Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-31
4 NEW YEAR STORY.
From the Country Gentleman.

From the Country Gentleman.
The 1st Of January had dawned clear
and cold, but was closing in a setting OF
gloom, when Sarah Percival holding her
babe in her arms, stood at the window
of her sitting room peering uneasily
through the gathering darkness down
the road toward the village. AS the
night came down, and she could no
longer see, she turned from the win
dow with sigh and tried to amuse the
two little ones, who were clamoring for
attention. Her heart was so heavy,
as she sat in the freight, that tear
stole down her cheek, and she could
not shake off the fear of impending
trouble.
Soon the sound of her husband S foot
steps aroused her and she FASTENED to
the door, intending to give him an af-
iectionate welcome. But she was coldly
and cruelty repuised.
"Look at this-and this-and this ~
ssid he. as he threw down upon the
table three bills which had been taken
from the post-otfice. "Pay them ii you
can; can't. How we're going to live
through the winter l don't know. have
mind to ST cot myself.
orders for supper, taking the baby with
her, having a sort of fear that the father
in his present savage mood would injure
the child In some way; (he was SO fond
of the other children that she had no
fears Of them). AS she paced the floor
of the dining-room, hugglng tie child
closely, she resolved to make an effort
to change the old order of things
in fact, to institute measure of reform.
Charles Percival was not usually a
cruel husband and father; he and
Mary began life very happily. but he
was not fond of work, neither did he
enjoy seeing his wife work. AS time
passed on, and the little ones came
rapidly, it was he who insisted on keep
ing servant the year round, although
Mary protested-on the ground that
they could not afford the additional ex-
pense. He also insisted upon keeping
a boy, although the winter work on his
farm was not so heavy but that he could
have done it himself With boy TO do
the work he had great deal OF leisure
in the winter season, and as he found 1T
rather monotonous to sit in the house
and read from morning till night, day
after day, he gradually fell into the
habit of harvesting his horse for a
drive to the village store to hear the
news.
The path of idleness always leads
downward, and so quick traveller was
Charles Percival that 1T was not long be-
fore be could smoke as many pipes, eX-
pectorate as much tobacco juice, take as
many drinks and spin as many yarns as
some men who had occupied the barrel
heads at the grocery for many successive
winters.
Mary observed the downward prog
ress, and her heart grew heavy; vet
she dared not demonstrate lest she might
utter the one word too many, which
would defeat her aim. She knew that
her husband was neglecting his family,
and she knew that their finances must
soon become involved if matters con-
tinued to grow worse. She there ore
kept her home pleasant and cheerful,
made herself and the children as at
tractive as possible, and waited and
hoped for change.
That night-the night of the LIST Of
January-Was the eliminating point.
Although her heart was breaking, she
gave orders to Bridget to set the table
with the best napery, and bring from
the cellar the best preserves; the table
was made as bright and appetizing as
cleanliness and good food could makeit.
When she called her husband to supper
the cloud had partly vanished from his
face. the result of the caresses and
bright speeches of the little ones.
The supper pleased him, and by the
time the meal was finished he seemed to
have forgotten the episode which had
nearly crushed his wife. But Mary had
not forgotten, and while getting the
little ones ready for bed nerved her
self to speak. BIZ the time the babies
were asleep she was ready fo- the
ordeal.
"Charles," she said. TREMENDOUSLY, a
little frightened at the sound Of her
own voice, "put down your paper,
please, for few moments; l have a
plan to propose TO you"
The old frown came back to his face
as he said: ,"Oh, know what tits; you
want me to discharge John and do the
work myself
ayes, Charles, and not only John but
Bridget"
Are you crazy, Mary? You would
be sick in bed in a week, and the
amount of the doctors bills would pay
dozen Bridgets, to say nothing of your
discomfort. Charles had really a
tender heart.) Discharging Bridget is
not to be thought OF.
ut can and must be thought of.
have a plan TO propose, and If you agree
to it | can almost promise change for
the better in our affairs. The plan in
cludes work for you, but If you will not
agree to it | must give it up"
Lets hear the plan" said Charles.
"There is no reason why We should
spenl an idle winter; there are grave
reasons why we should not. | alone
cannot add to the care of the children
IL II = Il - al,