The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-02
JOE's WIFE.
How a Patient Taught His Doctor
o Lesson


from the streets as be rolled along, and
I The chilling November drizzie gave 70
the familiar trees forlorn. almost
ghastly aspect His heart warmed ss
he pictured to himself wife watching
Tor him. with a welcome smile, from
their cozy parior. dinner ready and q
long rcstful evening before them
Dut. as be drew near home, no cheer
III light strcamed from door Or win
dow All seemed as dark and deserted
a he dripping street III threw the
reins b tie boy whosc duty was 70
Mold tie horse ca his professional
rounds and f4pnz opeu the 'front.' door
with an Irritated, injured feeling
No tender SMILE w sympathetic
voice; no frelighs; no dinner, apparent
y.
"Elinorf- be called
No answer.
..Elinoris'
This time voice spoke ont Of the
darkness tired voice;
DO be more quiet. John; the baby
Is Just going to sleep.
'Confound IL Why isn't there light
here2 And why isn't the baby asleep
before this time Of night?'
ale has beer tretfui all day with his
teeth, and have not had chance 70
change my dress.
A wailing cry from Tie nursery sent
the voice hnrrying thithrr, and the doc
Tor. with some inandible words, pro-
ceeded to light the gas and take on his
wet oycrcoat The house was cold, the
parior had evidently been arranged by
Hibernian hands, an odor 81 something
burning stole Ia from the kitchen
A pleasant reception for man after a
long days work
lie 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 far breakfast The
baby at length slept III her arms She
held up 4 warning as her hus-
band came blnndering In, but already bar
by's light sIumbcr had been disturbed,
and the process Of soothing and singing
had TO be repeated for the fifteenth
time
Il seemed TO the young mother as Il
II 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 tc
get downstairs 10 make the house
pleasant with q magic touch here ans
there. She Ionged to get into fresl
gown and brush her hair, but there hat
been no time for her to do one Of thes'
things Nurse was away with sicl
sister, and babies always demanded
more from their mothers than from
anyone else They are tyrannical AM
know and seize every opportunity I.
prove their power over the anxious
battle-ground young mothers, who ar
happy. after all. to be their slaves.
When at last the dinner bell rang
MIRA Ford laid the baby in his crib
sound asleep this time, warm and love
" In his utter repose. She gave a hur
ried dab at her wavy hair, caught up
fresh handkerchief and ran down =
jofn her husband, who sat at the tabl
with decidedly cross look on his face
He barely tasted the soup, then pushe
II away In disgust
DuIuEuf dShEa Ills W lIE- y
.of course Can't you smell It a
over the house? Why don't you loo
after Bridget little?f
''Why. John, have hardly bee
downstairs to-day"
where's Hannah"
'She went to her sisters last night:
"oh, yes; forgot What's this
Cold corned beef Really, Elinor, hay
you nothing else TO offer?''
Would you like an omelet?"
"No"
what then?"
"a beefsteak. II there is one
Mrs. Ford rose and went to the kite
en-. The girl, Of course, had Just file
up the range with fresh coal So the
was nothing 70 be done but make Il
best Of cold meat, potatoes and mac
roni, followed by dessert Of app
pudding and cheese.
Dr. Ford found fault with the pot
toes and said he was tired Of mac
roni. the bread was dry. and the butt
not perfect AS to the pudding:
MY mother always had mince pi
at this season, said he.
This was the last straw. and his vii
unusually sensitive to straws to-nigi
could bear nomore.
1T Is a pity you ever left your mot
err"
Il think 50, too " he responded. pus
ing his chair back.
His wife hesitated moment wheth
tolrun around the table and burst in
tears upon her husbands shoulder
70 rush upstairs and have good cry
baby's side. She decided upon the !,
ter course. and, with quivering /
left the room and shut herself up in I
nursery. where the FIRE was dying
the hearth and the baby BREATH
softly. in strange contrast to her ov
wrought condition
.'Well. It Is provoking Women
ways must cry and fly into passi
about trifes"
But her husband, even as lie thouf
these words. began to feel repenta
He remembered the teething baby a
the long day at home alone. In
other moment he would have follow
his wife upstairs1and apologized for
pain he had given her But the dc
bell rang and summons to visit S
man al distance sent him at once
into the wet night And ali dome,
grievances were forgotten before
had driven two hundred yards.
The patient lived ia squalid par
tf4t Fst- L. -. 4.