People's voice., 1899-04-07
dsdnt mean to get up for breakfast, :
so.I n y

iy as she answered: Il may not al
ways be up after this, so l shall de
pend on YOU to help Lizzie, and on
Mary to dress the children"
Mr.. Mason looked at his wife 10 SCI
ii she we're out of her mind, but sh,
looked very much composed.
There's a concert tonight I want
to attend, John" she said. sweetly
after sitting at the fire so long tba.
the girls decided, if the house wer,
cleaned up, they would have TO do it
But the mOney"-began the hus
band.
"0h, have it from the meat
money" was the smiling reply. az
need music just now more than
meat"
Take her, pa" cried Mary. 'Sht
always gives the tickets to the res
OF u.s."
Lizzie, you'll have to arrange to
look after the children an hour each
afternoon, for shall lie down then,
Mrs. Mason said to her maid the next
day.
Il can't be bothered with young
uns," was the answer.
Very WELL" was said in such a
firm tone that the young girl re.
Tented.
They all noticed that the mother oc.
casionally read in the daytime
thing Mr.. Mason had not been
brought up to in his New England
home, which was common enough in
Mrs. Mason's early days.
The fourth day Mr.. Mason could
not contain himself: 81 can't see but
you are looking better than usual,
ma, though you don't act as il yo,l
were we'll. had thought to send up
the doctor today. Is it tonic YOU
need?"
Not exactly" was the reply. "Tm
going down town today. Shall I get
what need?"
of course, ma" he answered, ten.
n" some new pat
ent medicine dear to the heart of
woman. "Ill tell the clerk TO give
you what money you want, as shall
be out"
Imagine his surprise to find his wife
mad drawn $40. If he had not been in
good and regular standing" he
might have uttered some strange
words. AS it was, he spoke in a tone
OF voice that would have frightened
sneak thief. "Ma, what could Won
mean by taking $7O?"
That was enough for today" she
said, calmly, though it will take
more when the making of my dress is
paid for. I got my cloak at bar.
gain, and a new dress, and bonnet and
shoes. You said to get what / needed,
Haven't | earned that much, dear?"
of course, Ma" he said softening,
But you never cared before for look.
ing WELL"
But | do care" she cried, "and
must take care of myself, since there
is no one in the world who loves me
enough to do it," then, not being a
very new woman" she put her head
down, and sobbed aloud. Those tears
led to a long talk that put matters on
different footing with husband and
wife, and this much of the conversa-
ton came to the girls as they went
through the hall: 81 can't help think.
ing dear, you are to blame for the
girls being so selfish and lazy" But
the father got this back, for later he
overheard this interesting remark:
TITS mas sweet disposition that has
made pa so selfish and neglectful.
Think of ma dismissing Lizzie and
getting a girl who can cook! l am
going to turn over new leaf nv.
self. / wonder ma has not sunk un-
der such work and care"
OF course the new leaf got crum-
pied sometimes. The children clam.
ored for their devoted slave, and the
girls grumbled because they had to
take their part in the household du-
ties, and the father sometimes in
sinuated he would be bankrupted be-
cause OF the expensive girl; but the
little woman trusted God to help her
at her best, and everyone rejoiced in
the bright, happy mother who was
the inspiration of the home.
The next New Years eve. when Mrs.
Mason was in her friends little home,
she pitied her loneliness, and said: T
wish you would marry, Kate"
'T wouldn't object if | had such q
good husband as your John," was the
laughing answer. Being good to
yourself has helped even him, has II
not?"
"Yes," aswered Mrs. Mason, 81
have learned that we cannot love our
neighbors as ourselves unless we first
love ourselves in a wise way."-Myra
Goodwin Plautz, in lions Herald.
Captain Sigsbee at Mobile Bay.
Captain Sigsbee served as ensign