Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-11-07
His IMAGINATION
BY JOAN M. GRAY

years older than she, everyone won
dered what in the world she did ii for.
Now Martha herself was beginning to
wonder
Five years ago it had seemed good
thing to do, although there were ru
mors then that Henry's first wife had
left him because he had told her to
go to work and earn her living, and
that Henrys wife had done so, bun
had freed herself of Henry first, 50
that he had not been benefited by her
industry
About this time Martha's people
had died and left her and her sister
tidy sum. The sister decided to take
her share and "see the world Mar
tina, with a pretty little bungalow, a
neat sum in the bank and a good pc.
sition in an office, dreaded being alone,
and when Henry proposed, she accept
ed him.
Whether or not Henry was intlu
enced by Martha's possessions is hard
to say, but soon after the wedding he
gave up his position as some KIND OF
an assistant and stayed home to care
for the hens and the garden. Martha
kept on at the office. She had always
worked there and couldn't bear to
give it up"
Then Henry began to have symp-
toms and to get fat He had new
ailment each week and sometimes Il
n show
cred sympathy on him when he
groaned, "Oh, Martha, feel awful this
morning. but after three years of II
it became monotonouS, and in spite
of herself she began to feel contemp-
tuous, and one morning she actually
snapped at Henry.
He informed her that he was sure
he had appendicitis. She glared at
him eff you'd move around a little
and eat less, you wouldn't have ap
pendicitis,' she said, and left him
dazed
She felt guilty about that all day
and decided to be sorry for Henry that
evening. but after she had cooked sup
per watched Henry eat, washed the
dishes, busted and watched Henry
doze she couldn't sympathize.
I'm going to have a specialist come
to YOU, Henry" she said. "If you're
suffering from such complication and
are growing fat all the time, there's
something wrong. Well find out"
SO she spent $3.50 to learn that
Henry was suffering from Imagination.
your husband is lazy, and he has
an abnormal imagination. He likes to
eat too well. Diet him. work him, but
XIII that Imagination"
"Tea and toast in the morning, toast
and vegetable salad at noon, tea and
milll-tOast at night. Not a word,
Henry. You know what the specialist
said. And | think I'll stay home and
see that you do diet I've worked long
enough, and I'm tired"
SO Martha stayed home and rested.
The office tried everything to get her
back but she refused.
I'm just enjoying myself she told
them, and it was true. She was en-
ioying herself, She loved to watch
Henry MUNICH his toast and drink his
tea. while she dined sumptuously on
steak and mashed potatoes with gravy,
peas. hot biscuits and jam. Poor Hen
rvs face was indescribable.
"ThiS is to be a real rest she told
him, and it was. Beyond cooking her
meals, she did nothing. Henry, who
was neat almost to the point of prim-
ness, writhed at the state of the
house Martha writhed inside, but it
was to be battle to the death.
She won. one morning, after Il visit
to the neighbors, she found Henry in
an apron, cleaning. "I'll get these
rooms done today" he painted land
tomorrow I'll tackle the cellar. Then
| guess it'll be time to start the gar
den. What say, Martie?'
but your appendix, Hen. You
ought to be careful"
"Well-I-I think my appendix is
better. P'rapS I'll be all right in a
little while. Say Martie, could | have
a little potato and gravy this no0nT
mo, Hen, you must be careful--the
diet you have now is just right for
YOU" 70 Martha this was not the
psychological moment.
SO Hen grumhImg little, of course.
cleaned and gardened and made fire
quent trips to the woodshed, all on his
scanty fare. He began to grow thin
and TO look younger, and Martha, in
order to keep from gaining too many
pounds herself, began to help in the
garden Finally. she grew suspicious
of the Woodshed. She investigated,
very cautiously, one lovely day in May,
and-Henry had set hen! Marthaf
heart melted. She flew into the house,
stirred the fire and cooked.
Henry, returning from his trip to the
store, dashed into the kitchen, after n
stop in the woodshed
1--WE got eleven, Martie, Eleven out
of thirteen If that amt pretty good.