Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-07-01
THE LITTLE OLD LADY.

Mrs. Quiverfull was tired; Mrs. Quiv-
erfull was not we'll. The girl, after Civ
ing her such impudence as you never
heard in all your born days, had told her
she was no lady, and had hounced away
with her bandbox in her hand. shaking
her fist on the corner and anathenizins
the humble cottage from the back plat
form of the car rs place not fit for a
decent gurrel to stoop to live in. Conse-
quently Mrs. Quiverfull had executed
her own washing. performed her own
cooking, accomplished her own dish
washing and velocipeded her own baby to
the accompaniment of what she described
as a raving headache. and was not in the
humor TO greet her lord and master with
the bcaming smile recommended in
Guides to Young Matrons," and other
excellent works written for the improve
mont Of those who are married, princi-
pally by these who never were.
Indeed, not only did she fail to smile,
but she positively frowned when Mr.
Quiverfull jolingly ticllled her under
her chin and cried: "Well, wifelet, how
has the world been going with you to-
dayT' and answered:
Going, indeed!'' with tragic express
sion and appropriate gesture. as of cast
ing all earthly things-Mr. Quiverfull
included-away i'll despair.
''Girl gomez asked that gentleman, as
Stunning n serious demeanor and pulling
his feeble red mutton chop whiskers
softly.
He was one of the few who still cling
with tenacity to those curious outgrowths
of the masculine cheek, and are rather
proud of them.
"Words cannot describe how she went,
or the filth of the kitchen" said Mrs.
Quiverfull, Eve been crawling over it
on my hands and knees to scrub it, and
there is u nest of rats in the dresser
drawer and curtain of spider webs
over tho window, and her three Saratoga
trunks right In the middle of the entry,
not sent for yet. And she has left her
hairbrush in the refrigerator and her
pot of pomade in the meat safe"
Dear, dear, dearl' sighed Mr.. Culver
full. "Now what shall | do for your
How can help
Take those children from under my
heels, said his lady, ''if you want any
dinner"
"Well," said Mr.. Quiverfull, who had
eaten n slice of bread and cold boiled
egg MT noon, and had had long Journey
from his office to his suburban cottage.
and was desperately hungry, 'well wife
let, just bite of something when it is
ready"
"Oh, I've no doubt Nothing disturbs
mans appetite" replied wifelet, who
was n head taller than her spouse and
weighed considerably more. IF | were
at deaths door you could gobble."
Whereupon she ilounced into the kitch-
en-, and Mr., Quiverfull, somewhat in
jured as to his tenderest feelings, for his
wifclet had never used him thus before,
formed the five small specimens of young
America, who were rolling about the
floor, together into line, headed them
with tho baby on his shoulder and
marched them into the garden, where he
played with them until his wifelet thrust
her head ont of tine window and re
marked:
after all my toll aud trouble he IN.
tends to let the meat get cold before he
carvcs it"
Certainly" said Quiverfull to him
self, Amelia is upset today"
But all he dill was TO marshal his host
in doors and help to incase each in a blue
check eating apron, and he tried to be
cheerful, poor man! and he praised the
dinner, and he told funny story that
Stibbs had told him, and he helped tc
wipe the dishes afterward; but nothing
soothed his wifelet or restored her to her
usual condition of mind. She had made
up her mind that her lot was hard, that
she had made "a mistake in marrying a
small clerk in small drug store, that
fate had afflicted her in bcstowing five
boys upon her and in recently adding
girl baby All day she had been envy
ing maiden lady opposite, who sat in
her luxurious apartment tanning herself
and reading What happy fate was
hers! She had an immense income She
boarded, she wore diamonds, she was
driven out every afternoon; she had no
cares and responsibilities.
Later. when she had retired. the baby
asleep IN her arms, and the five little
Quiverfnlls IN their cots and cribs in the
next room. She listened to her husbands
small, peculiar suore, like the purr of a
contented kitten. and scornfully curled
her nose in the darkness.
why couldn't have waited for a
good match:' she said. "Why must
marry red headed little man like that
wish WAS Miss Stickleback."
"lf you really wish it, you can be-
said little voice at her elbow, and open.
ing her eyes widely, Mrs. Quiverfull saw
a little old lady perched upon the pin
cushion IN hrr work basket.
She WAS a very little old lady indeed
not more than two feet high, and wore a
Vatican dress ana powdered hair. She
was tanning herself with fan made OF
cumming birds feathers, and she laughed
As Mrs. Quiverful prepared TO cover |. r
face with the sheet.
You need not be afraid of me" she
said. Il am your well wisher. You
have never believed in fairies. SUPPOSE
Wen, now you see one. am fairy.
heard You bemoaning yourself a little
while ago-regretting that you We're not
Miss Stickleback and wishing Yourself