Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-06-20
LID MAN" CATLIN,

~ ! called to distinguish him
from his son 'Lishe and
his several nephews, had
boan a domestic potentate Of the abso-
,nte type. When his only son mar
riod and his daughter-in-law was dis
covered to be person Of large, cheer
ful views, which she. did not submit
TO the arbitrament Of his judgment, he
experienced a most annoying surprise.
One Of Amanda's opinions was that
the use of a coal-stove is primarily to
keep the house warm in winter, rather
than to give a superior economist an
opportunity to show how little coal he
can burn and still keep the fire actual
II alight. Hence arose the war Of4the
check-draft, which ragged with inter-
mittent fury from October to May.
The old man would come in ruddy
from those outdoor chores with which
he mitigated the tedious leisure Of his
old age, and remark, 'AIy, you've got
if hot here" He would then pull out
the check draft with defiant click.
Amanda's S response depended upon
her mood. If she happened to be
engrossed IN some prospective triumph
of needlework, she paid no attention to
the challenge until the room became
too cool. Then she shut the check
draft. and no more words about it,
If she felt cross or tired, she made
no such delay, but seized an early op-
portlnity to carry the war into faith
ers territory by heating the room a
little hotter than it was before. This
was not accomplished without brisk
exchange of verbal missiles, some Of
which We're very likely to hit 'Lishe
who, whatever his original temper,
had lived With his father long enough
to acquire cowardly taste for peace.
Zone thing about it, Amandy, you
ard pa get lots of practice in reparty,"
he said one day, when his sufferings
as umpire had got the better Of his
discretion.
The older Mr.. Catlin, besides possess
ing some strategic skill, had a sense
of humor which lent a secret zest
for him. even to those occasions when
Amanda outgeneraled him. She had
no such solace, but instead, a domin-
eering conscience which forbade her
to quarrel beyond a certain point with
her husbands father. When that point
was reached, she suffered in silence,
and being clear-headed, hot-tempered
woman, suffered acutely.
Old MI. Catlin was a light sleeper,
wherein he had the advantage Of
Amanda, who believed that no woman
was truly doing her duty by her fami-
ly unless she went to bed very tired
every night. She therefore slept heayi.
ly.
The old man discovered that by get
ting up toward midnight he could
open the check-draft and get back tc
bed undetected. On occasions, there
lore, when he was inspired by a par
ucular obstinacy, he pursued this
ingenious plan. One night, however
Amanda came forth from her bed
room, holding a lighted candle above
her head, and confronted him, to hi
discontinue.
What do you want, father? Is any
thing the matter?" she asked.
L came down to get me a drink,
retorted father, with great presence o
mind and an even excessive dignity
SO these two midnight prowlers SUI
yeyed each other with mutual defanc
and suspicion. Amanda complained t
'Llshe Of his fathers duplicity, but h
chuckled at it with a certain admira
ton and remarked, in a not too sooth
Ing way, well, I shouldn't get III
nights to quarrel with him, if he
stubborn"
,Llshe's remonstrances always fo
lowed the line of least resistance
therefore he addressed them to Amaf
ua' because she would pay heed t
them and his father would not.
On one subject Mr.. Catlin and Amar
Ga were in full accord-Amanda'
mouse plants. She kept a good man
IN large bay window, and the oil
man sometimes informed outsider
that he considered Amanda "a maste
hand with plants" They were no oi
ulhary geraniums and fuchsias ths
amanda tended, but lantanas, calce,
lafIas, heliotropes, begonias and del
cate ferns.
When visitors expressed an envior
summation for them, father sat by an
i,s'ened with ill-concealed pride. Whe
,Hey asked for cuttings, he produce
MS sacred pocket-knife and CAREFUL
Snced Off the designated shoots hin
self.
ohears bruises 'em,"- he was wo1
" remark, oracularly.
II Amanda could have brought be
sell to appeal to him on the ground
"aAser to the plants, he would ha-
tselded the pleasure OF manipulate
tile check- draft, but unhappily, Anna
u' had as much stubborn pride as h
Dt'shbors. 1t irked her to appe
"nere she felt she had a right to d
mand
a. III the fifth winter she began to fe
','e strain of these hostilities. She sa
snarper things to father than she b,
ever said before, repenting them afte
wards in bitter self-reproach. VIII,