Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-12

years since they had moved into tho
city and his wifs's health begun to
break down from household cares.
"And yet don't understand these
women" he said to himself, as he sat
there in the kitchen. his chin on the
little boys head, while George
perched on the kitchen table gravely
observant. eve have everything in the
world to do with. Our family is not
very large. Martha is kind, and gives
the girls very many favors. We pay
good wages and are ready to put up
with many kinds of incompetency,
and yet we don't seem to be able to
keep any sort OF girl more than
three months at time. 1t is breaking
up our home life. It is simply absurd
that I should be doing this kitchen
work. but Martha isn't well, and
there's breakfast to get and all the
| work after it,"
room on the lounge and was filled with
| remorse for her.
Il was brute to talk to her SO
sharply" he said. out loud.
"Brutes don't talk" said George,
from his elevated post on the tabls,
speaking from knowledge gained in q
study of natural history given him by
his Aunt Wilson.
Some of them do. The two-legged
ones" replied his father. And he rose,
and with the boys went into the sit
ting-room.
They found that Mrs. Ward had gone
upstairs in answer to call from
Lewis, the oldest boy of the family,
| at home. who had broken his arm the
week before while engag ed in sport at
school.
The duty of putting the two young
err lads to bed devolved upon the
father. He performed the duty with
out much heart in it. His wife was ST
lent and in no mood for reconciliation.
When Carl said his usual prayer, he
added: "And bless Maggie, because
she is so bad. and has wandered far
from the fold" repeating phrase he
had heard at Sunday school the week
before. And Mr.. Ward listened with
anything but love of mankind in his
heart, wondering whether he ought
not to be included in the child's petit
ton, esteemed church member though
he might be in the eyes of those who
| did not see into his home life.
In the morning he faced tired, list
less, discouraged wife, sitting oppo-
site him at breakfast which had been
prepared with his help, under protest,
and with spirit of nervous depres-
sion that from experience he knew
| we'll enough meant miserable day II
home.
He rose from the table with really
desperate feeling. saying again to
himself: ut would be funny, if it
were not SO tragic"
"I'll try to find some one, Martha"
he said, feebly, as he put on his hat.
II don't care whether you do OF not, q
| she answered. lndifferently.
He was tempted to grow angry, but
checked himself.
"ill advertise. I'm tired of send
ing to the agencies
His wife did not answer.
well do the best we can, Martha.
There must he some competent girl
| in this city somewhere"
''1f there is, we never found one,''
Mrs. Ward answered sharply.
He wisely declined to discuss the
question, and started to go out.
''Pll not be at home to lunch" he
said, putting his head in at the
door.
There was no answer, and he slow
| ly shut the door and started for his
car at the next corner; and, of the
many burdened. perplexed hearts
carried into the city that morning,
it Is doubtful whether any out OF
all the number was more burdened
than that of Mr.. Richard Ward, OF
the firm of Mead, Ward and Company
He sent in to three of the leading
evening papers carefully worded
advertisement asking for compe.
tent servant, and took up his days
work with it's usual routine without
the least expectation that any reply
would come from his advertisements
1t would, therefore, have given hin