The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-06-10
POLLY and TOM.
BY MRS. JENNIE w. WHEELER.
.ROCRASTINATION was Tom
- Greenwood's besetting sin to a
certain degree he WAS aware of

certain degree he was aware OF
this shortcoming, but, like the
majority of mankind, did not realize tc
what enormous dimensions the habit had
yrowr. His wife was at O disadvantage
from the first, for instead of providing q
separate establishment as he could have
we'll afforded, 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.
Greenwood s horizon frightened for awhile.
Tom began to keep things in better order,
to keep pace with her interior improve,
ments, for after becoming sole mistress she
changed things about, added few new
articles, polished up the dull furniture in
fact the old-fashioned homestead was COM
pletely transformed and spoke eloquently
Of artictic fingers.
After time Tom began to grow care
less and gradually the place took on a
neglected air, until at the time this nara
tive opens, when they had been married
about five years, an ordinary observer
would not have imagined for a moment
that Tom Greenwood followed the occupa-
ton Of carpenter and builder.
One night in June, Tom retired at his
usual time, leaving his wife finishing bit
Of needlework he awoke about midnight,
and not fiuding his wife beside him, said :
"Polly, do come to bed"
There was no answer.
"Mary Greenwood" he always called
her full name when he was in the least
displeased), "are you going to sit up all
night?n
Still there was no answer, and looking
sleepily toward the door, he saw that the
sitting-room light had been extinguished.
Thoroughly alarmed, he now arose, struck
light and went in search Of his wife. He
found a note on his wife's sewing table
1t read:
Tom Il am going back home. When
you reverse the old saying that 'shoe-
makers wives and blacksmiths' horses
always 90 barefooted,' | will come back,
and not until then. POLLY.
Crushing the note, he threw it into the
d-box, and strobe angrily to bed sleep,
however, was out of the question, and the
remainder OF the night was not an enviable
one. A half.score of mosquitoes came tc
keep him company. The smaItng bite.
upon cheek and arm reminded him that he
had not mended the screens, although hi.
wife had spoke Of them more than once.
"Ill get the wire tomorrow, sure
another night like this would finish me up
It's lucky Pm loaiing."
When early dawn began to peep in, ht
arose from his tossing and turning, witt
the firm conviction that he was very mucl
abused man, and that, come what would
he never would ask his wife to return.
"I'll gather the strawberries there i:
enough for breakfast and dinner" he said
picking up his hat; but upon going to the
garden, he found that chanticleer and his
family had arrived first, swallowed the
berries green ones and all J. and wrough,
havoc amid the vines.
Tom shut his lips together and said not
word, but went to the shop for hammer
and nails, securing the loose lathes, and
getting some corn. soon had the feathered
marauders hack in their domain.
Returning with his tools, he noticed for
the first time that Polly's garden had like,
wise suffered, and the pansies, in which she
took especial pride, were totally annibil-
ated.
81 believe I'm about the meanest fellow
alive he muttered "I'll get some new
plants this very day and set ont. There's
that gate post needs fixing, and by rights
the porch ought to have a new floor the
south end is r'tting fast. I'll 20 and see
about the lumber now.
He started back to the shop, then changed
his mind, being warned by hollow feel
my Ill MS stUIhdCH tIlat 10 was tl'lIt lbl
breakfast. He found the kindlngs where
his careful wife always laid them in readi.
ness for the morning fire, but in clearing
out the ashes, discovered that the stove
lining was broken in many places, and
showed evidence of having been propped
up with piece Of brick. Here he was re.
minded of another sin of omission, for the
new lining had been in the house over a
month awaiting more convenient time fol
placing it.
"Now or never" be said, and in short
time the old lining was in the ash barre
aud the new one in place. There, so ial
50 good but | guess the new maid had
better black the stove while he's about it, >
and he vent to the sink closet for the
polish. The little door stuck fast, and no.
until after he had automatically lifted il
up, pressed it down, ierked it quickly anC
given it long, strong pull did it conde
scend to open.
"There,' he said, with red face anC