New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
POOR MARSHY.
A DOMESTIC MARTYR.
Ransom, May 90,


eorlier this season n they did last; Dut they
have. n we've got to put up with IL, pose
II makes homework pesky sight harder, though'
and say it's hard 'nough any way.
so H. docs make it harder, MISS WnltIh, IL
doos So What with botherin' with takn down
storm doors, n putin up the wire screens
bout broke my back
There's one thing I've set my foot down
about resumed the first speaker, looking hrmly
At her neighbor, who had brought over a large
soc,r 70 darn. and who was patiently darning it,
drawing immense lengths of gray yarn through
large hole in the heel and holding her work
GOOD way from her, being, as she said, kinder
10th ter git tied up ter glasses for when you was
tied YOU was tied so you couldn't do stroke
'thout UNI
And what's that?" inquired the stocking
nendcr. with reference TO Mrs. Writings remark
about planting foot
It's this that my men folks We got ter put
nm the screen doors themselves. won't have no
shirkin', n | won't do it myself. do nough
They had ter come 70 it, If you bring up men
folks right they III be more decent They nc
les like puppies; jes' show um you amt I'M
doring THEY'LL have you underling if they
c,n N then how they'll trample onto you Bnt
he'll know bouts quck's puppies if you put
your foot down.
Mrs Whiting looked with such keen and i'm
rrossive significance at her visitor she said
tbis that poor Mrs. Barnes squirmed with con-
sciousness as she drew in her thread. She sighed
heavily. Finally, as Mrs Whiting continued
looking at her, her features became uemulous,
almost as II she were going 10 weep. But her
hostess knew she would not weep. That was one
Of Miss Barnes's ways, 10 look if she were about
70 bust out cryin'," but not to do it. Who can
tell how much this way Of hers may have been
resnonsible for the reprehensible conduct Of Mr..
Samuel Barnes? How many times do you sup
nose il made him fling out Of the room and slam
the door sinfully behind him while he said.
Thunderation" with frequency and emphasis on
his way TO the barn? When he was once in the
barn. among the COWS and horses, he used to re-
lieve bis feelings in words. AZ least, it was
ascertaincd he did So
IF she'd only cry, n done with it, he would
say in loud tone 10 the jersey heifer.
Thunder n lightning Why don't she either
cry or not ?-onc thing or another, say
Tho heifer chewcd her cud and looked az him
with large. sympathetic eyes Mr.. Samuel Barnes
had long since forgotten that, in the days when
be had been counting Marcia lane. what ne
thought NJ AZ her lovely sensitveness though that
is not the way he phrsscd it, had been one Of her
greatest charms 10 him. Now he would some
times inform rho sorrel horse that If Marcia's
feelings was as tough whit-leather he should
feel 10 thank the Lord for It,
Mr. Barnes did not know he had developed
into a tyrant in his home. but ne had done so,
and their nearest ncighbor. Mrs. Whiting. did not
scruple to make the announcement 10 any one
that il was his wifes meekness that had done
it," And perhaps il II you have calling
70 be very meek and ohedent You will have no
difficulty in finding people ready n tyrannize over
you. Mrs Barnes never had n mind Of her own
about anything. She hardly dared assert that shr
knew positively when pie ought 10 come out Of
the oven II any one asked her opinion unex-
pcctedy on the most trfing matter she always
replied.
IL amt heard Samwcl say until some Of the
young folks round the neicl borhCod had taken
up the phrase for what they called by-word
and when asked what they thought of certain
subject they said they hadn't heard Samwell say.
But, OF course poor Mrs. Barnes Gidn't know this.
II she had known II. perhaps she would not only
have looked IL she would cry, but would act
ualy have done so.
Mrs. Whiting. in The privacy Of her own fam
ily. and occasionally among n few special friends
M tho sewing circle or Baptist festival was In
the habit OF calling Mrs rarncs a Twin sacri-
fee She said size hi, med Marshy n great deal
more than she did Mr.. Barnes. Men needed
bringing under. and Mr. Barnes had never been
brought under and never would be, she afraid.
unless Marshy should die and her husband should
git somebody little dlrrunt.'
Tie discipline OF being brought under would
doubtless be hard for a man who aad lived 10 he
fifty nine years old al had always been, 10 quote
Mrs. Whiting again. q" jcs' stuffed with his own
way Such diet not good for any mortal.
man or woman.
Mrs Barnes had secret and long cherished
conviction that II her children had lived Samwell
would not have been les s he was But they
had not lived. There had been five. all boys
and all save the first had died when they were
babies The hrst one was named Barnabas. after
an uncle Of Samwells. who was rich and childless
Barnahas Barnes had been sturdy ard healthy;
he had already begun 10 manifest a decided dis
position 10 make even his father stan round
when, one March night, he died OF Group
Marcia felt II she were 10 blame that not
one Of those boys had lived. Instead of having
sons 10 help him farm it, Mr.. Barnes was
obliged 10 have hired men. II was natural,
she thought. that he should rather resent such
situation.
Hour after hour, as Marcia used 20 he drudginy
in her kitchen. she would recall the incidents
in the short lives OF ncr sors She would ask
herself sometimes with agony. whether. ~ she had
done this or that, or not done tbs or that. She
could not have saved one Of those boys. One
OF them surely would have understood her. He
would not always have domineercd over her; she
would not have oeen afraid OF him. oh. what
would II be 20 live with sCmc ore Of whom she
was not afraid. There we're women who were
not afraid.
There was Miss within she would say
nloud when these thoughts became too strons
for her. She want afraid
But Samwell was good provider lie always
ordered another dollars worth of sugar before the
previous dollars worth was gone and 1t was
lust SO with everything. And Zcnas Whiting was
kind Of slack He had to he "ponied up good
deal, but then, he was good-natured, and his
wife could 4" call her soul her own As Mrs.