Middletown transcript., 1897-02-20
The Comedy Of
r1r. Tucker
the head of the stairs.
swell, what is itpn

the head of the stairs.
swell, what is itp"
4 / want my clean shirt.''
"It's right there in your draWe
just where put it,"
Il can't find it,"
Mrs. Tucker wiped her hands hastil
on the towel as she crossed the room
The stairs were built in the wall, an
she laid her hand against it going VI
it was the third time she had been u,
stairs that morning.
"There!" she exclaimed triumphant
ly in her good natured tone, drawin
forth the desired article: ''just wher
I said 'twas."
II thought that was another one,
answered her husband; amt you mos
through You'll be late."
''No, I guess not"
1t was sweet Sunday morning ii
June, and the sunshine struck glints o.
gold from the surface of the gras
blades. The sky was a clear, rain
washed blue: the fragrance of wild ros'
was abroad in the air. Mrs. Tucker
looked out Of the kitchen door at thu
old horse switching his tail.at the gatt
He, too, wore Sunday aspect. "I'd
like to sit down and take it all in
she thought to herself. '.There'll be
the ride to church, anyway"
Presently there came another call
from above. Hurry upl You'll make
me late."
81 S'pose so," said Mrs. Tucker ST.
lently, now resigned to ber fate. II
seemed to Almira Tucker at times as
if she had been "hurrying up'' all her
life.
When she went upstairs Mr.. Tucker
was standing in his shirt sleeves be-
fore the glass, chin out and mouth
drawn to one side, as he wrestled
with his collar button. She stopped to
fasten it for him before sitting down to
put on her shoes, then. standing be-
hind him, she craned her neck over his
shoulder to see how her back hair
looked. He did not move, and then she
did not seem to expect it.
II wish you'd fix this tie. Almiry, 1
can't make 1t come right"
"Just minute, Isr'el."
He shifted his position uneasily from
from one foot to the other. II can't
wait all day."
His wife dropped the just arranged
waves of her front hair in disorder
and tied the necktie. There was not a
neateror particular man in town
than Israel Tucker, and she was proud
Of the fact. His stiff shirt bosoms never
broke in the wrong place.
''I'll be all ready by the time you get
unhitched," she said breathlessly, dart
ing here and there as be put on his Sun
day coat and vest. "Yes, Isr'el Pm
comingl" she called few moments
later. "Oh, deart I always get SO
dustered. Well L can put on my gloves
as VIC 60 along"
"Ob, myl Amt it pretty day?" she
exclaimed, now quite serene again.
"Don't those daisies look like lot o,
children havin' partyP See'em bowin
an dancin'. How pretty pink those
roses are!n
''Well enough" said Mr.. Tucker, in
diligently. The patronizing federation
Of the unimaginative temperament for
what is beyond its grasp is a secret
spring of glee to the humorous mind.
Mrs. Tucker was not definitely con-
scious, however, of anything unsatis-
flying. She tstook Isr'el just 's@ehe
found him." After all, they had much
in common.
After church they drove to their
married daughters to dinner. Emme-
line lived in the village. Mrs. Tucker
felt this visit to be something Of an
event. 1t was the day in the week
when she could sit still in her best
black silk and see someone else "fy
around" Emmeline loved to fly around
She was young and plump and mex
haustible. She rushed up to her mother
as soon as the buggy stopped and
twitched her collar into shape. "I did
not want to tell you in church, but you
got your collar on crooked again, Now
come right in. Don't you do anything
ma-sit where you are. Pm going to
have chicken for dinner"
1t was pleasant to see her airsTof po-
sition and hospitality. ''Shall 1 cut up
your lettuce for you Henry?" she asked
at table.
"H you want to-" answered her hus-
band, . thin, dark man with a rather
discouraged expression; 81 wish the
pesky stuff would grow cut up, for my
part" 4
They all laughed. Later on. in the
meal reference was made to something
in the weekly newspaper. Emmeline at
once jumped up and brought il to him
"Why didn't you let him gopn asked,
Mrs. Tucker afterward. she was
thinking complacently, .'Emmeline's
got a good home.p
swell, 1 knew just whefs it was"
"You don't want TO do for him In
every single,thing. Let him wait on.
you some. It's just as well to begin
right.
Emmeline came to standstill op-
posite. Her eyes had jocose light in
them. her round good humored face
was like her mothers.
Nov, ma I'D just like to know how
much more / do than you've been do
ing for pa as far back as ! can remem-
ber2"