Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-07-20

a-savin' those geese for their down.
I'm a-goin' to make feather beds out
of it"
Now see here, julie" e~xpostulated her
husband, this a is paying a good
stiff sum for these here geese, and we
can raise more of them. Besides,
never slept under a feather bed and
never will"
Well, Ham Grubbs," retorted his
wife, holly, Il have and I'm a-goin' TO
do it again. l don't care what you do"
Ham" Grubbs wanted the addition
to his bank account; his wife wanted the
feather beds. One hasty word led to
another and it ended by Mrs. Grubbs
founcing back TO the farmhouse and
the peddler carrying off the geese, for
which he paid the farmers price.
When Ham" Grubbs got back to the
house he found his wife still indignant.
There were more words, and then Uncle
Ham" said something which never
should have been said.
Vow Never to Speak Again.
"In never speak to you again!" de-
clared Mrs. Grubbs.
"All right" retorted her husband;
do as you like"
All the children heard the quarrel.
Those old enough to understand began
to cry. Husband and wife realized that
their sudden determination never TO
speak again might result in a broken
home and distress to the six little ones.
Don't worry about them, Ham
Grubbs," snapped his wife. "Ill stay
here in the same house with you till
every one of them is grown up, and
then we can see what We'll do. But
don't you speak to me-"
"All right, | won't" answered
Ham Grubbs, and from that moment
to this they have never exchanged a
word.
Soon the neighborhood gossips heard
all about Uncle Ham and Aunt
Julie agreeing never to speak again,
They wondered a little, but made up
their minds that time would bring
about a reconciliation. and that all
would be well. Instead, the breach
widened.
As the children grew older they be-
gan to take sides. This only served
to make matters worse, Day after day
husband and wife ate at the same
table with their six children, but never
a word was spoken between them. The
father labored increasingly and well
making his farm better and better, and
gradually adding to his wealth until
to-day he owns the farm all free ant
clear and has $15, 900 cash in the bank
Meanwhile the mother was doing hel
share of the work. She made the
children's clothes, saw that they wen
to school, kept the house as spotless as
hard work and plenty of soap and wa
ter could do it, made the beds, cooked
the meals and made the butter ant
cheese. Not a thing that the mos
loving of wives could do to add to he
husbands worldly goods was left un
done.
But never a word did they speak.
Elias Intervention Unavailing.
One by one the children grew up, til
only little Ella was left. Two went K
Kansas. two to Illinois. and n Il
Ohio. where they married and pros
pered. Ella at home became the in
%termediary between her father an
mother. Every effort of hers at get
ting them to forget the past was a
utter failure. Whenever there wer
any matters of Importance to be cor
sidered it was Ella who was spokes
woman for the two years. A few day
ago Ella had her twenty-first birthday
and decided to leave home. SO tn
agreement between husband and wifi
was ended. Mrs. Grubbs made up he
mind to live there no more, but to 6
e to the home of one of her sons in Ill
e nois who had sided with her in tn
Il long quarrel.
Ella told this news to the old ma
Ham Grubbs is 65 now. and hi
d wife is 60. He protested vigorousl,
II The fact that he never spoke to h.
= wife, MOI she to him had become Sc
ond nature to him, and he couldn't 81
n how he was going to get along wit
u out her to do the homework. He sal
= she couldn't go; who would take HI
place?
a This was the last straw.
Mrs. Grubbs decided to sue for d
d vorce. Papers were served on Grub
in\which he was charged with cru
and inhuman treatment, and allegir
that he had cursed his wife In Il
presence of their children, and hi
said other things to her which nc goo
husband would say to his wife. The
was a hearing before Judge George
Downey. He investigated and foul
that there was absolutely no hope
! reconciliation between them, thous
\ the quarrel was q years old. So Il
decree was granted, and a judgme
of 1000 alimony was granted, whit
the old mar promptly paid.
A Mrs. Grubbs has gone to her sol
. home now. Uncle Ham" remains
the old homestead, where he VOWS
q will end his days alone. And the
is now no prospect whatever of brin
ing the old couple together ever aga
as all Miller township knows.
I'll .