The Dickinson press., 1914-02-21
TIE PARSONS
REMEDY
By N. QUAD
Copyright, 1918, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

marriage of Abraham Scott, a young
farmer. with Ttlda Hastings, and for
the 6rst year they were very happy.
Then it happened that Tilda's mother
passed a week with them. and when
ready to go 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 over you"
why. motherw
Its a fact. If your father treated
me that way n of us would leave the
house in short order!"
But cant understand you at all.
Just what has Henry done?"
"He's treated you like a child or a
slave. saw it the first day l was
here. and it 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" "
I'm going to tell you Of more than
one, Tilda. I've been setting them
down on paper SC as to be sure, and
here they are: a
"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, Re asked me
to-" :
Don't try to excuse him. There was
a commanding tone in his voice. The
second day be comes stomping in like
a duke and calls out:
"'Hey, Tilda. Pm going to town, and
don't you forget to feed the hogs at
noon.'"
But l don't see anything wrong
about that" was protested. He was
going after nails" .
\ wen, I'd just like your father to
roar out at ME like that justonce! 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 If the sheep shears were. in
the kitchen"
But he wanted them. mother"
II s'pose he did, but he spoke like old
Nero. If your father had called to me
like that I'd have gone down there
with a club. On the fourth day, as we
was eating supper at 6 O'clock, the
clock stopped. You must remember
what Henry said?'
"He said it had stopped"
Eyes. but how did he say it? He
looked right across the table at you.
and there was pounded glass in his
tones as he said:
"'Tilda. you forgot to wind up the
clock last night" ~.
l. But I did forget. mother"
n "tAnd what if you did," IS:
what do you want me to do. moth
err s.
assert yourself. Be the boss Of the
koe1se. Have things 60 as you want
them to-, the same as / do. Your ia
teer 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 Finn as. one of the kindesx
men she had ever heard of. She had
nc wish to meddHe'or boss, and she had
felt that she: was getting all the. rights
she could we'll: take care. Of. But the,
mother had sowedt the seeds, Of .discon-
tent, and they soon sprouted.. Tilda
began to find fault and tender advice
and to even threaten suicide il her
opinions were not deferred: to-. Henry
figured out that the mother-in.law had.
been talking and using her influence
against him. but he, went ahead. pa
tiently and avoided. anything like. a,
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 a name for baby. I
James, after an uncle
""But that's a good name, isn't It'll"
."sTilda Scott. have you; lost your
sensesY
IT hope not, mothe9yv
"Then perhaps you, can, tell me- who
| the ravens fed"
Moses, wasn't itfn
mot by a jugful! It. was Elisha,
and that's the nance you, want to give
baby,
"But I'm sure Renry WON'T like, it"
1t SO happened that, Henry overheard
most Of the conversation 10 he was
training a vine by an open window.
He didn't walk. in and ordsr the moth-
er-in-law out Of the house, but he
sauntered of To the home Of the par
son whose church he and; his; wife: at
tended and stated his, case down, TO. the
baby, then aadedi
"My wife, is to. threaten to. juHap into
the horse pond If i object to the
name
.sYou3 have a. horse pond?''. 4.
81 have, sir"
How deep Is the. water r.