The suburban citizen., 1901-03-30
as
AN EXAMPLE in ADDITION.
BY MARIA WEED.

| OF uuyS lue udulueElu kept up, and
the wheezy sound Of the carpenters
saw broke the stiffness of the place.
but l did not once look into the new
part
Usher would direct the men in com.
mandin' tones to excite my curiosity.
but though l longed to know what
was goin on in there, stayed in the
main buildin'.
Once he asked me which liked best
for finishing kitchens-ceilin' or plas-
ter? But 1 only said:
what does it matter which 1 like?
Suit yourself, as you are bulldin' this
house. When l thought it was for me,
took an interest in it, but since l am
only to live in it like servant might,
I'll do my best to work without pay"
"A penny saved is a penny earned"
he quoted kinder like he wanted to be
generous.
That's all right" says 1, "still
hain't never heard of any mans es-
timatin' his wifes salary at the end OF
the year by this means; whatever It
Is, it goes into his pocket, without
creditin' her with a cent of It,"
by catl Marthy Maria, how you
talk! It's awful hard on a man when
he's done it all for you"
"All for me-" sneered- "Why, Lish.
er Whitby, you don't know what you
are sayin'. In the beginnin', I'll allow
you were thinkin' of my comfort in
plannin' this addition; but since then
you haven't let an idee except your
own creep into it. If 1 submit and
say it's all right, you'll never know
how unjust and selfish you've been.
There's just one thing didn't promise
at the altar, and that is: not to have
an opinion. I won't give it up even
for you. l am willin' to hear your ar
guments and be persuaded, when they
are better than mine, but if am to be
a partner in this home I've got to have
my say" Then l left him to ponder
upon the subject.
l was just wretched. If must sub
NIT, l would try to endure defeat and
be patient. Meanwhile, that kitchen
was nearly finished
On all subjects except this one Lish-
er and me was perfectly dOcile and
natural, but it was actually danger
GUS to our peace to even mention build
in.
Next week but one Mandy was com
in, and l made up my mind to get rid
Of this bitterness of heart and take
of the new part. l could,
squeeze between the stove and thd
table if necessary, and l would not leAI
the cupboard be a constant reminder
of my menial or mo account" position
in my own home.
If l had been firmer in maintainin'
my smaller rights, in our early mar
ried life, it would have been easier
for Usher to give up now; but, some
how, I've always hated fuses.
Some folks say that God never made
4 useless thing Perhaps when / see
Him face to face" He tell me why
He gave me such a great mother heart |
and left me with empty arms through
life, with nothin' to pet and spoil but
Usher.
Even in my darkest, lonesomest |
hour, no one could have made me be- |
lieve that my husband was indifferent |
to me. True, men are apt to call a
woman's objectin' frettin Ga word |
which is like a nettle to 4 nervous tenn |
peramenD.
It's a riddle as old rs the sun, and |
one that hain't never been answered, |
why we are the most impatient with |
those We love best?
SO cheered up and sang about my |
work, and l could tell by Lisher's |
voice that he was tryin' to seem kind |
and thoughtful.
He even wanted me to have hired |
help for a spell to give me a chance |
to rest after settlin'.
You're as likely a lookin' woman |
for your age as there is in these parts"
he said to me at the supper-table. |
"and l don't want Mandy to think
that I'm not careful Of you"
We was to move in the next morn |
in, and he hadn't asked me to look
at the new part. 1 had lost, but not |
without a desperate struggle. Once |
convinced that my will, my opinions |
and preferences were never to be con- |
sidered could give up hopln' and |
train my shoulders (even IL they was
weak and tremblinD to carry the load. |
My proud spirit must bend to Lisher's. |
FOR l could not live without him.
After the chores was done he went |
to town, sayin' that he'd be back in
an hour or two. He waved his hand |
to me as he drove through the big gate
and l closed it after him.
The house seemed cheerless, and the |
windows sort Of stared at me as l
walked up the lane, so 1 didn't 20 in.
but sot on the side steps until the |
moon came up-it rose early at that
time.
Soon the porch and the orchard was
all bathed in its soft, comfortin'. sill.
very light. 1t quieted the soul-ache
within me-this heavenly peaceful !
ness of nature.
l walked through the garden and
stood under the protectin' arms of q
great oak Sinkin' do,,.n ,. a..