Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-06
HALF A MINUTE LATE.

lust one ndlt UihuNOi """
in a furions teWper over the matter.
He lived in a pretty, country like
suburban village, about forty'nVe
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 i'm three months did such
a thing happen as beng late for
the train; but on this occasion he
felt like declaring that halt the
time he had to rush himself clear
ont of breath 10 reach it, or else
miss il. He Was in that exasper-
ated state of mind where he want
ed 10 blame somebody, abuse
somebody; a state of mind which,
condition of development a little
nearer the savage, would impel 10
acts ofcruelty toward anything or
anv person on whom anger could
be wreaked. The person on whom,
in this instance, be could most
ouickl, and with the least impunity
cast the blame was his wife. 1t
was all her fault. Why could she
not manage the 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, aud 1t was
pure and utter sbiitlessDess IN her:
that breakfast could not be- ready
in proper time. Thus, with flash
ing eyes, soliloquized Mr.. Smith as,
with angeIf1ushed face, he watch
the train disappearing In the dis
tance.
It was a full hour and a half till
the next train; it was nearly half
a mile back to Mr.. Smiths house.
He paced back and forth neivousIy
for a few minutes on the station
platform, debating in his mind
whether he should wait there for
the next tram or 60 back home
AS he unused, his anger grew. lie
would 60 back home and give his
wife such a scolding as she would
remember for months. She should
be made to feel that it was no light
matter to haye breakfast five min
utes late. He turned his face
homeward aud stamped heavily
along. with the air of man deter
mined to do a desperate deed. His
face was flushed with anger and
his eye CLEANED heTcely.
But, as he FASTENED along, some
how or other his attention was di-
verted by the song of a bid among
the trees that lined his path. He
looked up inyOluntarily. How
the sun was shining; how
blue the sky was how balmy and
the air; how peaceful
every thing appeared as be looked
Of through the green spaces on
either side of tie village street.
The trees were puttiug forth their
tenderest green; so was the grass.
He noticed the fragrance Of the
crabapple and wild plum bios
sons he distinguished the pecu-
liar strain of a bird he used to
hear in boyhood. 1t was the wood
thrush. lie had listened to that
bird, when, years ago, he had
walked in The meadows and lanes
with the pretty, 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 lls and hers. She was not
as pretty now as she was then
she was thin and clrewOrn.-
The plump rOsiness and merry
smile were, for the most part
gone. But what a good true wife
she had been to him. How had
her economy and laithfulness help
ed him in getting the start be now
had in the world. How self deny
ing and uncOmplaining she haC
been, and what a DEVOTED mother
to their children And on t. a
bright, suusbiDy morning he hat
been thinking hard thoughts o
her and meditating what sharp
cutting words he could say to he
all for a trivial little loss of al
hour from business. Mr.. Smith
pace slackened; his countenanc
relaxed; his heart melted. o
such a morning be could not, woul
not, by harsh words mar the hal
moDy and beauty Of the sunshiu
and birds and the greon thing
growing. No; if he could ne
speak kindly, he would hold b
peace.
AS Mr.. S NTH neared his hom
A..