Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-05-24
HER PRAYER.

Shook, loud enough for his wife tC
hear distinctly every word he said
though he was in the woodshed
hunting for the hammer which usual,
ly had place Of its own on one ot
the joists, but was then nowhere tc
be found.
Its always the way" continued
he in a grived tone that some men
and many women know well how to
assume. 81 never can put thing
away, ready for use, but it's toted off,
and I'm tired of it p
Tired of what Alex" Mrs. Shook
inquired, innocently, coming into the
kitchen with the washboard tucked
under her bare arm, and some sticks
of maple wood under the other.
She knew very well Of what her
husband was tired, and he had been
talking to her all the time, but each
was playing part, in small way,
and candor compels me to admit that
each did excellently. But then the
play had been on the board a good
many years, and the little talent that
each possessed in that line had a very
good chance for development.
Tired Of WHAT" The man repeated
the words after his wife, very despair
ingly, as he kept on rummaging
among the bottles and packages Of
various sorts on the top shelf Of the
pantry. "Why, tired of having to
hunt, and hunt, and hunt for an hour,
every time I want anything, and then
not finding it. put them cas- on
that shelf, done up in a paper bag,
and all ready for sowing ; and now
that the ground is ready, and my man
waiting, they re nowhere to be found. !"
. "When did you put them there,
Alex?" very cody inquired Mrs
Shook.
when? Why, last fall, to be
sure"
"And you expect them then to be
there untouched till sowing time, l
suppose ?'
"Ofcourse did Why shouIdn'tI?"
Mrs. Shook walked Indignantly
across the room, ainging the wash
board into the tub, and splashing the
suds over the head of a little girl who
was buttoning her boots by the win
dow.
"Os, mamma, see cried the child,
lifting her pretty face that was decked
with the white foam of the water
"you We just soused me 20
Never mind" said the mother,
taking crash towel from its roller,
and wiping the upturned face tender
ly.
What is it, pet?" inquired the
father, forgetting all about the peas.
ooh, nothing, pet answered, pull
ing vigorously at the topmost button,
which was set too far back for the
good Of chubby little leg nothing, on
ly little bit of suds," added the
truthful child.
a wish you'd be more careful, Matil-
da," whined the man. at might have
got in her eyes.
"And made them all the brighter,
interrupted Matilda. There's no
danger of my hurting my own child,
I guess. Ifyou think there is, why
you'd better"
Mrs. Shook got no further in the
item of her counsel, for the little one
broke in.
q know where the peas are, papa.
"You know, child?" the one child
of Alexander and Matilda Shook had
a hundred pet name-"that's funny !!
How should you know"
why, saw them, papa. Don't
you remember-in your bureau draw,
where you was a hunting, oh, good
while ago? And when I saw the cum
ming little paper, I said, What's this
paper, and you told me, Peas, honey,
in there, and I member Just as easy
as easy as muffin at all ?"
Its SO, by Jove ! I remember, too,
now. I'd have sworn that l put them
on the buttery shelf, though"
The man went into the bedroom,
and coming back, proceeded to empty
the contents of the paper bag into one
of muslin, with strong stripes at
tached, that he took from the table
where pile Of wet clothes was lying.
~ declare, this bags as wet as
sop" grumbled he-"a pretty thing
to tie to fellow !"
"a fellow shouldn't have left it
there, then the woman's eyes were
swapping dangerously-"but I sup