Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-05-13
HOME"

was sitting in my cosey parlor, one
evening last month, when the doc,
opened and young Mrs. Hapless came
in. We call her young Mrs. Hapless,
because her husbands mother lives in
the village also. If / had not been ac-
customed to her appearance | should
have supposed some dreadful thing was
the matter. She had on an old calico
wrapper which never was pretty, but by
frequent washing had become faded and
streuked; half the buttons were gone
the sleeves and waist in rags, and the
skirt torn. Her hair was done up i'll
hairpin screw; she wore no collar. and
over her head she had pinned faded
plaid shawl which l had seen more than
once doing duty as an apron while she
washed dishes.
She nodded to me without smile,
and sinking down on chair looked
dismally round my pretty room. was
used to her ways, so only said Good
evening"
After few minutes she began in
fretful voice to speak.
"Oh, Mrs. Sunny, how comfortable
you do look! You never have any
troubles, do you?"
A shiver ran through me as thought
what my troubles had been, but L
knew the little woman had come to
speak of herself, so just said quietly:
Doesn't every one? Don't you?'
Il? Oh, am full of trouble! But
where is your husband this evening?
He is always at home.
"Oh, no. not always" 1 answered.
This evening he has gone to politi
cal meeting, and there are other even
ings when he goes to two different
lodges he belongs to-"
But surely, Mrs. Sunny, you don't
like him to go to lodges? Why, I think
they are horrid! Nobody knows what
they do"
1 laughed, she looked so tragic.
We'll, 1 said, IL don't want to know,
for l suppose 1 should not understand.
l urged him to 60 to this political meet
ing because he wanted to.
Urged him to go! Well, I call that
queer Why. 1 coaxed John" John is
her husband-"to stay with me, and we
had quite quarrel. l think man
ought to find pleasure in his home
sometimes, but John goes out every
evening; he goes to his mothers
often"
You never accompany him?"[ asked.
"Oh, dear, no I'm too tired Why,
l haven't been to see Mother Hapless
for whole month. She's dreadful
smart and has everything just so; it's
just spoiled John he seems to think
every one ought to be just like his
mother he don't say much, but he just
looks around so, and then goes clearing
off chair to sit on. He hardly says
anything but to ask is supper ready,
and then, soon as it is over, he puts on
his hat and | never see him till bed
time. and not then often, for I go to
bed cause I'm so lonesome
could not but pity the forlorn little
wife, left alone all the day and even
ing; but l knew that she made no
home for her husband, while at his
mothers he found everything bright,
the house orderly y, and the still pretty
mother prettily dressed and only too
glad to have her boy with her l had
often pitied his wife, even while |
blamed her. However, now that she
herself had broached the subject, felt
that l might offer some advice and
assistance so I said
Would you like me to help you keep
your husband at home p
She opened her big brown eyes us
she answered.
"Of course [ would. I often wonder
why Mr.. Sunny seems to really enjoy
his home so much"
proposed going over to her house,
and with blush she consented, saying
wearily:
1T don't look like yours. "
No, it did not, l acknowledged to
myself as we entered her sitting-roo
passing through the dining room on
our way, where the supper dishes were
spread on the table, Just as she had
dumped-I can't think of no more fit
ting term-them after they were washed.
There was no table in the middle of
the sitting room, but on small one in
Il corner an oil lamp burned with a one
sided flame which partly smoked the
chimney. Every chair in the room had
something on it, for Mrs. Hapless said
she had been looking over her dresses
and things" There was a litter of
scraps. spools, pincushions and other
paraphernalia for sewing on the table.
two fashion magazines, and paper
pattern unfolded; the fire was low and
the room chilly. I suppose the con.
trast to my own made it appear moro
uninviting to me; and could not but
wonder where John could have sat.
cleared part of an old dress off q
chair and sat down by the almost cold
stove; then asked the poor little shift.
less woman if 1 might tell her story.
She looked as if she thought me crazy,
and said hesitatingly:
YES"
"lt is the story of my own life," | be.
gan. Il was the daughter of man
who never could stay in one place, 50
we were always moving; if it was not
from one town to another it was from
one house to another; therefore 1 grew
up with no sense of real home like feel
ing. married very young. and was
charmed to find that my husband net
only took me to snug home but also
that he owned the house, and expected
to live in it, as he said, always.
"At first we were very happy; the
novelty of having home of my own
gave to housekeeping charm. L had
neat tea table, flowers plenty of light,
a.. =