Smyrna times., 1913-06-18


business want. -
Really. Will, l am getting tired
Of working to meet all the household
expenses"
why, hOusework is an easy lob.
Grace J | wouldn't mind that myself.
You know l am good to you; don't
drink, smoke or stay out nights and
some day fortune will come our way
and will make good. -
In the morning when Mr.. Jennings
awoke he was astonished to find him
self alone. He looked around the
room and on the chair where his
clothes had lain, lay a woman's ging-
ham dress and apron.
He searched the house for his wife,
and his clothes, but found neither.
He decided he might as we'll gut on
the dress until he could find some os
his own clothing, and went down to
the kitchen TO get breakfast. He de-
cided to make griddle cakes and coffee.
He mixed the flour and water to-
gether and began frying the cakes,
wondering why they did not rise like
those his wife made. He heard a
knock at the door, and forgetting his
strange attire, opened it.
II proved 20 be a small boy with a
note. who seemed frightened, and i'm
mediately ran away. The note was
in his wife's hand writing. and he
hesitated before he opened il. This
was what he read:
Dear Will-You may wonder at my
strange disappearance, but If am TO
be the head Of the house, I must have
the habiliments. Whenever you feel
that you are tired Of housework and
wish to exchange places, be the man
of the house and work for a living,
leaving me TO care for the home,
am willing to return. You will find
two lOaves Of bread in the pantry.
which will last a day or two. When
you wish me to return, go down TO
the Post Office and leave word there.
Your loving wife, Garce.
P. S. II hope the dress fits.
He did not know whether TO la ugh
or be angry. but thought he might as
we'll make the best Of it; besides
Grace wouldn't stay away longer than
that night. so he would go and eat
breakfast. The coffee had boiled dry,
the griddle cakes had burned TO a
crisp and the house was so full of
smoke hat he nearly choked. He
opened the windows and decided to
have bread and butter for breafast.
IL was the longest day he had ever
spent. Not a soul came to the house.
and he could not go anywhere. Night
came. but no Grace appeared.
Next morning he saw one of his
friends coming toward the house and
he promptly hid.
His friend not finding him, conclud-
ed he had gone to work, and went
back to the store to tell the strange
news.
After a dinner of bread and butter
he sat down and began to think ser.
iously. He was not treating his wife
fairly. She had worked hard, while
he should have been working. ard she
had not been unkind or fault-finding.
She needed a rest, and he would e
TO the Post Office that very night anC
tell the Postmaster the whole story.
As soon as Grace came home with
his clothing he would hire cut to Mr..
Johnson during the haying. At Il
O'Clock that night he stole down e
the Postmaster's and that official met
him at the door and invite him in.
Whom should he see but Grace, who
was Laughing immo6erately, while Mr.
and Hss. Mason JOINED her, as they
saw the plight he was in. Grace tool
her suitcase, and they started for
home.
"Grace, he said. 81 am going L
turn over a new leaf. and wiil hire
out 20 Mr.. Johnson tomorrow morn
ing. Housework is not as easy as
thought. and you have done your las
days working for other people. "
'Will, was not working for Mrs
Mason this time, just making visit
have some good news for you. Mr.
Mason has found you a position a
bookkeepcr in the bank at Fairchild
so you will not have to do work yol
despise. But | am glad to know yo'
have learned your lesson and ! see n
reason why we can't be perfect
happy hereafter. - Boston Post.