%uttonless shirts,
dust in the corners and inky fingers Just
| like Fredl"
"Youn call, won't you, uncle ?"
"CaN? What should / call for 2" de-
manded DR.. Gilderoy. 81 can't congrat-
ulate her upon marrying Fred, for I think
she's q fool for doing it. I can't congrat-
ulate him, for I think he is q bigger fool
still, to marry a silly doll baby for a wife,
| who writes stories. Pah I've no patience
with the folly of this world!"
eyes, but, uncle"
"My dear" interposed DR.. Gilderoy,
brusquely, "Tm particularly engaged this
morning, so perhaps you had better go
| down stairs"
Eyes, uncle" said Lulu, meekly, and
left the room.
In spite of all this outburst, however,
DR.. Gilderoy did call on the bride. He
rang the door-bel of No. SO Chatham
street at an early, hour, as he CHANGED to
be passing.
"Tn catch her in curl-papers and a
self, with a malicious smile.
A little maid with a frilled cap and
white apron opened the door.
"Keep a girl" said DR.. Gilderoy, saw
agely, to himself, "and on Fred's salary!
A pretty mode of economizing, that"
He was ushered into a sunny parlor,
with an open CRATE fire on the hearth,
flowers in the windows, and a very pretty
young lady seated at her desk writing.
She rose to greet him, and he was a little
disappointed to see no trace of either
curl papers, inky fingers or a soiled dress.
II suppose you are Fred's wife p
said he.
The young lady smiled. eyes, I am
Fred's wife,. she said; sand you are
Fred's uncle Z"
The old gentleman bowed. "VThat do
you keep a servant for ?" demanded the
doctor, abruptly.
"To do the work" said Mrs. Fred, her
| eyes sparkling.
"Why don't you do it yourself? ?"
Because l don't like washing windows
and scrubbing foors," calmly responded
the bride.
"My mother did her own work" CURLY
remarked the doctor.
"But l am not your motherl" Mrs.
Fred's spirit was fast becoming aroused.
"No," said DR.. Gilderoy, "you are one
of the women of the period. You prefer
to sit with folded hands, while your hus-
band tolls his life out to scrape together a
little money"
"You are mistaken there, DIR. Glide
roy" said the bride. "I may become of
the women of the period, in fact, I rather
glory in the title, but I am also one who
believes in husband and wife sharing alike
the burdens of life as well as it's pleas
ures."
"Humphr' said DR.. Gilderoy. And if
ever monosyllable expressed a whole die
tionary full of obnoxious epithets, it was
that "humph." You write stores, don't
your"
eyes," said Mrs. Fred, with a ring OF
defiance in her tones, 81 write stories
Let me give you a little advice" said
DR.. Gilderoy. "Burn up your pens and
paper, roll up your sleeves, and go to
work. That's the only way to get ahead
in this world"
"Do you think SOL" said Mrs. Fred.
eyes, l think So" replied the doctor.
I'm sorry not to agree with you
said Mrs. Fred, but I take a different
view Of things"
"Oh, very WE'LL" said DR.. Gilderoy,
rising. "Think as you please; it's a free
country,..quite free"
"Won't you stay to lunch with US p
said Mrs. Fred, as the doctor rose to go
"No, thank you," said DR.. G1lderoy
"But there's one thing I want to impress
upon your mind, and perhaps it would be
as well fer you to mention it to Fred
too"
What is it, Uncle Gilderoy? ?"
"Just this: if you come to want-wher
you come to want would, perhaps, be
more correct-don't come to me for aid
I wash my hands of you and your story.
writing"
MIRA Fred Gideroy smiled. ct as
sure you, uncle" said she, eve never haG
the least idea of becoming pensioners or
your bounty"
perhaps you hadn't, and perhaps you
had" said he, catching up his hat. 81
wish you a very good-morning."
A few months afterward, Lulu CAM
into the parlor one morning with a note
for DR.. Gilderoy. Here, uncle" she
said, "is 9 note from Fred and his wife
asking you to call there this evening"
"Ahl" said the doctor, 81 knew how
it would be. I predicted it all along
They are thinking of becoming pension
ers on my bounty, but it won't go down
I warned them; they have made thei
bed, and they may lie upon it"
you'll go, uncle, won't you ." said
Lulu.
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