The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-03-11
towards All


49,
the tenement as the clock struck 9 His
work for the day was ended, but he
showed no sign OF pleasure at his home
looming. On the contrary. he seemed a
little terrified.
He knocked timldily at the door. II
was dung open by a very slatternly
woman with small red eyes, and an az
excessively pointed chin.
"well. I'm sure" she began angrily,
$50 you're late again. Don't know what
you mean by Il. I've had the kettle on
the hob since :. And this Is all the
thanks as I get"
'I'm sorry said Huxtabie slowly.
"but 1t couldn't be helped. my dear.
The foreman put me on a special JOB.
and It meant stoppin' a BIT later than
usual or spoilin' the whole thing"
"Yes. your work Is all you think
about" said his wife. spltefuliy. mot
a thought for your home aud two ehlI.
dren. not to mention me-"
II don't think that quite true. he
said meekly.
. II 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 10
their husbands as sch0olmasters
Of the old regime would regard their
unhappy pupils-as something 70 be
maltreated and altogether sub
dued. Huxtabie had put up with the
treatment for fifteen years. Sometimes,
be looked back on the past. he
wondered how he had been able to en-
lure his torments With such patience.
where's Jack and Archieg' he
tsked. as he went to the sink to wash
1Is hands.
~Ah. you may well ask. Where. fn-
ieedi Playin' In the court. I expec'
md gettin' into bad company. But that
because their father don't trouble
iisself about EN- They'll go to rack
ind ruin. you mark my words. II you
keep a tight and on EN-
Il should have thought that was your
oh, 80 90 speak" suggested Huxtable.
"No. it's a fathers place to look after
is boys. Besides. you know as how
hey don't think n0tlin' Of me when
cure about. It's dad this and dad
hat. till I'm fairly sick OF hearin'
hem say it,
eyes. + think they're fond OF me-
aid poor Huxtable. with a little break
d his voice.
Not that they've got much reason 10
snapped the mi But. then.
hlidren alters takes to them as does
be least for EN-. That's what's so
She poured out the tea. and gave the
nhappy Huxtabie HIS meal In silence.
ie looked round the room and sighed.
he weeks laundry was suspended
'om string overhead. and the o was
He'd with a warm dampness. Not n
OF comfort was In sight. Al,
eak. wretched home was this-he re-
scted-cursed by an ill-tempered wife
no had not even the virtues or her
ces. For the average nagging woman
as generally tidy and clean. but Mrs. ,
uxtable was neither one nor the 9th. I
. Equally, tyrannical women fire. {
Iently made good mothers and brought I
, their offspring in the way they I
lould go, but Mrs. Huxtable's complete {
uipment for the training Of Archie
u Jack consisted Of a broken broom 1
indie. She taught them nothing q
hlch could help them 70 grow mp into I
Cd and useful men. She had. indeed, {
the truth when she said that
less the father looked after them c
cir futures would be IN peril y
After tea HuxtabIe took out bis pipe. r
IFS action was always the signal for
kind comment on the womnn's part. b
e dld not really dislike the smell of c
but she dlsliked the idea OF her t
enjoying himself. so she {
flied, groaned and criticised until at h
leth he knocked out the ashes and a
placed the pipe in his pocket.
II wish you WIS a bit more even a
npered.r he sad gently 1T 'ud make d
Ings pIeasantcr." n
When the children came home. Mrs. 81
delivered a short lecture to q
m on the brutality Of their father. a
g Youngsters, however, did not take