Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-29
CURED.

of a martyr
THE coffee is only just made" said Mrs.
Grumble, pretty, timid looking woman,
with soft blue eyes and brown braids; "and
/ don't really think the room Is very
cold. As for the smoke, am sorry, but
the man promised me to have the chimney
seen TO yesterday"
"Of course he did-nobody ever keeps
promises to u.s. groaned MIR Grumble.
"lf it had been Smith now, the chimney
would have been seen to long ago. Do
give me piece Of steak that is at least
warmed through; we're not cannibals, that
know Of, to eat our meat raw. But that's
always the wayne never had n cook that
understood how to broil a steak"
But, my dear''-said Mrs. Grgmble.
Don't tell me" interrupted Mr.. Grum-
BILE. 81 know just how things ought to
be done The paper hasn't come yet,
suppose. No, Of course not. | really wish
somebody would enlighten me as TO why
my paper is always half an honr later than
anybody else's If that baby doesn't leave
Off crying, shall certainly go crazy"
Its teeth trouble it," sighed Mrs. Grum-
BILE, leaving the breakfast table to walk up
and down the room with her fretful little
charge,
''Oh, nonsenser1 said Mr., Grumble, sharp
ly charging at a slice of toast with his fork.
"You coddle it too much, that's all"
Mrs Grumble thought of the general com
motion into which the house had been
thrown about "A month previously when
Mr. Grumble had had the tcothache. But
she only nestled the baby's velvet head
against her shoulder and said nothing
woman's way Of disposing of great many
little martyrdoms.
"Now, then, where's my hat}" demanded
Mr. Grumble, rising and looking round.
VERY singular that that hat is never in its
place"
1T Is just where you hung it yourself,
papa, in the hall - said little Harry from
behind his spelling book.
"Children shouldn't talk so much, said
Mr.. Grumble tartly. My dear, that rent
In the lining OF my overcoat isn't mended
yet-why did you not see TO itf'
II intended 70 do 50, " said his wife apollo
getically, but you know we had company
last night, and the baby slept 50 badly that
/ rose rather later than usual this morning,
BUT
always some excuse" interrupted her
liege lord. II really don't understand the
reason that nothing is ever done ia time in
this house"
He gave the front door rather an emphatic
slam as he went out, and little Mrs Grum-
BILE, instead Of rebelling against her bus-
bands iron rule, just sat down to cry.
Mr. Grumble wasn't by any means bad
husband He really loved his wife and be-
neved himself to be pattern Of conjugal
amiability, only he had, somehow or other,
fallen into the unconscious habit Of fault
finding, and, like many another individual,
whenever he couldn't think Of anything
else TO do he grumbled
Crying again, Bessie" exclaimed her
brother, coming in an hour or two later.
"Now that's too bad | suppose Henry has
been treating you 20 another domestic
growli I've great mind to tell him how
uncomfortable you are made by his little
eccentricities. Shall 1, Bess"
mo, mol wouldn't have you breathe a
syllable to him for the worldr eagerly ex-
claimed Mrs. Grumble, hurriedly drying
her tears. Henry doesn't mean to annoy
me He has the kindest heart in the world,
and know he loves mep
II dare say he does" said young Mr.,
Carlton; but why is he fretting and fault
finding hour after hour, and day after dayt
Upon my word Bessie, / think it's an over
sight in our laws, that there Is not one to
punish married men who scold"
Don't talk 80, Tom" said Mrs. Grum-
bic, earnestly Henry isn't at all to blame,
only baby Is very troublesome, and had
an Indifferent nights rest, and'--
"Oh, ahl / understand" said Tom, sig
nifcantly, smiling. My dear little for
giving Bess, you ought to be made a mar
tyr Of" He sat moment OF two in deep
thought, then suddenly starting up, ex-
claimed; II must be gone, or shall be too
late at the station to meet Uncle Tompkins
Did mention to you, by the way, that
Uncle Tompkins was coming so visit your"
"Uncle Tompkinsi didn't know we
had an Uncle Tompkins, Tom"
Didn't you, deari Well, please 20 pre-
pare your best bedroom for company-the
old gentleman is rather particular--grum-
bles good deal In fact; but, then, you are
used 10 thai sort Of thing"
"But, Tom, don't quite understand''-
Don't detain me now, Bessie. | will
come myself with the old gentleman and
introduce him. Goodbye
The moment the door had closed behind
Tom, Bessie put her baby into the cradle
and clasped her hands to her aching head.
What was Tom thinking OFF How should
she exist with another growler domiciled
for nobody knew how long at her hearth
stonei But perhaps they might neutralize
one another like two powerful poisons
There was a spice Of comfort in that re
6ectioD at least, and Bessie Grumble wiped
her eyes and almost smiled.
What was Mr.. Grumble's surprise, on
coming home that evening fully primed for
domestic TRADE on the subject Of but
ton which had drifted down from his shirt
front during the day, 20 find his especial
easy chair and corner Of the fire occupied
by an asthmatic old man, whose head and
face were enveIoped in a silk handkerchief
He stopped short in amazement and horror.
This is Uncle Tompkins, Henry" said
Mrs. Grumble, who was busy warming a
basin Of gr7il over the fire; and the old
gentleman extended one finger without
turning bis head, saying in cracked voice:
II wish, nephew, you would shut that
door Nnhndv eyer thinks Of admitting a