The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-04-10

TH
ciusively b.
When Mrs. Berryas accustomed DIM
ncr hour arrived. the excitement had
taken away her appetite andshe started
to feast her eyes upon the beauties of
the art museum, which her summer
boarder, Miss Long, had diIated upon,
after the work was done and Mrs. Ber-
~ had q few moments to rest on the
porch before bedtime. When she IT
rived at the entrance of the museum, to
her CONSERVATION, am admittance fee
was demanded. The doorkeeper court
eously explained that it was 8 pay day.
She gladly rendered her precious quar-
ter of a dollar. 1t seemed to her as if
the gates of Paradise had Enclosed as
she entered the domain of art, and to
her great joy she found Miss Long, who
was copying a picture. Miss Long
kindly laid aside her brushes to guide
the visitor. She conducted her to the
choicest paintings and statuary and
explained the stories they sought to
tell. Many times she was surprised at
a low interruption: "Oh, yes, ] know.
1 read about that years ago, before 1
was married. I haven't had time to
read much since"
The hours sped all too fast and Mrs.
Berry found she had barely time to
reach the train. As she was claiming
her parcels at the cheek counter, the
gates closed and there was nothing to
do but wait a long three hours for the
next train. AS she took her seat, a dizzy,
faint feeling came yer her and she
knew nothing more until midnight,
when she opened her eyes too weak to
ask where she was. She had never been
in a hospital before, but when she had
collected her thoughts, she knew that
she was in an institution of that kind.
A uninterrupted nurse administered
medicine occasionally and in the morn
ing a grave cid doctor made his appear
ance.
II didn't eat anything all day." she
whispered, "and I wanted to see the
pictures and it was pay day"
"oh, yes, yes" exclaimed the doctor,
hastily, don't waste your strength
talking"
Jacob Berry finished his days work
and sat waiting for his wife to come
and cook him a good, hot supper to
make amends for his cold dinner. The
hours passed and finally his indignation
gave way to real alarm, which was in
creased the next morning by the re-
ception of a telegram summoning him
to the hospital. He entered the huge
building with awe and trepidation, but
when he saw his wife alive and looking
as usual. only a trifie paler, he felt him
self a m~uch-abused man and as she told
him of her visit to the art museum a
frown gathered on his face, and the
alert nurse, seeing her patient was be-
coming worried, ended the brief inter
view.
"Jest as I expected" began Jacob, in
an a~ggrieved tone, as he entered the
doctors office. "She brought all this
on traipsing around after foolishness
and here's farm work coming on and
don's suppose she'll be able to do much
for a couple of weeks"
The doctor, busy compromising medi
cine, ignored Jacobs complaints. After
a moments silence he remarked
eYour wife is a hard working woman
her hands show t." For the first time
in Jacobs life, he felt ashamed Of hi:
wife's toil-stained hands.
"WeIl,s replied Jacob, somewhat con.
fused, time and my wife both work hard
and viii have to a. long as we are in
debt"
Aren't your children old enough t.
be Of some help9" queried the doctor.
we haven't any" replied Jacob.
"Then what's the use Of working &c
hardf" continued the. doctor.
Because we're in debt reiterated
Jacob. sThe Cummins farm joins OF
mine and / bought it last spring"
tAh, indeed!" exclaimed the doctor
peering over his gold sp~ectacles ant
giving his medicine bottle a shake, "sc
you had one good farm clear before vol
bought this last one, and III warrani
money in bank, too. / know the way O.
these valley farmers. / was brought
up on a farm not far from yours. Iknov
all about the digging and pinching an,
saving; and you say you have no chill
dren 70 work for, so It just amounts Il
this: You r wearing out your wife
life and your own, too, and out of ever,
dollar you both save, possibly you ma,
! enjoy six cents a year and before LON
some n will have your money t
spend. This trouble of your wife's ha
! been coming ON a long time and wa
brought on by hard work. It is fortur
ate for you both that this break-dow
; occurred here where she can be care
for properly. 1t win be a good Will
| before she gets up and she viii never b
able TO work hard again"
| Jacob left tine hospital. feeling yer
, uncomfortable. Evidently the doctc
considered him responsible for hi
wife's condition.
Time hung heavily on Jacobs hand
il The long week that ensued. He he