San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-01

engaged as a nurse but If you will get some |
steak or something might fry it."
81 don't like steak, announces Bob, stoutly. |
| see a CLEAN of hope.
mamie do you want some meatT
"Yes, papa, | want some meat, an tatoes, |
an corn, an bead, an tea, an-an'-pickles,"
answers Mamie, uncompromisingly
mamie, suppose We have some-some eggs
and bread and butter and cold meat, now. |
Then we will have dinner when mamma |
comes homer say, insinuatingly.
"Vewy we'll we will" agrees Mamie, and |
by the kindness of Susie we soon have a
frugal lunch before us.
| am in the midst Of the lunch, and am |
just considering whether am equal to wash |
ing NAMES face and exchanging her now
nearly black apron for white one, when
the do hell rings for about the twentieth |
time since breakfast.
'Another peddler or book agent, l sup |
pose," and go to the front door with Mamie
holding my hand and Bob marching behind |
GOOD afternoon. Mr. Smith. Is Mrs
Smith at homer
1t is a lady that my wife always refers to
as the best tempered woman she knows-Mrs
Phulaphun-.
'Mrs. Smith is not at home, am sorry to
say I'm keeping house. you see. Nice day,
isn't it. Mamie, Mrs. Phulaphun does not
care about your sticky hands on her dress.
On my coat sleevei Oh, yes, that was baby
Ha, hal He spilled something. | was just
about to try and make the chill .ren look pre-
sentable They have managed to get dirty
somehow little cold In this room. Yes,
forgot to turn up the gas in the CRATE this
morning That's better beg your pardoni
Set fire to the lambrequinl So | have. Ali
it's out now Yes, I've got my sleeve in bad
state. The dust from the lambrequin has
settled on the milk. Yes, am staying home
for a few days to get rest. do work very
hard down town. and felt es if l needed a
little relaxation. | am sorry Mrs. Smith is
not at home"
Thus | rattle on, and that woman sits
there for a blessed hour talking to Mamie,
and evidently wondering what it all means,
from my terrible sleeve to NAMES black
apron.
How | do wish she would go, especially
when bear bump in the room overhead,
followed by stifled cry from the baby AT
last Mrs. Phulaphun does go, but not before
two young school girls have dropped In to
see the baby, and have, with Mrs. Phula-
phun, driven me nearly distracted | have
one satisfaction, however. | declare that
the baby is asleep. and hence cannot be seen.
Five o'clock" | exclaim, as | glance at
the dining room clock, land supper to be
ready at 81"
ring the bell and Mary, decked out in
her afternoon fnery, with a strong smell OF
soap lowering about her, appears
"Will you have supper ready by 6 o'clockP
as it me, SORT Faith, no. | niver tend
to no meals on Monday, sorr."
glance at her, but, secure In her position,
she is not in the least disturbed, only advis-
ing me casually to fix something quick, for
O'Clock will be here afore you know it,
SORT"
| motion to her to leave me, and Mamie
climbs up on my knee to prepare herself for
a little snooze against my shoulder-a habit
of hers that always pleases me.
For fifteen minutes sit thinking-think
ing. My predicament is something horrible.
A lucky thought. | call Susie, who comes
into the room with the baby, fast asleep
and as black as either Mamie or Bob.
Mind the children for a little while
am going out" say, briefly.
/ go out, and when | return feel better.
"Mamie, guess III wash your face, dear"
"Vewy well, papa. Wen 60 up to the
bathroom"
Eyes"
My foot is on the bottom stair when ring
of the doorbell resounds throughout the
house simultaneously with the dining room
clock striking6 1t is my wifel
Come in, my dear I'm glad to see you
Indeed anil The children were just go
ing to be washed Mamie's apron is little
dirty, and | guess Bob ought to have clean
shirt waist. This is on my coat sleevef Oh,
hyyf hn H~a
| suppose you are very tired. Let me take
off your wrap for you. Yes, III carry your
hat and things upstairs. Mamie is glad you
are home again She and Bob have been
very good SO has baby. WhatG Well, he
isn't very clean, is heI No, didn't expect
you quite SO soon, you see. Everything
would have been fixed in another ten min.
uteS"
am talking very fast, for am so glad to
see the queen again that hardly know what
do or say.
"Where's the SUPERB
This cold question brings me to myself
"Just minute, dear"
go out into the kitchen, and have short
talk with Mary, in the course of which
hand her a 81 bill. She soon has q tablecloth
on the table, and makes every preparation
for supper except the bringing on of the
edibleS.
The queen sits in my usual place. with her
back to the table, calmly looking over the
papers she has brought from the office
go into the kitchen and look anxiousl!
out of the side door, whence q view of the
street can be obtained
THANK ProvidenceI" calculate fervently
at last; "here he isl"
/ won't say how | manage to put before