The record-union., 1897-02-07
A QUIET AFTERNOON.
MI. Williams Spent Ii With His Little
Son.
Incidentally He Learned How to Az
preciate Patient Wife, and
Other Things.
tom, what was the crime of 1872"

Little Mrs. Williams looked lnqu1r-
ingly at her husband as she spoke.
1T was the demonstration of silver
replied Mr.. Williams from over his
| morning newspaper.
Would you mind telling me just what
that means?" the little woman inquired
timidly
Why, it means that in 1873 the Re-
publicans stopped the coinage of silver
and that ever since then this country
has been going to the dogs replied her
husband emphatically.
Why didn't the people find out the
crime sooner? l never heard of it till
this fall and Mrs. Williams looked in
quiringly at the big man opposite.
Gertrude" answered the big man,
women don't seem to have any sense
about these things. l wish you would
read up, so that you wouldn't have to
ask me idiotic questions"
He rose a little impatientiy from the
breakfast table and started toward the
door. He glanced at his wife, and the
wounded look on the sweet face made
the big heart within him instantly re-
lent
very gently on the sunny head. Ger
trude" he said, suppose you go and
hear General BIS speech this afternoon.
1t will be fine and you've never heard
him. Then you'll know more about
these things"
But who'll stay with Tommy" asked
his wife, looking up quickly. 1T would
tire him out and me, too, to take him
into a large crowd"
III stay with him myself. I have
heard the General, you know, and it
will give me chance to do a bit of
reading I've been wanting to do for
months
You're so good, Tom she said. pat
ting the hand she had taken in both of
hers. Then a little troubled look crossed
her face. I'm afraid, though, that you
| won't have very good chance to read. -
why not?"
Because of Tommy's questions. That
is why I'm so ignorant and behind the
times politically. Every time l pick up
a paper or a book Tommy is at my elbow
and the questions he asks are SO many
and SO queer and so provokingly un-
answerable that / give up reading in
despair Part of the time l laugh at
| him and part of the time I really get
provoked
Dear little lad, I'll answer his ques-
tions and not get provoked either. 1t
will be genuine treat to spend a cou-
pie of hours with him."
Very well, then, dear I'll go and
hear the speech and maybe I'll learn
SO much l won't have to ask you any
| more silly questions"
Accordingly that afternoon Gertrude,
in company with neighboring friend
! betook herself to the grove in the out
skirts of the town where the speaking
was to take place. Mr.. Williams
| watched her as she walked away; then
| he went into the,. next room where
Tommy was ct play with his blocks,
and sat down and played with him for
| good fifteen minutes.
| Then he stole quietly into the library
and taking down a volume of Shakes
peare, turned with swift, accustomed
hand to the "bit of reading" he had
| been wanting to do. In a minute he
| had found it: THE Tanning of the
|
he had always found in that old com
| edy. A smile Of deepest satisfaction
| crossed his face and then he gave g
| little sigh. Why2 Mr.. Williams him.
self could not answer that question, al
| least he would not like to try to answer
| it, and / will answer it for him. He
| signed because the irony of fate
| had caused him to fall in love with
and marry the sweetest and gentlest
| little woman that ever trod the earth
while the Petruchio within him must
| forever be still. He realized to the
very tips of his fingers what a Petru-
| chic he could have been if only Ger
trude had been a Katherine. Well, at
any rate he could read about this
adorable man.
When he had got through the dra-
| matis personae and had begun on the
| first act Tommy's voice rose from the
! window: Papa. who put this big A
out here by the fence?"
Who put what?'
This big A out here?"
What can the child mean?" said his
| father laying down his book and going
with some curiosity to the window
y
upon the subject in question
| It's a harrow, child. 1t does look
| like a big A sure enough but nobody
| but you would ever have thought of it,
| He went back to his book At the
end of three blissful minutes a little
| voice at his elbow said, Papa, wipe my
cwaker."
Wipe your cracker?" said Mr. VIII
| liams, looking up. well, that is a
rather unusual request. Give it to me
| and I'll wipe il"
| He took his handkerchief and wiped
the soggy square very gingerly.
The water got on it," explained Tom
my. as his father handed it back
| Mr. Williams found his place and
| read two lines.
This cwacker's wotten," said Tommy
| looking in mild disgust at the pulpy
| thing in his hand.
Tommy, you're enough to make g
horse laugh said his father looking a.
the little boy and laughing heartily
Go and throw it in the fire and ther
come and let me wipe your fingers"
| When the fingers We're wiped and Mr.
Williams was finding his place agar
/ he thought, Il don't see how Gertrude
can get much reading done. l dom
see how she can get the least bit out OF
patience with him, though. He only
| interests and amuses me intensely
He read with much enjoyment fol
five minutes when Tommy came dole
fully to his side. Put a wag on my
| finger. papa" he said
What's the matter with your fin
ger?"
Why, l hurt it,
1T doesn't need a rag ON it; the BLOOD
| hasn't come
| It's goin' to come"