Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-12-18
An Amiable Man.
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myself I was getting an amiable wo-
man. All her friends said that she was
very lovely, especially those of her own
sex. which counted great deal with
ne, for women have the name of be-
ing able to detect each others faults.
At the wedding | was met by one uni
versal remark, You've married an an
GEL"
After several years of married life
have come TO the conclusion that men
are as good if not better judges of
women than women are of each other
have discovered my wife's good
traits. hut l cannot say that amiability
is one of them.
We had scarcely got to housekeeping
when | noticed that Beatrice was dis
posed to circumscribe me by number
of petty rules. For instance, she both
cred me as to the place of deposit for
burnt matches. | had been used TO
throw them where l happened to be at
the time. l had thrown my cigar ashes
on the floor. Beatrice insisted on their
being put into receivers. Waste paper
was also a source of trouble. II l
tore up letter and did not throw the
fragments into basket, Beatrice,
though she said not a word of re
proach, would pick them up. This ir-
ritated me, because l considered it a
reproof. 1t seemed to me that an
amiable woman with tact would have
left them to be removed by the maid.
If she asked me to bring home a pound
of coffee and l. having weightier things
to think of, forgot to do so she would
say, Never mind, dear" but would
slip out and buy it herself Naturally
I would feel offended, for considered
her doing so reflection on my neglect.
l asked her once why she didn't send
the maid. and she replied that the maid
was otherwise engaged.
l will admit that Beatrice seldom
asked me to do things for he. but
this only rendered me more liable to
forget them when she did. | did not
become habituated TO the work. Final
~ l noticed that she never called on
me TO execute commissions for her, and
when pressed her 10 tell me why she
said that my mind was. as 1t ought TO
be, ON my business and that this rem
dered me unfit for trifies. Her expla-
nation nettled me, for ! am not in
business. We are living on our in
come of $500 a year have been
long looking for position. but there
is just enough for me TO do in home
matters TO prevent my taking on any
considerable other work.
My wife finally showed plainly that
she was not the angel her friends pro
nounced her after Il little matter OF
forgetfulnesS on my part which
brought serious results. though any
one is liable TO forget Il tIife aI;l
should not be blamed simply because
the consequences happen to be unfor-
tunate. She had an aunt, an old lady
without children, 10 whom she was
sincerely attached and who was much
attached TO her. The aunt did not live
in the same town with us. and my wife
wrote her regularly. II l forgot to
10 me and ! discovered the fact later.
my wife would insist on going out even
at midnight to post II. OF course
wouldn't let her do SO; consequently.
no matter how tired was, / must
walk half dozen blocks to the post
Office. This naturally rufiied me.
Well, one day Beatrice received word
that her aunt was i'll, and j was Of
course charged with letter to post at
once. 1t contained an offer from Bea-
trice TO go TO nurse her aunt. Several
days passed, and no reply came. Bea-
trice wrote again. Several more days
passed, and still not word came from
her aunt. Beatrice made up her mind
TO go at once herself TO learn what
was the trouble when she received a
telegram announcing her aunt's death.
We went TO the funeral and learned
that Beatrice's letters had both mis-
carried. Her aunt, who looked for
her by every train, was at first much
hurt and finally turned against her
very bitterly for her seeming neglect.
btdtTlCe WIS more tTouDleu lUdD i nuu
ever seen her. She asked me il i was
sure had Iosted her letters, and when
/ told her that TO the best of my re
membrance / surely had she said moth
ing and hid her discontinue as best
she could.
After the funeral the old lady's will
was opened. 1t had been made on the
day of her death TO replace one that
had been standing for years. Her
money, some $4,000. she left to char
ity. BY the previous will she had left
ii all TO Beatrice.
Beatrice said nothing to me. but IL
was plain that she was greatly disap-
pointed. After we reached home
heard her rumaging upstairs and pres
emily she came down holding out to
me the two letters she had given me
TO mail
Stupid she exclaimed angriy.
You are only fitted to drag donkey
cart"
Instead of fiaring up and giving her
the bitter retort her words merited. |
simply replied
my dear. would have sworn that
posted both OF them. Where did you
RnI than