Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-05-28


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. Quiv.
erfull "I've been crawling over it on my
hands and knees to scrub it, and there is a
nest of rats in the dresser drawer and cur.
tain of spider webs over the window, and
her three Saratoga trunks right in the mid
die 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, dearr' sighed Mr.. Quiver-
full. "Now what shall do for you? How
can 1 help?"
'Take those children from under my
heels" said his lady, 'ff you want any din
ner."
"Well," said Mr.. Quiverfull, who had
eaten slice of bread and cold boiled egg
at noon, and had had long journey from
his Office to his suburban cottage, and was
desperately hungry, "well wifelet, just a
bite of something when it is ready"
''Oh, I've no doubt. Nothing distu RIBS a
mans appetite" replied wifelet, VIII o was
head taller than her spouse and weighed
considerably more. "lf were az death s
door you could gobble."
Whereupon che flouuced into the kitchen,
and Mr.. QlveEfull, somewhat injured as to
his tenderest feelings, for bis wifelet 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 the baby on his
shoulder and marched them into the garden,
T., !, .fal1% 4
thrust her head out of the window and re-
marked:
ssAfter all my toll and trouble he intends
it.''
"Certainly," said Quiverfull to himself,
"Amelis. is upset to-day"
But all he did was to marshal his host in
doors and help to incase each in blue
check eating apron, and he tried to be
cheerful poor man! and he praised the din
ner, and he told funny story that Stibbs
had told him, aud he helped to wipe the
dishes afterward; but nothing soothed his
wifelet or restored her to her usual condi-
tion of mind. She had made up her mind
that her lot was hard, that she had made a
mistake in marrying small clerk in small
drugstore, that fate had afflicted her in be-
slowing five boys upon her and in recently
adding girl baby. All day she had bssn
envying a naiden 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 response
bilities.
Later, when she had retired, the baby
asleep in her arms, and the five little Quiv-
erfulls in their cots and cribs in the next
room, she listened to her husbands small,
peculiar snore, like the purr Of contented
kitten, and scornfully curled her nose in the
darkness.
sWhy couldn't / have waited for good
match?" she said. "Why must 1 marry a
red headed little man like that? wish I
was Miss Stickleback."
'If you really wish it, you can be-" said
a little voice at her elbow, and opening her
eyes widely, Mrs. Quiverfull saw little old
lady perched upon the pin cushion in her
work basket.
She was very little old lady indeed, not
more than two feet high, and wore a Wat
teau dress and powdered bair. She was
tanning herself with fan made of humming
birds feathers, and she laughed as Mrs.
Quiverfull prepared to cover her face with
the sheet.
'You need not be afraid of me-" she said.
81 am your we'll wisher. You have never
believed in fairies, l suppose? Well, nov
you see one. l am fairy. | heard you
bemoaning yourself little while ago-re-
GREETING that you were not Miss Sickle
back, and wishing yourself rid of your little
red haired husband with a small salary,
your five big boys and your squalling in
FAINT. l can't blame you, either, a pretty
woman like you. You weren't made for
dish washing and dinner getting. Miss
Stickleback does have good time, but she
wants husband and offspring, so, if you
like, I'll say few words, wave my hand
and change you. You shall be tho wealthy
spinster, she the overworked married wo-
man."
'T-don't like" faltered Mrs. Quiverfull
81 feel'-
sOh, you want to get up and cook break
fast, I suppose" said tho fairy. swell,
tastes differ. 1 shouldn't"
ooh, don't, either, sighed Mrs. Culver
full 'tOnly"-
''You would like change" said the
fairy.
eyes," said Mrs. Quiverfull.
Suddenly there was ringing of balls in
her ears-no, not quite like bells, either;
rather the murmur of o swarm OF bees. She
was rising, floating, flying. She opened
her eyes upon room full of pale, rosy light.
The perfume from bunch of jack roses
camo to her. The quilt that covered her
was of softest silk; the sleeves of her night
lovely lounging chair in which Miss Stickle-
back lolled half the day. The fairy had
kept her promise. She had become tho free,
banUv rich Miss Stieklehock
Shortly a maid entered the room and
whispered that the bath was ready if miss
was.
What delightful bath! what delightful
towels? what delicious breakfast after
ward? The post brought invitations to
lunches, to afternoon teas, to theatre par
ties. What happy life! Aud here was
the now novel, and time to read it in. But
as she fiirted the pages little voice called
"Good- by, papa" snd peeping out of her
window she saw little man with red whisk-
ers come cut of the gate of tiny cottage,
followed by five little boys. He kissed
them ali around aud jumped each one over
the fence. Then there was pretty woman
in blue calico wrapper with baby in her
arms, aud she fixed his cravat for him, and
he kissed them both. Then he stopped on
the corner and waved his hapd before he
took the car.
"Oh, it's Jimp' cried the false Miss
Stickleback. 'Oh, it's Jim! It's my hus-
band Oh, oh, oh! There are my children!
That's my baby! That's me! No, mean
it isn't me- I'm somebody else. Oh, oh,
dearl Oh, dear me! Oh!'
"Are you i'll, miss? Can l do anything2'
simpered the maid, popping in at this juno.
ture.
"You car go away" said the transform
cd Mrs. Quiverfull, snappishy.
| The maid vanished.