The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-10-24
THE PARSONS
J REMEDY
B. N. QUAD
copyrtsht. 1918. by Associated LM-
erary Press. H.

~ NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1918. by Associated LN-
erary Press. u III
It was love that brought about the
marriage of Abraham Scott, 4 young
farmer, with Tilda Hastings, and for
the first year they were very happy.
Then It happened that Tilda's mother
passed a week with them. and when
ready to 60 home she said:
: "Tflda, I've been watching things
since I've been here"
why, what is there to watch?" she
asked:
'Henry's tyranny owe you"
Z why. mothers!
"It's a fact. If your father treated
me that way one Of US would leave the
house In short order!!"
But can't understand you at all.
Just what has Henry done?"
Hes treated you like a child or q
slave. saw 1t the first day l was
here. and 1t amazed me that you didn't
show your spunk."
why. mother, how strange you
talk!!" said the wife. Tell me one
thing Henry has done that wasn't
right"
"1'm going to tell you Of more than
one. Tflda. I've been setting them
down on paper so as to be sure, and
here they are:
The first day I was here he walks
In and orders you to melt some NUT
ton taller for a sore back cow"
why, he didn't order. He asked me
!. to"
Don't try to excuse him. There wa
a commanding tone in his voice. The
second day he comes stomping in like
q duke and calls out:
"'Hey, Tilda. I'm going to town. and
don't You forget to feed the hogs at
no0n.'"
"But l don't see anything wrong
about that" was protested. HE was
going after nails"
well, I'd just like your father to
roar out at me like that just once! I'd
tell him to go to Texas quicker'n wink.
On the third day your Henry hollered
at you from the barnyard and wanted
to know il the sheep shears were in
the Kitchen"
But he wanted them. mother"
II s'pose he did. but he spoke like old
Nero. II your father had called to me
like that I'd have gone down there
with q club. On the fourth day, as we
was eating supper at 6 o'clock, the
clock stopped. You must remember
what Henry saidy'
He said it had stopped"
"Yes. but how did he say it? He
looked right across the table at you.
and there was pounded glass in bis
tones as he said: &
..Tilda. you forgot to wind up the
clock last night"
But I did forget, mother"
And what IL you did,"
What do you want me to do. moth
er?'
assert yourself. Be the boss of the
house. Have things go as you want
them to, the same as l do. Your "a
ther wouldn't dare to pull a cabbage
head in the garden without asking my
leave"
The wife hadn't looked upon her
husband as a tyrant. On the contrary,
she regarded him as n Of the kindest
men she had ever heard Of. She had
no wish to NEEDLE or boss. and she had
felt that she was getting all the rights
she could well take care of. But the
mother had sowed the seeds Of discon-
tent. and they 0 %'sprouted. Tlda
began to find fault and tender advice
and to even threaten suicide II her
opinions. were not deferred to. Henry
figured out that the mother-in-law had
tee6.s tas1king addsnsing her, inAnence
:ssraRsx him. blfshe went A6sS1s pa.
1isntly ana av6fded anything IKE
rupture. "
It was when the boy baby was born
that Tilda's mother said to her:
"Now. you want to put your foot
right down about q name for baby. I
am sure Henry will want to call him
James, after an uncle" XII,
''But that's q good name. isn't it7v
'''Tilda Scott. have you lost your
senses7''
II hope not, mother
Then perhaps you can tell me who
the ravens fed"
Moses. wasn't it?'
mot. by a. jugful! 1t was Elisha.
and that's the name you want TO give,
baby /,
But I'm sure Henry wont like It"
II 70 happened that Henry overheard.
most OF the conversation 10 he was
training q vine by an open window.
! He didn't walk in and order the moth
6serinrIaw out Of the house. but he
sauntered on to the home OF the par
son whose church he and his wife at
IL Cd and stated his case down TO the
baby. then added: