Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-02-16
MIR. GRUMBLE'S CURE.
A Lesson for Husbands.

''The old story-the coffee cold, the
fire nearly out, and the room full OF
sitting smoken'
Mr. Grumble drew his chair up to
the breakfast. table as he spoke, with
the face OF a martyr.
The coffee is only just made, dear"
said Mrs. Grumble, a pretty, timid-
looking woman, with soft blue eyes
and brown braids; land | don't
really think the room is very cold.
AS for the smoke, l 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 Mr..
Grumble. "Iiit had been Smith, now,
the chimney would OF been seen to
long ago. DO give me piece OF steak
that is at least warmed through;
we're not cannibals, that l know OF,
to eat our meat raw. But that's al
ways the wayne never had cook
misunderstood how to broil asteak'"
But my dear said Mrs. Grum
BILE.
Don't tell me-" interrupted Mr.
Grumble. II know just how things
ought to be done. The paper hasn't
come yet, l suppose? No, of course
not. really wish somebody would
enlighten me as to why my paper is
always half-an-hour later than any
body elses. If the baby doesn't
leave off crying, l shall certainly go
crazy"
"Its teeth trouble it," sighed Mrs.
Grumble, leaving the breakfast-tabe
to walk up and down the room with
her fretiul little charge.
"Oh. nonsense!" said Mr.. Grumble,
sharply, charging at slice OF toast
with his fork; you coddle it too
much, that's all"
Mrs. Grumble thought OF the gener-
al commotion into which the house
had been thrown about a month
previously, when Mr. Grumble had
had the toothache. But she only
nestled the baby's velvet head
against her shoulder, ana said moth
lng-woman' way OF disposing OF
great many little martydoms.
"Now, then, where's my hat?" de-
manded Mr.. Grumble, rising, and
looking around. N'ery singular that
that hat is never in its place"
at is just where you hung it your
self, papa, in the hail." 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 over
coat ism t mended yet-why did you
not see to it?
81 intended to do so,' said his
wife, alphabetically; but you know
we had company last night, and the
baby slept 80 badly that | rose rath-
er later than usual this morning; but
"Always some excuse" interrupt
ed her liege lord. Il really don't
understand the reason that nothing
is ever done right in this house"
He gave the front door rather an
emphatic slam as he went cut, and
little Mrs. Grumble, instead OF REBEL
ing against her husbands iron rule,
Just sat down to cry.
Mr.. Grumble wasn't by any means
bad husband. He really loved his
wife and believed himself to be pat
tern OF conjugal anna bility; only he
had, somehow or other, fallen into the
unconscious habit of fault-tinding,
and like many another individual,
whenever he couldn't think OF any
thing else to do, he grumblsd.
"Crying again, Bessie" exclaimed
her brother, coming in an hour or two
later Now, that's too bad. l sup
pose Henry has been treating you to
another domestic growl? I've great
mind to tell him how uncomfort able
lo !, , r r Ia ,f,.,n
Shall | Bess?''
"No, mol wouldn't have you
breathe a syllable to him for the
world" eagerly exclaimed Mrs. Grum-
bic, hurrieldy drying her tears. Henry
doesn't mean to annoy me. He has
the kindest heart in the word, and l
know he loves me-
II daresav he does" said young
Mr. Carleton: "but why is he fretting
and fault finding hour after hour, and
day after day? Upon my word, Bes-
sic thinkit its an oversight in our laws,
that there is not one to punish mar
ried men who scold"
Don't talk so, Tom" said Mrs.
Grumble, earnestly. Henry isn't at
all to blame, only baby is very troub.
lesome and had an Indifferent nights
rest, and"
"Oh, ah,-I understand" said
Tom, significantly, smiling. MY
dear little. forgiving Bess, you ought
to be made martyr Of" He sat a
moment or two in deep thought, then
suddenly starting up, exclaimed, 81
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 to
visit you?"
"Uncle Tompkins? l didn't know
we had an Uncle Tompkins, Tom"
Didn't you, dear? Well, prepare
your best bed room for company
the old gentleman is rather partic-
ular-.rumbles a good deal, in TACT:
but, then, you are used to that sort
OF thing"
But, Tom, l don't quite under
stand -"
Don't detain me now, Bessie, I
will come myself with the old gentle
man, and introduce him. Goodbye"
The moment the door had closed