Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-06-29

make them a visit Of few weeks.
Of course Lucy, who was the young
est child and only daughter, was de-
lighted. She came, all tears and smiles
and bushes to show the welcome let
ter to her husband. Of course he was
not quite so much elated at the pros
pect; it was not to be expected he
should be; and most wives would have
resented his unsympathizing coldncss;
but Lucy had such a pretty, winning
way, and then she had, all uncon-
sciously, learned the habit Of arguing
with him through his own interests.
Mother is so cheerful" she said,
land so pleasant, you will find her
excellent company; and then she is
such a splendid housekeeper, and
knows everything, and Katie and are
SO inexperienced. She is a capital
cook, too, and makes things go as far
again as 1 can. And such nice things
as she can make! I am only afraid
after she has been here you will think
don't know anything; but | shall
keep my eyes open, and try to learn
her way Of doing things. ! did not
think half enough Of it while | lived
at home. And then she has had so
much experience with children, she is
as good as doctor; and am such a
little goose if anything ails. the baby;
but 1 shall feel as if he is all right if
can pop him into mothers arms,
and shall not have to rout you up
at night to go for the doctor every
time he screws his dear little face up
into quicker; and then she is SO fond
of babies l dare say she will tend him
half the time; and think how much
more time shall have to read to you
and make parish callsv'
In due course Of time Mrs. Briant
made her appearance. She was deli
cate, pleasing, lady-like little woman,
with sweet brown eyes and q marvel
ously sweet voice, that excellent
thing in woman" Never yet came
Nemesis in gentler form or more al
Turing guise; but it was Nemesis all
the same She was an acute and OBJ
serving woman; there was quiet but
keen penetration in those soft brown
eyes, but there was no bitterness about
her.
She read her son-in-law's character
at once; the soft brown eyes went
straight through his shallowness down
to his selfishneSs and indolence.s Of
course her motherly instincts were all
on Lucy's side, who, she saw, was
dropping under a burden of care be-
yond her strength; but she never
thought Of making her unhappy by
pointing out her husbands faults to
her; on tho contrary she always prais-
ed him wherever she conscientiously
could, treated him with marked defer
ence, and made him more comfortable
in dozen little ways, while she was
all the time quietly loosening his wife's
bonds and transferring them to him.
"Mr. Holland" she said to him one
day, in her sweet, gracious way, '.swill
you have the kindness to pick us some
peas for dinner to-day?"
"Me? l pick the peas?' asked the
astonished sOn-in-law
ooh, no, no." hastily interposed
Lucy; Il will get them; was just GO
ing"
my dear child, no! The vines are
wet with last nights rain; and with
your thin dress! would not have you
do it for the world; and I am sure Mr..
Holland would not hear of such
thing"
"No, no! certainly not" said the rev.
erend gentleman; lit is not fit for her,
of COURSE" though he remembered un-
easily how many times she had done 1t,
even in the rain.N "But cannot Kate
get them?'
81 do not think she can," said the
gentle voice; "she is very busy ironing
your shirts. and she does them very
we'll, but she is very slow. I could
shell the peas if 1 had them; but it
is no matter; If you do not care about
them, we will do without. We have
only plain boiled corned beef to-day,
and I thought you would like some
vegetable besides potatoes with it;
but please don't go if you don't want
Them"
But Mr.. Holland was an epicure in
a small way, and he did not fancy a
dinner Of beef and potatoes. So he
went, and from that day the picking OF
the peas, beans. cucumbers and t0nla-
toes was, without any talk, dropped
quietly into his hands.
And so with many other little out
of-door duties which usually deyOlve
upon the master Of the house, but
which Lucy, in her loving eagerness to
spare her husband time land trouble,
had indiscreetly taken upon herself;
Mrs. Briant laughingly accused her Of
over officiousness, quietly took them
out Of her hands and restored them to
their rightful owner And all this was
done so sweetly by the amiable law
giver that neither party could gainsay
her, and the mystified minister really
felt she was sustaining him in his
rightful authority. Indeed, he was