River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-03-28

and my mind was on the point Of
"hyin'." when who should call me but
Usher, in the new buildin'.
"Marthy."
"Yes"'
"Come here quick and decide where
you want that pantry put. I thinl
this is the best place for it," he con
inued as | appeared.
"There?"
"Why not?" frowning.
'Its too near the chimney, and I'd
have to squeeze between the table ana
the stove 70 get to it. Why can't il
be put over n that corner?"
"They's goin' to be a window there
"And / don't want one there
"Pm buildin' this house." he added
hotly.
I'm livin' in it and doin' the WORK
II / had supposed that you W I'D
have arranged it in this way, | would
have kept the old one. / want the
window in the south for plants"
ITS goin' to be where l decide,
were the last words l heard as | LETT
the place and returned to my work.
Later, heard his step in the dinin'-
room and turned my back to the door
pretendin' to be busy, but it was real
! " to hide my tear-stained eyes.
That's all the thanks l get for try
in to please you and spendin' my
hard-earned money to make you hap
py," he began.
l said nothin'.
at seems as though you grew
harder to please each day"
The angry blood rushed to my
checks as | replied
you asked my opinion about the
pantry, though why you did l can't
tell, since you won't allow me to plan
or help in any way"
81 have no time for complaints" he
muttered and walked away.
For days the hammerin' kept up,
and the wheezy sound of the carpen-
ter's saw broke the stiffness of the
place, but did not once look into the
new part.
Usher would direct the men in COM
mandin' tones to excite my curiosity,
but though / longed to know what
was goin on in there, stayed in the
main buildin'.
Once he asked me which / liked
best for fnishin' kitchen-ceilin' or
plaster? But l only said:
"What does it matter which like?
Suit yourself, as you are buildin' this
house. When 1 thought it was for
me, l took an interest in it, but since
l am only to live in it like a servant
might, I'll do my best to work with
out 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 esti-
matin' his wife's salary at the end
of the year by this means; whatever
it is, it goes into his pocket, without
creditin' her with cent of it."
"By cat. Marthy Maria, how you
talk! It's awful hard on man when
he's done it all for you"
"All for me?" 1 sneered. why
Usher Whitby. you don't know what
you're sayin'. In the beginnin', III
allow, you were thinkin' of my com
fort in plannin' this addition; but
since then you haven't let an idee ex.
4 cept your own creep into it. If
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.
won't give it up even for you. l am
willin' to hear your arguments and be
persuaded, when they are better than
mine. but if am to be partner in
this home I've got to have my say -
Then l left him to ponder upon the
subject.
was just wretched II 1 must
submit, would try to endure defea;
and be patient. Meanwhile, that
kitchen was nearly finished.
On all subjects except this one Lish-
err and me was perfectly docile and
natural. but it was actually danger
Gus to our peace to even mention
buildin'.
Next week but one Mandy was com
in and / made up my mind to get rid
of this bitterness of heart and take
possession of the new part. coulC
squeeze between the stove and the
table if necessary, and would not let
the cupboard be a constant reminder
of my mental or mo account" posi-
ton in my own home,
If had been firmer in maintainin
my smaller rights, in our early mar
ried life. it would have been easier foi
Usher to give up now; but, somehow
I've always hated fuses.
Some folks say that God never
made useless thing. Perhaps wher
see Him face to face" He'll tel
me why He gave me such a great
mother heart and left me with empty
arms through life, with nothin' t.
pet and spoil but Usher,
Even in my darkest. lonesomes
hour no one could have made me be
lieve that my husband was indiffer
cnt to me, True, men are apt to cal
a woman's objectin' frettin' "a wore
which is like a nettle to a nervous
temperament).