Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-08-05
"a Ia III We WIFE.

! In a til. ing village on the western
coast of the Odd Bay State is located a jew
elry store CT high standard, its sole propri
etor being Joseph Hodges, a business man
on no small scale. His wife Marian is a
| faithful life partner and does all she can
| to make his home one of peace and com
( fort. 49,.
! whats the matter, Joseph?o she asked,
having REM Dyed her coat and bonnet and
taken a scat by the fire. They had just
| returned from an evening party. "What' s
! the matter?', she repeated, drawing near
! or the CRATE. You have been so sober
| and torpid all the way home.'' :
"I'll tell you, Marian" he replied, 'tbut
| don't be offended at what I'm about to
say. We're to recite volume of small
talk l couldn't tell you how you have
f.; wounded my feelings tonight
'Me-wounded your feelings?" she ut
tered, looking at her husband in surprise.
what do you mean?"
Don't you remember your remark
when l was discussing bicycles with Mr.
Daniels?'
''No, I'm sure don't. What did I say?"
''Well, when l said my wheel cost $780,
you interrupted me and said only $685.
WAS that so terrible, I'd like to know?"
his wife asked not in the best hunor for,
! like many others, she didn't like to dis
| cuss her faults.
1T was nothing terrible, " returned Jo-
seph, "but very annoying to me. When I
said my wheel cost $50, 1 meant it, for
that was it's price, and your remark was
| uncalled for. The moment you spoke a
smile passed around the company, and l
felt as though they regarded me common
boaster.
"Then, again, during the evening you
! corrected he when there was no occasion
to. It was when I was telling Mrs. Dan
iels about my horse running away. said
he ran nearly mile before I could stop
him, but you instantly assured the COM
pany that it wasn't over half a mile.''
''Indced I cannot see anything so bad
about it, anyway" she answered. "You
are forever accusing me of my faults.''
"Now, Marian, DEAR he said, drawing
his chair close to her and fcndly caressing
her golden head, will you promise to
| never again correct me in company and
wound my feelings as you have tonight"
Mrs. Hodges made no decided promise,
but she resolved to do the best she could,
and here the matter rested for the present
One night two weeks later Mr.. Hodges
gave a party at his own house. After sup
per the company gathered around the fire
to discuss the topics Of the day.
The American Spanish war had just
ended and, owing to it's duration, the
country was in deplorable condition and
business depression was great.
"Hodges, - said one of the visitors, a
noted silk dealer named Edmunds, ''how
does Thomas get along nOW?'
- RI =
coming money now.'
This Thomas was Mrs. Hodges brother
and one whom she loved dearly
'Glad of that" said Edmunds II
feared he would have trouble getting paid
for those goods he sent out west"
"No, there's no fear of Jim Thomas
! losing money" returned Hodges.
why, Joseph" interrupted his wife,
"don't you remember he told us the other
night" Hodges cast quick glance
at his wife, but she would not notice it,
for she must correct her husbands mis-
take-"he said he feared he wouldn't get
his pay for the goods sent to Thurston &
Co., and, oh, dear, hope he won't lose all
that, for it would ruin him!'
oh, Marian, you don't understand this
NATTER said her husband Jim stands
all right with the western frm.'
."Well guess know" quickly retort-
ed his wife, for heard him tell about
it, and if I was Jim I'd have no more to
do with such people,.
Joseph Hodges could say no more: His
face showed his feelings IS he cast mean
ing glances toward his;vi9c.
About 10 O'Clock the following evening
as Mr.. and Mrs. Hodges We're thinking of
retiring the door opened and Jim Thomas
entered.
"For heavens sake, Jim, what's the
matter?" cried Mrs. Hodges, perceiving
his deathlike countenance.
II am ruined" he said; Eyes, ruined
man,
lis it that western firm2" asked Marian.
"No," he said sadly, ''but the people
here have come down on me-"
"Do you mean all is lost, JIM" re-
turned Joseph.
eyes, everything" he replied heart
brokenly.
'Somehow Edmunds has discovered
that feared the western firm, and, owing
him large sum, he has demanded it i'm
mediately. just another month and all
would be safe, but it's too late now. He
has placed an officer over my goods. "
Marian sat pale and trembling. She
plainly saw what she had done, but, alas!
too late to recall those few hasty words
Looking up into her brothers face, she
uttered in a feeble voice: "Oh, Jim, am
the cause of all this, but don't blame me
now It is the result of my foolish habit
of correcting my husband before others"
Mrs. Hodges slept little that night and
arose next morning with an aching heart
and head. Her husband clasped her to
his bosom and forgave her, as also did her
brother
This eased her somewhat, but she saw
her brother drop from his high position
all through her fault.
After a time Thurston & Co. paid their
note, and Thomas was able to cancel his
debts. He went into partnership with
Joseph Hodges, and both carried on a
profitable business.
But Marian never forgot her terrible
lesson. Never after this did she interrupt
her husband in company with needless
corrections. Margaret Joyce in Boston
Post
A New Version.
A friend of mine is so fortunate as to be
the father of little golden locked girl
of summers. Like every other small
tot she has been taught to saw the child