Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-08-05

are tyEAunlcdl anu knO" anu SEIZE every
opportunity to prove their power over
the anxious, half ignorant 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 lovely in his
utter repose. She gave hurried dab at
her wavy hair, caught up fresh hand
kerchief and ran down to join her hus-
band, who sat at the table with decid-
eddy cross look on his face. He barely
tasted the soup, then pushed it away in
disgust.
"Burned2" asked his wife.
"Of course. Cant you smell it all
over the house2 Why don't you look
after Bridget little2"
"Why, John, 1 have hardly been
downstairs to-day"
"Where's Hannah?'
'sShe went to her sisters last night"
ooh yes; l forgot. What's this2 Cold
corned beef! Really. Elinor, have you
nothing else to offer?''
"Would you like an omelet?"
emo"
"What them"
IA beefsteak, if there is one."
Mrs. Ford rose and went to the kitch-
en-. The girl, of course, had just
flied up the range with fresh coal, SO
there was nothing to be done but make
the best of the cold meat, potatoes and
macarroni, followed by dessert of ap-
pie pudding and cheese.
DR.. Ford found fault with the pota-
! toes and said he was tired of macarroni,
the bread was dry, and the butter not
perfect. AS to the pudding:
''My mother always had mince pies at
this season." said he.
This was the last straw, and his wife,
unusually sensitive to straws to night,
could bear no more.
''It is a pity you ever left your
mother"
81 think so too" he respon ded push
| ing his chair back.
His wife hesitated moment whether
to run around the table and burst into
tears upon her husbands shoulder or to
rush upstairs and have d good cry by
babys side. She decided upon the lat
ter course and, with quivering lip, left
the room and shut herself up in the nur-
sery, where the fire was dying on the
hearth and the baby breathing softly, in
strange contrast to her overweight cor
| dition.
''Well, it is provoking. Women al
ways must cry and fly into a passion
about trihes."
But her husband, even as he thought
| these words, began to feel repentant. He
remembered the teething baby, and the
| long day at home alone. In another
moment he would have followed his wife
upstairs and apologized for the pain. he
had given her. But the doorbelI rang,
and a summons to visit a sick man at a
distance sent him at once out into the
wet night. And all domestic grievances
were forgotten before he had driven 200
yards.
The patient lived in a squalid part of
the town by the river. The darkness
seemed deeper in this poor neighbour
hood, the rain more soaking and the
wind keener. The river swept sullenlY
by, black, swollen tide, rejecting the
haring lights on the bridge. But the
doctor minded this discomfort very lit
tie. He was in love with his profession,
ardent and young. Besides, the despised
dinner had given HIM new courage to
fight pain and death.
He entered the one room Of the low
house to which he had been directed
with face quite free from Impotence.
A woman opened the door for him--a
lean, misers bic creature, with pale eyes
void of expression. Her thin hair hung
over her neck, her calico dress fell Imply
from her sharp shoulders. She stared at
the doctor as he entered, and he could
see there were tears in her childlike
eyes.
"Joe's SICK" she said, slowly gazing
into his face.
''What's the matter2"
"He-he's goin ter die, maybe" she
faltered piteously.
"No, hope not"
"Joe's sick, she repeated in whis
per, shaking her head.
"Who's Gomez" asked a voice from the
bed in the corner of the room. ''Nellie,
girl, who ale We talkin' with?"
sit is DR.. Ford, whom you sent for"
said the physician approaching the bed.
One candle lighted dimly the untidy,
comfortless place, showing stove and
man with tumble hair and rough beard
lying among the pillows of his bed.
ooh, the doctor, said he, with fever
ish eyes staring from under shaggy
brows.
elbow Iono have Won been ill2" asked