Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-25

stand them better, she continued.
"Hain't you no idee of ever gittin'
married." she asked maliciously.
Not while ! have my faculties"
Abby snapped out. Just here Hen
ry Osgood came up the walk with
Harry and Willie.
Hello, Alb, glad to see you!' and
he gave her hearty smack on the
cheek, "this has been an afflicted
family since your mother sprained
her ankle, but you are just the girl
to straighten things out. How is
my little wife tonight" he asked,
tenderly kissing her.
II feel better since Abby came"
"Chuff, chuff, chew, chew, chew,
whoo-oo-oot" shouted Harry who
was dragging Willie OH an ottoman,
playing cars.
stop your racket, you young
request" vociferated their father.
Harry" said Abby, stop that
noise"
81 won't" he said deliberately,
"you amt our mother
II won't" echoed Willie, "you
amt us mozzerH
Let the poor darlings play" said
Carrie, "they don't trouble me. Oh,
dear, just look at their collars and
stockings, Abby. It's dreadful to
lie here helpless and see them look
ing like little outcasts."
II don't see but what they look
tolerably well cared for" she an
swered, land | don't know what
you expect light linen suits to look
like after a days wear. | do wish
you could learn to see that they
would look just as well in some
thing that didn't require constant
labor to keep clean"
That's what | tell her, Alb. She
is little crank Oh the subject, isn't
she?" said Harry.
Poor Carrie. She lay in her bed
fretting about the buttons that came
off, the clothes that were unbrushed,
the collars that were soiled, the
stockings that were little twisted
on the sturdy legs that were never
still long enough to be Strengthened,
and Abby's strict discipline-that
was never unkindness-brought
tears to her eyes and she petted and
kissed her darlings, gave them no
thoughts of any one but themselves,
and made a rod for her own back.
IF | should ever so far forget
myself as to marry and have child
rem, would begin from the mo-
ment Of their birth to train them
properly. / would have none of
this shaving over white dresses, lace,
embroidery, linen suits, etc, no
holding and rocking to sleep; achild
can be reared sensibly and affec-
tionately at the same time" said
practical Abby.
Abby's advice and example did
not count for much. When Carrie
was about the house again, it was
the same old querulous struggle
with the enemy dirt and "style."
Such washes and ironings the neigh
bors said they never saw, she was a
perfect slave to her three children,
and as the old nurse said, they were
the most "unbidable" young ones
she ever knew.
Abby stayed until it was almost
time for her school TO commence
again, her poor little dream of the
summer locked quietly away i'll her
strong heart. Another long winter
and then she would go where her
dream led. At last the summer
vacation came, Abby decided to stuff
the ears of her conscience with cot
ton wool if necessary, and go OH
her daring journey come what
would.
Strange to say nothing happened
to prevent and one morning she
left for Cottage City. 1t seemed
like dream something would
surely happen before she got to the
station, but there was no hindrance.
Feeling guilty and dazed, she soon
found herself on the steamer at
Woods Holl, with the delicious sea
air filing her lungs. She heard
some one talking at her elbow.
Truly now, tell me the romance;
why have you never married. My