The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-10-30
Woman's Work

Peter Carter pushed his chair
back from the table and surveyed
the faded little face on the opposite
side of the lea tray
Faded enough now, though she
was barely twcnty-scven. \ on would
hardly have believed how fresh and
pretty Carry Carver had been on
her wedding day. Her husband saw
the change, but somehow he sup
posed all womenfaded just So
There is so much 10 do. Peter,
and the children demand so much
of my time pleaded the meek wife.
III weremaniger in this house
hold things would happen very diff
ferently."
Il have no doubt of'it,' said Car
~ quietly.
There is no earthlv'rcason,' went
on Mr.. Carver. .ignormg',he sarcas-
tic meaning of her tone, why the
work shouldn't be doneS and you
dressed and.enjoying Yourself, culti-
waiting your mind or something, at
IL o'clock every morning 'that you
live. Washing up few dishes,
sweeping room or two, what does
il all amount to-: Why, my dear,
don't yom see the folly of asking for
servant!to hclp YOU dosnothlng at
all"
The morning sunshine crept
down the pale green wall paper,
sprlnding drops Of golden the few
little ,germium plants that Peter
called'a waste OF time~and lay in
noon ,splendors. on the carpet, and
still Carry Carver sborl there,
thinking thinking.
Garry, Aren't YOU going to get
up this morning: 1t IS half past !,
and
Il cannot. Peter" glmned Carry,
turning her face away from the
light. II am,sufferfng such dreadful
pains in thai foot i tsEGamed last
night"
"Well, whatsshall:IGol:"
"You must take charge of the
housekeeping yourself, Peter" said
Carry, hiding in the folds Of her
pillow. Its, only.for. day or two,
and / don't know of, any help YOU
can obtain. 1t wm'tAbe much, YOU
know"
That's true, "tsaiN Peter, some
what encouraged
please darkm the room, and
keep the ,childrenhaway, and don't
speak to sme if you can help it. |
have such.a raj King sheadache, and
the least excl smen1 drives me
wild"
Peter shuttlSe door'with distract
ing caution and wentedownstairs on
creaking tiIGoe- As The passed the
nursery door asduet Of voices chimed
on his ears.
Papa, papa, wesare not dressed"
''Drss yourselves, then, can't
you:' safdl Mr.. Carver, pausing.
Pet is tOo.httle to.dress herself"
said Tomny loftily, .'and mamma
always dressed me"
"WhHre ere yO1r slsoes z"
Il don't know" said Tommy,
withihis finger in,his mouth.
"I,know:" said. Pet, .aptly reveng-
ing herself1for the hn at her d.
ninutive proportions. Tommy
dropped.thgn out.of the window"
Crash. went a ancylbottle Of CO.
logne off the table as Tommy
gropedl for his .garters. Bang! fell
Mrs. Chrvefs rosewood writing desk
to the, floor, bursting off the frail
hingesi and scattering pens, envel-
opes and postage stamps far and
wide
Mr.. Peter Carver was an affec-
tionafe fatherLn general way, but
human nature could not have en-
dured this.
And he bundled the two little
creatures milcllaneUisly into what
ever articles came uppermost, rend-
ing off strings and fracturing but
tonholcs in frantic desperation.
The fire obstinatcly declined to
burn, although Mr.. Carver opened
the oven doors alternately and drew
out. all the bumpers he could spy.
'Confouni the fire" said Mr..
Carver, mepng lns wet forehead
with the strive cloth. 1T won't go.
I'll have a blaze of kindling and try
the breakfast.on that"
He seized the ham and carved
several hicksslices, which he trans
ferred.deftlyro a gridiron and then,
elated with his success, broke sew
eral eggs over the ham.
BLESS me, how they rum he
CALCULATED, r;nher puzzled. But l
know I'm right / wonder why this
coffee doesn't boil III stick in
few more kindlings-that's the idea.
There arc tho chils}ran crvinr