The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-11
HOBSON'S PRESIDE.
BY HOMER STOUT.

hOh6tN
 Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub fishing Co.)
 When Hobson married Abigail Hig- gins, relic of Jim Higgins, ne'er -do- well and miner, who had parted from view after deserting his wife for the joys of the far West, all his friends allowed 1t was a bad mistake and that Hobson was jumping from very mild frying-pan into very hot fire. But Hobson was awfully tired of bachelordofl and the thought of a home and fireside of his own made his time-worn heart go pit-a-pat. Many years in cheap boarding houses tended to exalt the charms of home cookery. And there Is no gainsaying that the widow Higgins was a good cook and a thrifty housewife. By the very same token that made her athrif- ty housewife; however, she was con- summate manager" which applied to women means that she was boss of the house all the time and ruled with a rod of iron.
 The only way Higgins got along with her. remarked Ellison, was by giving her a good beating every other day when home and keepin' pretty busy doing odd jobs out of town most of the time."
 But Hobson was not looking for ad- vice from Ellison or any other neigh borhood gossip. Indeed, is there rec ord of any man being saved from ma trimony? There is only one way-that is to lock him up.
 So in due course of time Hobson married the relict of Higgins and set tied down in the ecstatic joys Of a home and fireside.
 If, after all, the realization of these Snxyo mt nIitfn t0 the and brilliant hue of the anticipation, it surely is not the first time in human affairs that fruit has not tasted so good as it looked. To be sure Hobson could not have asked for better com fort than he found. nor for a more abundant and toothsome table. For Mrs. Hobson, formerly Higgins, was an ample provlder and a most whole some housewife. But, alas! as the fair est rose has the sharpest thorn, Hob son soon found that he must pay for his comfort and his fine eating Dy an absolute surrender of his liberty if not his identity. He did not notice it so much right at first, so pleased was he with his new comforts, but as the coils frightened he became more or less restless.
 His evening pipe went first, and it went quick. It was not offensively done, but Abigail told nlm re- spectfully but with unmistakable firm ness that she would not have the house polluted with vile tobacco smoke and if he must smoke he could go to the woodshed and enjoy himself. He preferred at that time the delights cf the f1reside and cheerfully knocked rhe unburned tobacco from his pipe. An evening or two later, after he had slipped out and got a pitcher of beer and brought 1t home intent on a quiet social time with his new partner. Ab- igail calmly took the preferred pitcher and poured the contents into the sink.
 T will have no guzzling in thls house." she said sharply, and we have no money to spend for beer"
 Moreover she said that she was bet ter able to dispense the finances than he and thereafter she carried the household power and he brought home his wages every Saturday night, and you may be sure every penny was &C., counted for to the new treasurer.
 She complained that he brought mud on her scrupulously clean floors and