Telegram-herald., 1890-03-07
DOMESTIC FELICITY.
a Chapter nom the Book Of
Every Day Life.

Mr Smith missed the train by just
one aan minute. and he was in furious
temper over the matter. He lived In =
pretty, country-like suburban village,
about forty-hye minutes ride from the
large city in which he had his place Of
business, and he Was accustomed 70 tsks
this particular train every morning. Nr:
once in three months did such thin-
happen as his being late for the train; u >
on this occasion he felt like declaring
that half the time he had 10 rush him
self clear ont Of breath 20 reach il, ~
else miss il. He was in that exasperate
state OF mind where he wanted 10 blan
somebody, abuse sumebody; a state
mind which. in a condition of develop
ment is little nearer the savage, would
impel 10 acts OF cruelty toward any thing
OF any person on whom anger could be
,v-eaked. The person on whom, in this
irstance, he could most quickly and
With the least impunity cast blame was
his wife. IL was all her fault. Why
could not she manage household affairs
40 that he could get his breakfast
earlier? He worked like slave at his
business ten hours day; he gave her
full control OF the house, and furnished
money TO run Il; she had a servant, and
il was pure and utter shiftlessness in
her that breakfast could not be ready in
proper time. Thus, with flashing eyes,
soliloquiIed Mr.. Smith, as, with anger
flushed face, he watched the train dis
appearing in the distance.
1t was full hour and half till the
next train; it was nearly half mile
back to Mr.. Smiths house. He paced
back and forth nc~v0nsly for few min
utes on the stat on ~ .-torm, debating
IN his mind who her no should wait
for the next train or go back home. As
he mused, his anger grew. He would
go home and give his wife such a piece
of his mind "a she would remember for
months. She should be made to feel
that it was no light matter to have break
fast five minutes late. He turned his
face homeward, and stamped heavily
along, with the air of a man determined
TO do desperate deed. His face flushed
with anger. and his eye CLEANED 3ercely.
Z.
or other his attention was diverted
by the song of bird among the
trees that lined his path. He looked
up involuntarily. How brightly the sun
was shining; how blue the sky was;
how balmy and fragrant the air; how
peaceful every thing appeared as ne
looked of through the green spaces on
=, 1f ,vf1 ctr no
trees were putting forth their tenderest
green; so was the grass. he noticed
tho fragrance Of the crab-apple and W
plum blossoms; he distinguished =
peculiar strain of bird he used TO hcor
in boyhood. 1t Was tho wood-thrush
He lad listened to that bird when, years
ago. he mad walked in the meadows-ar
Lar ; with the pretty. shy young fi~i
whvm his heart was then bent on ~Tr-
ming for his wife. She was his VITO
now. she was the mother of three rvsy,
active children; they were his and hers.
She was not as pretty now as she was
then; she WAS thin and careworn. The
plump rosinese and merry smile were,
for the most part, gone. But what
good, true wife she had been TO hin
How her economy and faithfulness ha
helped him in getting the start he now
had in the worldl How little she saw OF
the outside world, or OF diverting pleas
uresl How self-denying and uncom-
planning she had been. and what de-
voted mother 10 their children. And on
that bright. sunshiny morning be had
been thinking hard thoughts of her, and
meditating what sharp, cutting words
he could say TO her-and all for trivial
little loss of an hour from businessi
Mr. Smiths pace slackened; his coun-
tenance relaxed; his heart mel lted- On
such a morning be could not, would not,
by harsh words mar the harmony and
beauty Of tho sunshine and birds and
the green things growing. No; IL he
could not speak kindly he would hold
his peace.
As Mr.. Smith neared his home he felt
certain shrinking from meeting his
wife directly. He almost feared he
might betrsy on his countensnce some
of the harsh thoughts he had been
thinking. So he went around the si6e
of the house and entered the kitchen
door. Bridget was standing with per-
plexed and exasperated expression on
her face looking into tho kitchen stove,
in which smoldered dark. dying FIRE.
what Is the matter, Bridget"
Faith. sur. It's the stove that breaks
ne heart intirely The CRATE Is broken
and tho stovepipe smokes. and whin I
sthrive 10 make quick FIRE here's the
way il serves ne"
well. Bridget. I believe e Is all nv
fault Your mistress has asked ne
many times % bring new Erate from
the city and also 70 eend nan 20 clean
ont the st0venipe Ard chimney. will
put this down in nv notebook snd
bring She new crate ibis evening. ant
Pat McFlynn. the timer. shall be sent
right Up this morning to clean and fx
The pipe
"0h. thank -. s1r~ said B-iigst,
with brighs sening couutensnce. And
could Pat 6x taA cistbsrn. tco2 The
pump hss beon aroKen = long tonne ard
keeps ne hack in ny ro-x ard breaks
ne back arawiur vstsr I'D rope.
Aza.n ". Smiths conscience suoo-s
bin. HoT often had his rifs ASKED bin
% send a nan 70 fE the oisternt
Tss. Bridge, the cistern shall %
axed IBIS verv dsy~
Wei. sgr thin think III say.
-ss iast teilia' ne mistress thst
roulda rs-s any longer nd sea ir-
co1vsn iesces. bit II tha sto~e sna