Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-06-25
Jessie's Lesson.

not quite two years ago, she was the
prettiest girl in her set. But she die
not look very pretty just now. Hel
golden hair was all punched up and
tucked carelessly back with comb,
her wrapper was unbelted, she wore
10 collar, and her small slippers were
not at all tidy.
If there was anything Tom Carleton
couldn't bear, it was an untidy woman
A shade passed over his handsome
face, as he looked at Jessie and re-
memhered how trim and neat she had
always been until the baby came.
But the shadow vanished as quickly
as it appeared, and he greeted hel
with his usual smile and half.careless
half-affectionate:
Halo, Jess Busy to-day"
YES" answered Jessie. Hush
Tom, don't speak so loud you'll wake
baby"
"Oh, bother the baby He's always
asleep or just going, so fellow never
dares more than whisper. I'm glad
supper is ready; I'm as hungry as d
hunter
Jessie led the way into the coy
little dining-room, and they sat dowr
at the neat table.
As she handed him his fragrant
cup Of coffee, Tom said
Owe got treat for you, Jessie"
"Have you' What is it?" asked
Jessie.
Tom drew two squares ofpink paste
board from his pocket, and showed
them to her.
what are they, Tom Concert
tickets? The Kellogg concert? Oh
Tom, you know l can't go"
Toms bright face fell at once.
Il don't see what's to hinder you
Jessie. | meant to give you a pleas
ant surprise. You used to like music
so much"
"Oh, yes, / am fond of music. Blu
l can't leave the baby, Tom"
Tom frowned, and felt like saying {
bad word. But the baby was hal
his, so he kept it back, and only
answered:
Jessie, don't you think Sarah could
rock that blessed infant for tive oil
three hours, as well as you could-fol
once, at least ?"
"But, Tom, the little darling might
be taken sick, or something. and then
/ should never get over it.
Nonsense, Jessie Come do &c
with me, Just this once"
"No. indeed, Tom, cant think Of
it. Don task me-"
Tom sighed. "Well, I'm sorry
jess. It's a dissapoin tment to me-
besides the three dollars wasted for
tickets"
"But you can 60 I'm sure, Tom"
mo, I'll stay with you, and we'll
have some home-music. We used to
have nice times, with the violin and
piano. You never play for me nova
days, and l shall enjoy hearing you"
Jessie hesitated, colored, and said /:
"But. Tom, dear, shall have to stay
upstairs with Willie. | never trust
him to Sarah, evenings
Toms face clouded again. "Oh,
well, then" said he, II don't see why
| shouldn't go out and enjoy the
evening as well as l can"
Certainly, Tom, want you to 20,
said Jessie. But, as Tom went out
and she assembled the stairs, she was
conscious of feeling lonely, and wish
ing she had gone after all.
AS for Tom, he went of, feeling
half angry.
"Of course, it is all right to be Il
devoted mother" he thought "but !
wish the mother had not quite SO en-
tirely displaced the wife. suppose
il will be better when Willie gets
bigger but it's confoundedly hard
on lonesome fellow now. Halo,
Joe! Excuse me-"
He hadn't noticed anyone coming,
until he almost ran over his brother
in-law, Joe White.
ooh, no harm DONE" said Joe
laughingly. II was coming up for
you and jess, to go to the Kellogg
concert with us. Cousin Kate Wilder
is at our house, and we'll all go togeth.
err"
rs Kate here 2" said Tom. "Well,
it's no use to 60 for Jessie. I've been
trying TO persuade her to go but she
won't leave the baby
why Is he sick 7"
"Ob, no he's we'll enough. But
she thinks nobody save herself good
enough to wait ON that wonderful
child"
"Well. I'm sorry. Lii had quite
set her heart on a family-party, to-