Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-08-29
will help me find where the thorn is
will do my best to remove 1t

WIN Wv my pSot W iNhioNS IL.
You know that have never known
Gustav's mother. l am very sorry at
this, because 1t would then be easier
for me to talk with him about her. He
very often speaks of her, and then l
feel as IL shall never be able to do
the things as she does them. Very
often l feel as If l have fallen short
of his expectations, and that he is not
quite satisfied. because l manage the
household affairs differently from the
way his mother does. Whenever he
wants to praise me he always says
that l have done this or that just as
his mother would have done 1t, and
he expects that such praise shall make
me feel happy. l wish 1t did.
Answer my letter as soon rs you
can, dear mother, and have no fear
that shall not follow your advice.
Gustav does not even know that /
write you. send you the worsted you
asked me for"
He read NO further, but feeling of
sadness came over him. Poor, dear
Else! She was quite right He fold
ed the letter together and put 1t in his
pocket determined that he himself
would answer all Else's questions.
1t was beautiful summer evening
Else was sitting on the piazza with
her embroidery, as he softly closed the
gate behind him, that she should not
hear him come. Then he tiptoed to
the large bed of roses and broke off
one little thorn, which he pressed in
under fingernail before he walked
up to the house.
Good evening, darling"
Good evening, dear! You are early
to-day. Now l will hurry up dinner,
and we will have coffee out here"
While they We're slipping their coffee
she Noticed that Gustav did not seem
quite himself.
Are you tired, dear?" she asked.
mo, love, but have a pain III my
finger, and l do not know what causes
it."
"Let me look at it. Why, of course,
Sou hoNS 6oI q clIilitCl
nail but shall soon get it out"
"Oh, no, dearest! Do not trouble
yourself about it. 1t is nothing but
little thorn that will soon work itself
out"
The idea! Give me your finger
right now. Such little thorn might
cause blood poisoning If you neglect
it."
"Oh, nonsense, Else! Do you really
believe that such little thing could
cause any harm? Look at me, Else,
and tell me do you really believe that
such trifle might be dangerous?
She looked at him in surprise. Then
she suddenly blushed
Could he mean something else:
What did he know?
"Oh, Gustav" she sobbed, and buried
her face in her hands. You know
Instead of answering he took her Into
his arms.
ELSE! Now be my own sensible lit
tie wife and tell me frankly what yor
mean. Confess everything and l also
will confess"
Yes, both the letters-yours and
your mothers. Forgive me that ant
all the rest; it was thoughtless on IN,
part; l did not realize"
"Oh, Gustav! and now you will new
er feel like talking to me of you
mother and l should SO like to know
more about her."
II understand you, dearest, and jus
for that reason l will talk even moro
of her, but in a different way, with
out always drawing comparisons. viii
you be satisfied then? l will endeavol
always to think of myself as YOU
husband rather than as my mother.
son and ! thank you so much that yo,
have made me see how l ought to be
And now will you please remove tn,
little thorn, or better still, l will re
move 1t myself, and in the future w,
will always remove the little thorn!
ourselves without asking mamma.
help"
"Oh, Gustav, you do not know how
love you" she said, and kissed him
passionately.-Phi Bulletin.