The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-09
MIR. Grumble's Cure.

service OF MS meals anu sha4tcN aoOot
the way bis wife attended - bis cloth
ing aud always complained that the ba-
by cried incessantly.
Mrs. Grumble's brother Tom decided
that it was time TO stop this state Of af-
fairs. and one night Mr.. Grumble came
home and encountered an old man
whom his wife introduced as Uncle
Tonpkins. Now, this hitherto unheard
Of uncle proved himself extremely
peevish and irascible from the start.
Mr.. Grumble silently deyOured his
supper, secretly wondering how long
Uncle Tompkins meant to stay.
No sooner WIS the table cleared than
the iraseibIe old gentleman began
again.
"Grumble.7 said ne, Il wish you'd
stop that creaking of your chair. My
nerves are so weak; and if you could
keep your children up stairs their rack
ct wouldn't disturb me so much. l real
" don't know how l am going to stand
that baby's noise"
Il do not think it is very noisy ba-
by" said Mr.. Grumble meekly. It's
teeth are very painful just at present
Mrs. Grumble, who was pOking the
fire, in accordance with her unele's pet
ulent request, said nothing, but smiled
quietly to hear her husband extenuate
the baby's sins.
"Well," remarked Uncle Tompkihs,
call babies are noisy. And, by the way,
Grumble, wish you would oil the hing
es of that squeaking door. And don't
like the smell of that geranium in the
window. Halloa You haven't any top
button on your coat l hope my niece
isn't careless wifei' -
e:Not at all, sir" said Mr.. GTumble,
nervously, "but the care Of the children
and housekeeping duties absorb a great
deal Of her time. The instant she fnds
leisure she will look TO my clothes"
Il don't see how woman can spend
her whole time keeping house and look
ing after pack Of children" observed
Uncle Tompkins increduOusly.
About 10 o'clock the old gentleman
was ushered in to the spare room, accom-
panied by procession of medicine vi
ais, a Tub of not water, wOolen dressing
robes and heated blankets for his feet,
aad his absence occasioned very gener-
al relief.
"W hat an insuffsrsble old duher that
isro exclaimed Mr.. Grumble, throwing
himself, with sigh Of satisfaction, into
mis- favorite seat once more. "My dear
Bessie, how could you endure his fault
iinding?"
81 am accustomed to that, Henry. 1t
is lesson that most married women
are obliged to learn" replied Mrs Grum-
bic, with a slight sigh.
Her husband pricked up his ears a lit
tie uneasily. Accustomed to it - What
did she mean
II was not possibie-it could not be
possible-that he was ike that Odious
old Uncle Tompkins. And yet he wish
ed Bessie had not spoken in that way.
Somehow it made him feel very uncOm-
Portable.
Three days passed away, Uncle Tomp-
kins growing more intolerable all the
time, while Mr.. Grumble improved the
occasion by making sort Of looking
glass of that worthy old gentleman.
"Upon-my-wori," he said to him
self, 81 must have male a perfect nui-
sance of myself all these years Why
didn't somebody tell me Of it?'
At length Uncle Tompkins went away,
flannel robe, medicine bottle and all,
and on the evening Of the same day
Tom Carlton arrived from a Temporary
absence, nobody knew where
$50 uncle has been visiting your be
aid gayly to Mr.. Gumble.
Yes said the latter, with slight
grimaee.
@What sort OF a looking man IS he?'
Mr.. Grumble was silent for moment
"Do YOU know he exclaimed, burst
ing into a perplexed laugh, Il couldn't
describe a feature of his face. He was
always enveloped, like an Egyptian
mummy, in a silk handkerchief, some
thing like that one you have in your
hand.
~The most intolerable fault finder l
ever net witt, absolutely the most dis
agreeable man that ever eumbered the
earth. I don't see how it is possible to
growl a. everything as he did"
That's not an uncommon thing, be-
lieve" observed Tom, demurely smiling.
Every likely" said his 0rother-in-law
emphstieally, @cut his visit has been
productive of at least one ehect-it has
completely cured me Of any tendency /
might have had that way. !, for one,
mean to leave off grumbling."
"Fm happy to hear it, NsPaeE Grum-
ble,' exclaimed cracked voice.
The victimized man started up in dis
may, hardly believing the testimony Of
his senses as Tom twisted the silk hand
kerchief skillfully round his head and
bent himself nearly double, with an
asthmatic sound between a grOan and a
grunt.
why, you don't mean to say that
you are Uncle Tompkins?' ?' exclaimed
Hr Grumb.e.
Pardon me, Henry" said Tom, smil-
ing. "but saw that you hal unc)n-
sciously become a habitual grumbler,
and judged that the best antidOte was
a faithful representation of your own
feelings. WSs I rigbt?"
His brother-in-lsw was half inclined
to be angry, but thought better Of it.
@Shake hands, Ton" said he. "NOu
are an irreverent young scamp, but l
forgive you. At all events the cure Is
complete"
And so Bessie found il.