Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-03-21

t was Sabbath night and Usher
L and me was seated by the fire.
place in the sittin'-room. Neither
of us spoke, for we was thinkin' that
jest 20 years ago we was married:
shat another anniversary was hur-
-yin' on to join those already
counted; that life's clock was strikin'
another hour for us.
We've had our share of the cups
and downs of this world, but our
love has been of the sort to stand
"wear and tear" so I don't mind
sayin' that we've had to do with con-
siderable of the latter.
l believe in submission when it amt
carried too far by either party.
Overrulin' is injurious, and those
who + INDUCED in it never know
when they have become tyrannica1 or
headstrong, so of course the yieidin'
soul don't git credit for givin' in.
Lisher's m~anliness was what I first
admired in him. Folks called him
"set and stubborn, but generous and
awful kind-hearted." He was tall and
the strongest Of them all, when it
come to wrestlin' and SIGH like. So
It has always been a real comfort TO
depend on him for support, and he
hain't never failed to care for my
smallest need.
ANY woman of sense viii learn by
experience that continual obiectin'
:veakens her influence in the home.
Usher often says that he thinks the
world of my advice, but it's because
Of my agreein' with him so much.
It wouldn't be worth nuthin' if I
didn't. When I have to differ with
him 1 Jest come right out with my
idees and accept rs my pay for the
privilege such titles as Eknow-noth-
IN" and poor weak woman!"
But / am divergin', and this Sunday
night our hearts was tender and
warmed by the sweet memories of
that far away weddin'. AS clearly as
though days, not years, had come be-
tween, we recalled every sayin' and
doin' of that occasion, the greatest
day in our lives. Suddenly Usher in
terrupted me with:
"Marthy, I've been thinkin' that
I'd change the house a little-build
on that ~'lean-to' you've wanted SO
long, and a new kitchen"
"Oh, Lisheri" was all I could say.
you'd like it, wouldn't you?"
"Like it? Why, I can't tell you how
happy I am. It's so good of you'll"
Nonsense, you deserve it, for
you've been a faithful wife to me,
Marthy."
"when shall you begin?" I asked.
fright away. I never wait when
once 1 decide upon a thing"
So that's how we came to build, and
from that time ! never knew a mo-
ment's rest.
The furniture was packed in the
front room, but the dust from the
tearin' away of the old kitchen found
a place to lodge everywhere: even
the bureau drawers in the upstairs
spare chamber did not protect my
best linen. Indeed, nothin' escaped a
coatin' of powdered lime.
The confusion, tumult and general
disorder. irritated Usher. 1t was
hard to keep him good-natured. The
builders would start the work and
then leave it for days to "hold on to
another job" Rain delayed the ma
sons, and really it seemed at last as
though we would be thankful for any
thin, almost wishin' we'd left well
enough alone.
To add to our misery, Lisher's sis
ter Mandy wrote us that she would
visit US on her return from a mis-
sionary meetin' where she was to rep
resent their town society as a dele
gate. The reduced railroad fare made
this trip possible to her, SO we could
not write and ask her to wait a bit.
I don't mean to give You the idee
that they hain't always room and
to spare in our home for his folks,
but there m times when it's
handler than others to accommodate
them.
I was frettin' over this very thing
and my mind was on the point of
t'fyin',' when who should call me n
Usher, in the new buildin'.
"Marthyi"
e"Yesi"
"Come here quick and decide where
you want that pantry put. I think
this is the best place for it." he con-
inued as I appeared
"There?.
@Why not?" frowning.
"It's too near the chimney, and I'd