The Elbert County tribune., 1905-08-17
The Honey Cure

The new minister and his wife and
all the other guests had departed, and
Mr.. Lester mad walked home with one
of the ladies. The hostess. Mrs. Les
ter. moved quietly about the little
parlor. putting things in their places.
A red spot burned in her cheeks and
she said aloud, as she closed the
piano:
Il will not stand 1t a day longer
stand what. dear" asked the pleas
ant voice of an elderly lady. who had
entered the room behind her.
''It is Joe. Aunt Mary. almost
think he does not love me any longer.
He is always finding fault with me.
and nothing do ever seems to please
him now | try as hard as ever but
all goes wrong in his eyes. 1t may be
my fault, but can't see how"
Mrs. Manton smoothed the pretty
brown hair tenderiy as she said:
You never need think that, darling
Joe is good boy and loves you de-
votedly, but like nearly all men, he
thinks he knows a great deal more
than he does. The truth is you have
spoiled him. When you first married
him, I saw that tendency to fault-find.
ing, and you helped to make it worse
by giving way to it. You are bright
girl and you must set your wits to
work and see if you can't cure him.
Here he comes now. Goodnight"
Joe Lester was only twenty-four
when he married Rose Carey on her
nineteenth birthday. Rose was an or
phan and had been adopted by her
childless aunt, Mrs. Manton, and Joe
was Mr.. Manton's nephew. He had
come to live in the family as clerk
in his uncle's store. just after Rose
left school. Four years had passed
and little Tom was trotting around
on restless feet, while a tiny baby
Mary cooed and smiled in the cradle.
Rose had lost much of her girlish
charm and her face was pale and often
very weary. With the help of half
grown girl she did all her own work
and minded the children, and she was
often worn out and depressed. But
her heaviest burden was the constant
fault-fnding of her husband, which
seemed to increase daily. Now, she
planned in the silent midnight
watches to lift it from her weary
shoulders.
The next morning at breakfast Joe
remarked as he tasted his coffee:
Really, Rose. your coffee is not fit
to drink. You had better not make
any at all If you can't do better than
this. You used to make good coffee,
but I can hardly drink this stuffH
She made no reply and he managed
to drink two cups. He was very fond
of coffee but they only had it for
breakfast and supper. AS the latter
meal proceeded that night, he said
In a tone of reproach:
You are getting so thoughtiess,
Rose. You have actually forgotten to
give me my coffee"
81 did not make any," she answered
quietly.
"Did not make coffee?" he ex-
claimed. What in the world was the
matter? You know I must have it."
!. why you told me yourself not to
make it, dear unless could do bet
ter, and l really cannot"
He said nothing for few moments,
then exclaimed angrily:
These mullins are wretched. They
nave LOO mucn SOud.
They have no soda at ALL" answer
ed his wife. "They are made with
sweet milk and baking-powder."
That's only a name for soda mixed
with some poisonous stuff" he re-
torted MY mother never touched
baking-powder. She always used
nothing but cream Of tartar, and her
mullins were fine.'
did she. dear? Well, / will re-
member" was the gently-spoken re-
ply. 81 am sorry they are so bad.
suppose l need not bring hot ones"
'Oh, bring them along. I'll have to
eat something of course" he answered
ungraciously. Then he proceeded to
make hearty supper.
At breakfast next morning there
was again no coffee, and a plate of
strange-looking objects graced the
table.
What in the name of goodness are
those, Rose?" exclaimed Mr.. Lester
frowning. 81 never saw anything like
them before"
your mullins dear. made just like
your mothers, with nothing but cream
of tartar do hope you will like
them better than mine"
To eat them was impossible, so Joe
made his breakfast on cold bread and
no coffee. AS he rose from the table,
he said moodily:
Have any kind of coffee you please
for supper. just SO it's coffee, and