The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-11-15
Head Of the
Family
B, GROVER ]. GRIFFIN

"As soon :s ! go into a family" said
my bachelor uncle. Il can tell which
is the head Of the house. the husband
or the wife"
l sat up and took notice of this. !
was to he married within a few weeks
to u young lady who thus far had Civ.
en- way before my slightest wish.
"Can you tell that with an engaged
couple. Uncle Georges"
"Only on general principles" Is
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nine women in ten are sharp
enough before marriage to make their
husbands think they're dying to be
mastered. AS soon as the ceremony
has been performed they begin to get
him under"
Phew! felt myself turning pale at
the prospect before me. "What would
you do" l asked. If you had been
married and your wife commenced the
get-him-under racket"
II wouldn't be married in the first
place. Ask your father. He knows"
"How is it. fatherY'
"All husbands must give in to their
wives soone or later. my boy"
Here were two men Of experience Of
whom ! should have learned. But the
experience of age Is of no consequence
to youth. 1t occurred to me that l
would bring on a trial Is 500 as l
had returned from the honeymoon to
| determine which had the stronger will.
my wife or l.
I tried in various ways to get up a
wrangle between my wife, and myself.
but in everything l required she gave
up SO cheerfully that ] began to think
If my father was right my case was an
exception. If my wife announced that
we would have lamb for dinner and l
insisted on beef. beef it was. II |
wished to go to the theater and she
wished to stay at home we went to the
theater. and If the wishes were re-
versed ! still had my way. | invited
my uncle to dinner just to show him
that it was ! who was head of the
house. He came. l undertook to do a
bit Of training by way Of illustration.
and it succeeded beyond my expecta-
lions till a matter came up of very lit
tie consequence. but upon which my
wife seemed to have set her heart upon
having her W way. She wore a dress
with IA trimming which ! did not like.
and during the dinner chat l suggested
that she change it. She made no reply.
and I said nothing more at the time.
When my uncle departed while help
ing him on with his overcoat | said.
"Well. Uncle George, who's boss in my
house. my wife or II"
"Your wife," Il
what makes you think 500" l asked
in surprise. =
"Oh. l know their tricks and their
manners!"
l followed him out to the stoop, try
ing to get him to tell me why he had
set me down as second in the family.
especially after l had furnished such
excellent proof that l was playing the
first violin. He would not satisfy me.
but finally said. Let me know wheth-
or your wife changes the trimming you
spoke of at dinner"
A week after that l was at my IA
theirs home when Uncle George came
in. Hello. Bob" was his CHEEKY greet
ing. what are you doing here? One
would suppose so soon after marriage
you would be billing and cooling in
your own domicile."
If l had known I was to meet him
there l would eve have gone. my
self. II l had had warning Of his
coming I would have slipped out the
back door. AS it was he caught me in
a trap. l suppose l looked embarrass-
ed. At any rate he continues:
How are you getting on at home.
my boy? Everything serene! No tiffs
yet"
Nothing s%erious?"
How about that trimming? Has she
changed it?"
mo, but she will. or by the
"Oh! Has it become necessary for
you to put your foot down"
What was the use Of keeping up any
pretense of deception? He had me in a
r and | might as well out with it.
"That trimming" l said, has become
the test as t which is head Of the
house. my wife OF l. We're lighting it
out now"
You don't mean it! But you're not
fighting it here. are you|
II am"
"And BELIEF
"Oh. Belle: she's at her mothers"
That's too bad
We've been having a monkey and
a parrot time Of it. By the bye, uncle.
how did you know that there was like
" to be trouble on the score Of that
trimming?"
Happened to be looking at Belle
and saw a small storm in her eye"
"She didn't say anything?'
That's just it. When a woman
RACES. fear nothing. When she doesn't
ray anything, look out"
How do you know all this2 You've
never been married"
My uncle made no reply to this. He
changed his tone to N Of fatherly adj