Smyrna times., 1894-02-28
HIS CURE WAS COMPLETE.

HIS CURE WAS COMPLETE.
"The old story-coffee cold, the fire
nearly out, and the room full of fstifiing
smoke" Mr.. Grumble drew his chair
up to the table as he spoke, with the
face of martyr.
1.-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 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 Mr.. Grumble.
''If it had been Smith, now, the CHM
ney would have been seen to long ago
Do give me piece of steak that is at
least warmed through; we are not can
nibals, that 1 know of, to eat our meat
raw. But that's always the way-we
never had cook that understood how
to brOil steak"
"But my dear"-said Mrs. Grumble.
Don't tell me-" interrupted Mr..
Grumble. Il know just how things
ought to be done. The paper hasn't
come yet, supposeP No of course,
not. really wish somebody would
enlighten me as to why my paper is al
ways half an hour later than any body
else's. If that baby doesn't leave off
crying l shall certainly go crazy"
"Its teeth trouble it," sighed Mrs.
Grumble, leaving the breakfast table
to walk up aud down the room with
her fretful little charge.
"Oh, nouesense I" said Mr.. Grumble,
sharply, charging at a slice of toast
with his fork you coddld it too much,
that's all. y
Mrs. Grumble thought of the general
cOmmotion into which the house had
been thrown about a month previously
when Mr. Grumble had the toothache.
But she only nestled the baby's vel
vet head against her shoulder, and said
nothing-wOman's way of disposing Of
a great many little msrtyrdoms.
Now, then, where's my hat?" de-.
manded Mr.. Grumble, rising and look
ing round. very singular that hats
never in its place."
"Its just where you hung 1t yourself,
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 oVercoat
isn't mended yet-why did you not see
to it?"
81 intended to do 80" said bis wife
apOlogetically; "but you know we had
company, last night, and the baby slept
SO badly that rose later than usual,
this morning; butt
always some excuse" interrupted
her liege lord. II really don't under
stand the reason that nothing is done
in time in this house"
He gave the front door rather an
emphatic slam as he went out, and lit
tie Mrs. Grumble, instead of rebelling
against her husbands iron rule, Just
sat down and cried
Mr.. Grumble wasn't by an means a
bad husband. He really loved his wife,
and believed himself to be a pattern of
cOnjugal amiability; only he had, some
how or other, fallen into the nncon-
sciOus habit of fault-fnding, 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 l sup
pose Henry has been treating you to
another domestic growl? I've a great
mind to tell him how uncomfortable
yOn are made by his eccentricities.
Shall !, Bess ?"
"NO,nO-I wouldn't have yon breathe
a syllable to him for the world !"eager-
ly exclaimed Mrs. Grumble, hurriedly
drying her tears. "Henry doesn't
mean to annoy me. He has the kind
est heart in the world, and l know he
loves me-"
81 daresay he does" said young Mr..
Carlton, "but why is he fretting aud
fault.Rnding, hour after hour, day af,
ter day?"
Don't talk so, Tom" said Mrs
Grumble, earnestly. "Henry isn't to
blame, only baby is very troublesome
and had an Indifferent nights rest
and"-
"Oh, ah understand" said Tom
significantly smiling, my dear little
forgiving Bess. you ought not to be &
martyr Of"
He sat a moment in deep thought
then suddenly starting up, exclaimed
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 to visi
you ?"
"pnole ThompkinsP didn't know
we had an Uncle Thompkins, Tom p
"Didn't you, dear2 Well, pleas,
prepare your best bedroom for com
pany-the old gentleman is rather par
ticular-grumbles good deal, in fact
but, then, you are used to that sort o
thing"
"But, Tom, don't quite under
stand"-
Don't detain me now, Bessie.
will come myself with the old gentle
man, and introduce him. Goodbye I
What was Mr.. Grumble's surprise, o
coming home that evening, fully prime
, for domestic TRADE on the subject
a hutkon xuh;oh bad drsftad f.. r.