Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-09-03
aJoE,S HTFE

{ from the streets as ne IOlleu along and
the chilling November driZzle gave to
the familiar trees a forlorn, almost
CHASTITY aspect His heart warmed as
he pictured to himself wife watching
for him. with a welcome smile, from
their cosy parlor, dinner ready, and Il
long restful evening before them.
But, as he drew near home. no cheer
full light streamed from the window.
All seemed rs dark and deserted as the
dripping strcer. He threw the reins TO
the boy whose duty was to hold the
horse on his professional rodnds, and
flung open the front door with an irn-
tated, injured feeling,
No tender smile; no sympathetic
voice; NO freight; no dinner, appar-
entity.
"Elinorr' he called
No answer
"Eliuorr
This time a voice spoke out of the
darkness-a tired voice;
DO be more quiet John; the baby is
just going to sleep"
"Confound it! Why isn't there a
! light here? And why isn't the baby
asleep before this time of uight?
lie has been frctful all day with his
teeth, and I have not had a chance to
change my dress"
| A wailing cry from the nursery sent
the voice hUrrying thithcr, and the doc
tor, with some inaudible words. pro
ceeded to light the gas and take off his
wet overcoat. The house was cold. the
| parlor had evidently been arranged by
! Eibcrnian hands, IN odor Of something
burning stole in from the kitchen. A
| pleasant reception for a man after "A
long days work
He ran upstairs with no gentle foot
! step. His wife sat by the nursery fire;
| her face wore weary expression. and
she had on the same blue gown which
she had donncd for breakfast The
baby mt length slept in her arms. She
held up warning finger as her nus
| band came laundering in; but already
baby's light slumber had been dis
| turbed, and the process of singing and
soothing had to be repeated for the ff-
teenth time
1t seemed for the young mother as if
| her patience could hold ont no longer
1t was provoking to have the little one
startled from his uneasy dreams again
! She knew Bridget would spoil the din
ner. She had been trying all day to get
| down stairs to make the house pleasant
with a magic touch here and there
! She longed TO get into a fresh gown
| and brush her hair, but there had been
| no time for her to do one of these
| things Nurse was away with a sick
sister, and babies always demanded
more from their mothers than from any
one else. They are tyrannical and
know and seize every opportunity to
prove their power over the anxious,
( half-gnOrant young mothers, who are
happy after all, to be their slaves.
! When at last the dinner-bell rang.
Mrs, Ford laid the baby in his crib,
sound asleep this time, warm and love
" in his utter repoSc. She gave a hur.
Iie1 dab ut her waVy hair caught up a
fresh handkerchief and ran down to
join her husband, who sat at the table
with a decidedly cross look on his face.
He barely tasted the soup, then pushed
it away in disgust
Burned asked his wife.
"Of course. Can't you smell it all
over the house? Why don't you look
after Bridget a little2"
why John, I have hardly been
downstairs today"
where's Hannah"
"She went 70 her sisters last night"
"Oh, yes; I forgot What's this?
Cold corned beef! Really, Elinor, have
you nothing else ia offer?"
Would you like an omelet|
No"
'NYhat them"
A bcelsteak, if there is one"
Mrs. Ford rose and went to the
kitchen Tho girl. of course. had Just
filed up the range with fresh coal, so
there was nothing to be done but make
the best of the cold meat, potatoes and
maccaroni, followed by a desert Of APP
pie pudding and cheese.
DR.. Ford found fault with the pota.
toes and said he WIS tired of maccaroni.
the bread was dry. and the butter not
perfect, As to the pudding
Ny mother always had miuce pies at
this season." said he.
This was the last straw and his wife,
unusually sensitive to straws tonight,
could bear no more,
1T is pity you ever left your
mother"
Il think so, too" he responded push
ing his chair back.
His wife hesitated a moment whether
to run around the table and burst into
tears upon her husbands shoulder or to
rush upstairs and have good cry by
bahy's side. She decided upon the lat
ter course, and, with quivcriug lip, left
the room and shut herself up IN the
nursery, where the fire was dying upon
the hearth and the baby breathing soft
IL, in strange contrast to her over
wrought condition.
'NYcll, IL is provoking Women al
ways must cry and fly into a passion
about tIi6eg"