Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-07-01
KINDS OF TEMPER
BY JULIA a. ROBINSON.

| friend.
"Humph," sneered John. "Guess it's
all one kind Of temper with the wom-
en-. Girls have sweet temper, mebbe,
when they're looking out for a hus-
band, before they get hitched. After
| wOman's been married a bit there
amt much Of the sweet kind left; it's
all the other sort"
Don't know about that-don't quite
agree with yOu," objected Nathan.
prove itw challenged John.
"Give up if I do?' insisted Nathan.
go ahead and prove it," was
Johns incredulOus answer.
Nathan sat back in his chair and
squared his shoulders.
"My wife's a good cook" he began.
Il don't say it because she's my wife;
others say it, too. She's especially IA
nous for her preserves. All the neigh
bors are crazy to have some of her pre-
serves and are willing to pay for them
well. In preserving time she works
herself nearly to DEATH but she doesn't
sell it all, not by joyful; we have
lot Of it at home, and it's good, | can
tell YOU. Well, one October Sarah
had been working enough to kill, pre-
serving, standing over the hot stove
till near midnight some days. | knew
she was getting tired from the little
flush on her cheek and the wearisome
| look about her eyes, and I tried to
make her give it up.
"'YOu've got lots more'n you can
make use Of now told her. What's
the use of keeping at it? Just take
a rest
But they're ordered,' she ex-
planned. I want to sell enough this
year to buy Nina that white muslin
she wants.
Where am I going to put them
all? she asked. There isn't room for
any more in the small fruit closet;
that's half full already
"'Tell you what I'll do I said, for
l felt good-natured just then. Tll
put up a hanging shelf for you then
they'll be all together, and be out of
TIE way
That'H be fiDe.' she beamed. BE
sure and make it strong; they're
heavy.
Il laughed at her for that remind
er. Hadn't | been carpentering more
or less all my life, and didn't l know
how to make it hoId?"
"Well, I put up the shelf-two of
them there were, one above the other,
and we arranged the preserves on
them-a tempting row!
zone night Sarah said, just before
We went to bed: Mrs. Jones is COM
ing for her share Of the preserves to-
morrow. | declare | kinder hate to
see them go, but I'll be glad of the
money. [ shall go right down and
buy that dress for Nina. I haven't
told her about it, and she'll be tickled
to DEATH
ave were sleeping soundly that
night. About two o'clock there came
crash that fairly shook the house.
Even the neighbors in the next block
heard it, and told us afterward they
thought it was an earthquake.
II was so daZed at first I couldn't
think; but my wife sat right up in
bed.
'Nathan.' she gasped my pre-
serves! That was all, but her voice
had hollow sound.
II sprang up, beginning to pull on
my boots, but Sarah pulled me back.
"'NO, Nathan, we won't go down.
she said, quite calmly. It's done, and
we can't help it now. There's no use
trying to save anything; the glass is
in it by this time. We can't clean up
tonight. Wait till morning.
even in my nervous condition l
couldn't help wondering to hear her
speak so calm.
"Well, if you believe me, my wife
waited till we'd finished breakfast be-
There won't be time for breakfast aft
er we've cleaned up she said better
eat now
"Well, we went down cellar kinder
gingerly, never speaking a word, and
what a sight met our eyes-broken
glass, splinters of wood and rope,
floating in the sticky sweet stuff that
had looked so beautiful only a few
hours before. We just stared for a full
minute before either spoke Then I ut
tered an OATH"
"My wife had never heard me swear
before and could see her shudder and
look of amaZement creep into
her eyes. Then she spoke, and I de-
clare what she said nearly knocked me
over.
"'Oh. Natv she exclaimed, the
smiles actually creeping into her face,
here are some whole jars Would you
believe it possible?
"She began counting two,
three, our-fve-siX-isn't this some
thing to be thankful for? 1t isn't all
lost after all, and perhaps we can
save some of the cracked ones
did she scold me and tell me it was
all my fault? / knew it was. No,
sir, she didn't! 1t made me feel. mean