The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-12-31
EDWARDS ALL.

Ine small weary -lOOhiHS HAIL Will
the patient eyes climbed the stairs OF
the tenement as the clock struck 6. His
work for the day was ended, but he
showed no sign of pleasure at his home
coming. On the contrary, he seemd a
little terrified.
He knocked timidly at the door. 1t
was flung open by a very slatternly WON
an with small red eyes, and an aggres-
sively pointed chin.
"Well, I'm sure" she began angrily,
$50 you're late again. Don't know what
you mean by it, I've had the kettle on
the job since s. And this is all the
thanks as I get"
''I'm sorry," said Huxtable slowly,
''but it couldn't be helped my dear. The
/ foreman put me on a special job, and it
meant stoppin' bit later than usual
or spoilin' the whole thing
eyes, your work is all you think
about,'' said his wife, spitefully, mot a
thought for your home and two chill
dren, not to mention me-"
II don't think that quite true" he
said meekly.
1t certainly was not. He was good
and devoted, but Mrs. Huxtable would
never admit anything in his favor. She
was one of those women who seem to
regard their husbands as schoolmasters
of the old regime would regard their
unhappy pupils-as something to be bull
lied, maltreated and altogether subdued.
Huxtable had put up with the treat
ment for fifteen years. Sometimes, when
he looked Lack on The past, he wondered
how he had been able to endure his tor
ments with such patience.
"Where's Jack and ARCHER" he asked,
as he went to the sink to wash his
hands.
"Ah, you may well ask. Where, in
deed! Playin' in the court, ! expec' and
gettin' into bad company. But that
comes because their father don't trouble
hisself about 'em. They'll 60 to rack
and ruin, you mark my words, if you
don't keep a tight and on 'em."
II should have thought that was your
job, so to speak," suggested Huxtable.
mo, it's fathers place to look after
his boys. Besides, you know as how
they don't think nothin' of me when
you're about. It's dad this and dad that,
till I'm fairly sick of hearin' them say
it."
eyes. 1 think they're fond of me-,
said poor Huxtable, with little break
in his voice.
Not that they've got much reason to
be-" snapped the woman. "But, then,
children alters takes to them as does
the least for 'em. That's what so un-
| fair
She poured out the tea, and gave the
unhappy Huxtable his meal in silence.
| He looked round the room and sighed.
| The weeks laundry was suspended from
string overhead, and the room was filled
with a warm dampness. Not a vestige
of comfort was in sight. A bleak
wretched home was this-he reflected
cursed by an ill-tempered wife who had
not even the virtues of her vices. For
the average nagging woman was gen.
orally tidy and clean, but Mrs. Huxtabel
was neither one nor the other. Equally,
tyrannical women frequently made good
mothers and brought up their offspring
in the way they should go, but Mrs
Huxtable's complete equipment for the
training of Archie and Jack consisted of
broken broom handle. She taught
them nothing which could help them to
grow up into good and useful men. She
had, indeed, spoken the truth when she
said that unless the father looked after
them their futures would be in peril.
After tea Huxtable took out his pipe
| This action was always the signal for
She did not really dislike the smell of
tobacco but she disliked The idea of her
husband enjoying himself. So she shifted,
| o+
he knocked out the ashes and replaced
the pipe in his pocket.
Il wish you was bit more even, tenn
pered," he said gently, sit 'ud make
things pleasanter."
When the children came home, Mrs.
Huxtable delivered short lecture to
them on the brutality of their father.
The youngsters, however, did not take
much notice, but climbed on the little
mans knees and begged for pennies,
which he gave them with smiling good
nature. But when the boys had gone
to bed, and he was alone in the little
sitting room, he sat with his head in his
hands, asking himself what it all meant.
Why were some men singled out for
such homes as this, he wondered, whilst
others had love, happiness, and all that
made life worth living? There was Tom
Harris, for example, who worked in his
shop Harris was anything but saint,
and drank large part of his wages,
but he had wife who worshiped him,
and his home was always comfortable
and cosy. There was Barclay, that long,
ugly fellow, who frequently BACKED his
wife's eyes, but who, nevertheless, led
pleasant life enough when he was not
under the influence of drink, whilst he,
Huxtable, whose greatest dissipation
was a glass of beer once a day, with
a couple, perhaps, on Sundays, was bull
lied and badgered from morning to
night, until his existence was rendered
almost unbearable.
AS he sat and pondered things, he re-
membered how another acquaintance OF
his own had cut the Gordian knot
abruptly by clearing out and leaving
his unkind wife to her own resources.
He had gone off suddenly, and no news
had been heard of him afterward. Some
said he had gone to Canada, the place
where man who knew decent trade
could always get good work and good
wages.
| OF late, Huxtable had thought a
great deal about this man. Secretly, he
had envied him his pluck, and had wished
that he, too, could do likewise, 0, for a
that harsh voice-fforl that mosC gloomy
| face. If only he dared. =
| An evening newspaper lay on, the
| table. He took it up, and strangely
enough the first thing which he noticed