Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-02-02

thing was wrong in the
household of John Moore.
r. -l His beloved wife, who had
Gal LEU been the presiding divinity
OF the house for little more than a
month. was surely in no amiable mood.
BY the way she slammed the soap into
the dish and made the suds fly. 1t was
evident that she was not a little fius-
trated. She showed TO mercy for the
washboard, that trembled and groaned
under the swift succession of rub-dubs
that were brought to bear upon it,
and paid no attention to the quantities
OF water that were being splashed
over the top of the tub, running in
streams across the kitchen floor.
Her husband, coming into The kitchen
for drink. barely escaped being hit
on the head with a soaking garment
that his wife threw across the room
into the boiler.
Why, Eliza" laughed he, you came
near putting my eye out"
Il don't know that it would make
much difference" retorted his wife.
for you couldn't see much less with
one eye than you do now with two"
However true that may be. | can
at least see that there is something
wrong with you. What is it, dear?"
Don't vast your time in my darI-
Ing me, when there are a thousand
and one things happening under your
nose every day. that you have no
eyes or ears for~ said Eliza, brandish-
ing the soap in the air.
why, Eliza, Eliza what is the mat
ter" asked Mr.. Moore.
Matter enough, l should Think A
man with no eyes at all could see
what the matter is, when those three
daughters of yours spend their time
humping on the piano and doing fancy
work in the parlor, while am in the
kitchen washing"
But it is all your own fault. Eliza.
You know that l don't want you to
wash. for can afford to pay for
having it done"
Suppose you can? and if can save
dollar | intend to do it,
But wat has that to do with the
girls?"
"a good deal. Why can't they wash
their own clothes?' %
why, because it is not necessary. I
suppose. Clara and Lu are like their
-other-not strong: and as BERTHE is
not yet out of school, she could hardly
be expected to do the washing"
''Th is right, John Moore! Stand
up for your daughters. no matter what
becomes of your poor wifep' said
Eliza. beginning to sob. "The fact
of the business is, I am ore too many
IN the house. / feel it every hour. For
a week or more your daughters have
summed me. and tried to keep away
from me as much ) possible. won't
u can't stand itr'
There is some mistake" said good
John Moore. II am sure the girls
would do nothing to hurt your feelings.
and-I-thought they quite liked you.
Cheer up, Eliza. dear. and | promise
to do all in my power to make you
happy. If had time would go up
and have talk with the girls now.
but I must wait until tonight"
He kissed his wife, and left the
house with heavy heart. They had
been married about month. and this
was the first time that Eliza had been
"in a temper
Mr. Moore's first wife had been a
delicate ladyiike little creature. who
was of about as much consequence as
a helpmate to her husband as a doll
would have been.
He Lad petted and cared for her ten
derby, and if he was disappointed in
her not taking more interest in her
children and home. be never muir
INJURED. She died when the three girls.
whom the father ;doIized. were very
young
widowed sister had kept house
for him for number of years. but she.
too. had died. and since her death
the house had sadly lacked head.
After deeply considering the matter
Mr. Moore decided to marry again, pro-
viding he could find suitable partner.
He wanted 4 wife who would not be
above taking matters into her owr
hands. and would be quite capable OF
steering the household bark.
So instead of choosing one from
among the well-to-do families where
he visited, he sought out Eliza Perkins
a little woman of zve-and-thirty. who
lad been accustomed to hard work and
poverty an her life. and who fell
grateful for having been sought il
marriage at this late day by such d
good man IS John Moore
Eliza had been so accustomed Il
scraping and saving that she was I'M
able to give up the habit even in Johr
Moore's comfortable home. Mr.. Moore
thought it best to Let her do ais SHE
wished for time. in the hope thai
she would gradually come into takins
things easier and enjoying life little
more. The plan appeared to hav,
failed, however. and everything seemed
/ in a middle
Eliza was tired and sore-hearted as
she went to her room to change bel
dress that afternoon. but it was good
drying day. and she had the satisfac
ton Of knowing that she had lone
line Of snow-white clothes tapping ii
the breeze.
There was a scampering upstairs
and she pressed her lips hard togeth her
for she knew that the girls were hurry
ing away from her; and hot tears
rolled down her cheeks as she entereJ
her own room.