The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-06-16
5elrrt Misrrllanu.
Polly and Tom.

Procrastination was Tom Green
woods besetting sin; to 4 certain de-
gree he was aware of this forthcoming,
but, like the ajority of mankind, did
not realize to what enormous dimen-
sions the habit had grown. His wife
was at disadvantage from the first,
for instead Of providing a separate es-
tablishment as he could have well af-
forded, he brought her to his old home,
where his mother waited upon him and
continued to "by inches until her
death two years later. After this Mrs.
Grecnwood's horizon frightened for
awhile. Tom began to keep things in
better order, to keep pace with her in
terror improvements, for after becom-
ing sole mistress she changed things
about, added few new articles, pol
ished up the dull furniture; in fact the
old-fashioned homestead was complete
ly transformed and spoke eloquently of
artistic fingers.
After time Tom began to grow
careless, and gradually the place took
on neglected AIR, until at the time
this narrative opens, when they had
been married about five years, an ordi-
nary observer would not hare imag-
ined for a moment that Tom Green
wood followed the occupation of a car
penter and builder.
One night in June Tom retired at
his usual time, leaving his wife finish
ing bit of ncedlcwork; he awoke
about midnight, and not finding his
wife beside him, said: "Polly, do come
to bed"
There was no answer.
"Mary Grccnwood' Che always called
her full name when he was in the least
displeased), care you going to sit up
all night?'
Still there was no answer, and look
ing slcepily toward the door, he saw
that the sittng-room light had been
eNtinguished. Thoroughly alarmed he
now arose, struck a light and went in
search of his wife He found a note
on his wife's sewing table. 1t read:
Tom:-I am going back home.
When you reverse the old saying that
''shoemakers' wives and blacksmiths'
horses always 60 barefooted," | will
come book, and not until then.
Polly.
Crushing the note he threw it into
the woodboX, and strobe angrily to
bed; sleep, however, was out Of the
question, and the remainder of the
night was not an cnviable one. \ half
score of mosquitoes came to keep him
company. The smarting bites upon
check and arm reminded him that he
had not mcnded the screens. although
his wife had spoken of them more than
once.
"l'Il get the wire tomorrow, sure!
another night like tins would finish me
up. It's lucky I'm loafing."
When early dawn began to peep in
he arose from his tossing and turning,
with the firm conviction that he was 4
very much abused man, and that, come
what would, he never would ask his
wife to return
"I'll gather the strawberries: there
is enough for breakfast and dinner" he
said, picking up his hat; but upon goin"
to the garden he found that cllanticleer
ald his family had arrived first, swal-
lowed the berries (grecn ones and alb,
and wrought havoc amid the vines
Tom shut his lips together and said
not Il word, but went to the shop tor
hammer and nails. securing the loose
lathcs, and, getting some corn. soon
had the feathcred marauders back in
their domain
Returning with his tools he noticed
for the first time that PolIy's garden
had likewise suffered. and the pansies.
in which she took especial pride, were
totally annihilatcd
Il believe I'm about the mcanest
fellow alive, he muttercl. "Ill get