Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-01
sJOE'S WIFE.

y.
| tired and anxious as to The result OF an
important surgical operation performed
that morning The mud scattered up
from the streets as he Iolleu along and
the chilling. November 1rizzle gave to
the familiar trees Il fOrloIn. 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 homo, no cheer
full light streamed from the window
All seemed rs dark and deserted as the
dripping street. He threw the reins to
the boy whose duty was to hold the
horse on his professional rounds, and
flung open the front door With an irri-
tatcd, injured feeling.
No tender smile: no sympathetic
voice; no freight: no dinner, appar-
entity.
''Elinor!" he called.
No answer
''Eliu0rr"
This time a voice spoke out of the
QdlknoSS-a tired voice:
DO be more quiet, John; the baby is
just going to sleep"
"ConfOund it, Why isn't there Il
light here? And why isn't the baby
asleep before this time of uight?'
'l1e has been fretful all day with his
teeth, and [ have not had a chance to
change my dress"
wailing cry from the nursery sent
the voice hUTrying thither, 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
Hibernian hands, an 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 a weary expression, and
she had on the same blue gown which
she had dOnned for breakfast. The
baby at length slept in her arms. She
held up 4 warning finger as her hus-
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 fif-
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.
he, Z
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,
halflgnOrant young mothers, who are
happy, after all. to be their slaves
When at last the dinner-ben rang,
Mrs. Ford laid the baby in his crib,
sound asleep this time. warm and love
~ in his utter repoSe. She gave a hJIr-
ried dab at her Wavy hair, caught up
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 littIe?"
why. John. I have hardly beer
downstairs today"
"Where's Hannah?"
"She went to her sisters last night"
ooh, yes; I forgot. What's this?
Cold corned beef! Really, Elinor, have
you nothing else to Offer?'
"Would you like an omeletY
mo"
'What them"
"a beefsteak, if there is one"
| Mrs. Ford rose and went to the
kitchen. The 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 ap-
pie pudding and cheese.
DR.. Ford found fault with the pOta-
toes and said he was tired of maccaroni,
the bread was dry, and the butter not
perfect. As to the pudding:
''AIv mother always had mice pies at
this season." said he.
This was the last straw, and his wife
unusually sensitive to straws tonight,
could bear no more.
ut is a pity you ever left your
mother"
II think so. too" he responded, 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 a good cry by
bahy's side. She decided upon the lat
; ter course, and, with quivering lip, left
the room and shut herself up in the
! nursery, where the fire was dying upon
the hearth and the baby breathing soft.
~, in strange contrast to her over
I wrought condition.
'Wcll, it is provoking. Women al
| about tTifies"
! 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