The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-10-05
THROUGH OTHER EYES.
The Story Of One Who Bore His
Burden Cheerfully.

~~~S~>~~~Ss
oso~o~o~o.o.~oo s.o~o-o~o~o~o
He had been sent by one Of the large
down town stores to lay a carpet in the
spare bedroom. He whistled merrily in
the intervals when his mouth was not
full of tacks, and although his face was
lined with care there was a good natured
twinklssin his eyes, and he went about
his work as one who enjoyed it.
The young mistress of the house had
come into the room and was watching
him from the window seat, the only avail
able resting place in the room. Her
frame of mind was of the deepest ceru-
lean hue, and she considered herself an
exceptionally unfortunate woman. Her
husband had that morning informed her
that owing to unexpected reverses in
business they would not be able to go
to the seashore, as they had planned to
do. and, in fact, they could not leave the
city, but must be contented this year to
test the attractions Of Chicago as a sum-
mer resort. There would be nothing to
do, therefore, in the way of recreation
but to ride over the well known boule-
wards and attend the theater once in
awhile. with perhaps an occasional sail on
the blue bosom Of the lake. The dress.
maker who had been engaged to plan
and make q number of fetching gowns
and other CONNECTIONS must be informed
that her services would not be needed,
and altogether the mistress of the house
considered this life to be a very dis
appointing affair, one which. when taken
all In all. was by no means worth the
trouble Of living.
She watched the man In moody silence.
Why did he take any interest in his occu.
patton? How could he be happy when
for him the future evidently contained
nothing but work? She wondered how
life appeared as seen through his eyes.
She felt like talking to him; she wanted
to learn something of his history. but
there was the rat-tat-tat of the hammer
to drown all conversation even had he
been able to speak distinctly with the
tacks in his mouth.
When his task was nearly finished and
when he was pouring the last remaining
tacks from the paper into his hand. she
asked tentatively:
Have you a large family of children 2"
"No children ut all. ma am. and guess
it's a blessing haven't, the way things
have turned out" he replied cheerfully.
you have had some trouble in support
ing yourself. then, l concluded"
Myself? Gracious! 1t wouldn't be
any trouble to provide for myself. Any
things good enough for me. But, you
see, all my life long I've had somebody
IN my hands to take care of. / was just
a small kid though ] was the oldest Of
Ave. when my father died. Then mother
said:
Joe, you are little fellow, but you
must do what you can to support the 9th
or children And SO went to work. and
you might say I never was a child from
that minute. Then mother she married
again. because she thought it would be
better for us children. she said. My step
father was n good hearted man. but not
one that ever could set the river afire.
and after awhile he met with an accident
that crippled him for life. and had him
on my hands too. The other children
grew up and married off, but none of 'em
ever seemed to have a place in their
homes or any money for father and moth
er. l was the oldest, you know. and
they'd got into the habit like of depend.
ing on me. / guess it was nothing more
than natural that they should. :
"Then Aunt Jane. my stepfather's old
est sister, came from Iowa on a visit.
She was considerably drawed up with
rheumatic, and she said she thought the
trip would do her good. That was ten
years ago. and she is with US yet"
"Why. you have no right to support
her. She is not related to you in the
slightest degree"
That's so: but, then. she amt related
to my brothers and sisters either. so they
couldn't be expected to take her. She
has no money, no other relatives Of heI
own and no place else to go. Naturally
I've got to look after her. She'd be q
heap more agreeable, though, il she was
not so cranky and fond of finding fault
II the tea is green. she wishes it was
black, and il it's black she's sorry 'tain't
green. and so on. But. then. we all have
our faults" He placed a tack on the
edge Of the carpet and hammered it in.
81 should think any home would be un
pleasant that contained such a woman,
remarked the mistress of the house wher
the noise of the hammer had subsidized.
He smiled. well. with her remarks
and with father and mother always hec
| toring more or less our place amt always
what you'd call gay. But I've found that
| the best way to be happy is not to think
too much about yesterday nor expect toe
much from tomorrow. but get all the good
| you can out of today. And there's good
deal that's pleasant to be found after al
| if we'll only look for il.
at is not surprising that you were moi
able to marry" she said. ignoring his
| philosophy.
Lob. but l am married." And his rug
| ged features were Illuminated by bril-
liant smile. Then he drove in another
| tack.
with four grown people to support
two of them invalids-you must have
hard life. no matter how you look at 1t
and yet you struck me somehow as being
very happy man."
"And so l am" he returned. still smil
ing 1.-THE richest man in Chicago or Nc
Kinley himself ain't any happier than
am this day. l could sing at the top Of
my voice. could even dance if there
was nobody to see me. for ! guess one o.
my feet must be a Methodist, l am 81
awkward on the floor" And he chucklet
softly.
The last tack was in now. He stoot
up and surveyed his work with an ex
preston of satisfaction and then began
to gather up his tools.
"TelI me about your marriage and wha
1t is that makes you so happy" said tn
mistress of the house persuasively.
He seemed quite willing to comply witt
her request. He slipped on his thread
bare coat, and, leaning, tall and ungainly
against the doorpost, he folded his arm
and began half alphabetically:
81 know very well that / hadn't ough
to marry, there being circumstances i
life when a man has no right to think o
his own comfort. The rest all took it 70
| granted that I'd never marry, and l a
L H. p,,f hof h<