The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-26
BY CLAUDINE sIssoS.
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.)

Copyright, 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.)
AT the age Of twenty three. when
Moses smith was married, he VAS
spoken OF as a hustler. AS u car
penter by trade, he Was at work early
and late. Two years later he fell off
a sca1[oid and hurt his back. He was
petted and pitfed and sympathized
with. an although after SIX weeks
of loafing, the doctor pronounced
Nc SEES as good as new. the carpenter
had lost his hustle. Ills Wife dreaded
that he might inJUre himself by GO
i ing TO work too soon and she star tod
| dressnaking 10 support them While
/ he loafed.
Moses smiths mother-in-law lived
! In another state. She heard how
/ things were going, but it was a year
! before she came on. She found
/ Moses growing fat and his wife grow
/ ing lean, 1t didn't take the old lady
over week TO size things up In her
! time she had known OF several lame
| backed men and foolish wives. With
| the doctor to back her, she announced
! that her daughter must go away and
rest for month 10 prevent a nervous
! breakdown. She would remain 10
/ Keep house for Moses.
/ The lame back ed man didn't like II
at all. 1t meant an oYerturning OF his
pleasant program. lie doubted IL
there would be- any more tea and
toast and poor Moses" for him. lie
Vas overruled. however. aand the
morning his wife started away he
went down to the village postoflce
and took his old seat on the Ver4nda
| and hoped for the best. AT noon he
returned homo To meet with a sur
prise. No iire-no dinner. In reply
to his look or bewilderment the lady
with the iron Jaw replied:
You didn't cut any wood, and SO
/ there's no dinner
But can't raise the axe with this
lame back"
Then you won't have TO raise
knife or fork"
Moses went back to the grocery
and nlled up on q raw turnip. He
/ went homo to supper, but there was
no supper. No wood-~no supper, He
Went out and sat down under a lilac
bush, and his eyes hiled with tears.
lie was in the habit OF going to bed
at and getting up at the same hour
next morning. Ills gong to bed on
this occasion was according to pro-
gram. but he Was aroused at g. o'clock
by dash OF water in his face. He
had been called twice In vain
Moses. the axe ana the Woodpile!"
said the mother-in-law as he came
downstairs with a scowl on his
brow.
You know I'm a cripple" he an
swered.
NO wood-no breakfast"
He went slowly out and bent to
pick up the axe and Strengthened up
"'th groan and his hand to his
Its erik in the back" said the
woman. I'm glad to find it out
We tackled fourteen different criks
and cured each and every one If
can cure you then Nelly viii be very
happy when she returns, Come along
out to the smokehouse"
But what's the mGkehouse going
to do for Il man whose spinal cord il
all knotted upY'
\ Treatment Moses -- treatment
Just step inside"
lie stepped. and the door was closed
on him and locked He found a
cot, Jug of water and a loaf of
i bread. lie kicked on the door and
called out To know what it all meant.
and was told 10 euddie down and
take treatment for the cure OF gen
eral lazlness. drink. a erik in the
back and lying abed in the morning,
he was warned that arfy extra emo
ton on his part would make the erik
worse, and told that there was no OBJ
lection to his sleeping all day. Moses
was FOOLISH enough to kick and shout
until score OF villagers came rum
ming to see what the matter was.
70 one and all the mother-in- law an
swered:
Moses has had erik in the back
for year past. and I've set out to
cure it, / hope to meet with great
success. In fact. / don't think his
wife viii have to do dressmak king
when he comes BACK. Thanks for
calling. Come again"
During the first day Moses thought
and slept by turns, and now and then
shed tears. In few hours his life
had changed over and his peace and
comfort had departed
At shutdown more bread and water
He yelled and kicked and again he
was warned to suppress his emotions
He demanded better fare. but was
answered that until his erik got sc