The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-06-28
THE WIFE
OF A POOR
MAN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
"a by ID. i. Walsh.)
1HE warm sunshine coming into


vealed even more than the
usual disorder. Paper and
string Uttered the floor, dust covered
the furniture and Mrs. Ainsley, her
personal appearance in complete har-
mony with her surroundings, sat at
the untidy table. 1t was at the end
of an angry discussion during which
the children had silently withdrawn.
Their father and neither still sat in
their places, he with roll of bills in
his hands, she nervOusly twisting her
napkin.
Presently, as if waking from hide
Gus dream, Mrs. Ainsley looked about
her. All was as usual-Only Fred
wasn't therei A roll of bills on the
table beside her plate Then it wasn't
a dream, those sharp, angry words,
hers no less than his.
little later the maid came to an
nOunce morning caller. Like an
old woman Mrs. Ainsley arose. She
stumbled as the toe of her slipper
caught in a rip in the rug. Somehow
the stumbling let her see herself as
through Freds eyes. She looked
down at her Soiled gown. then about
the room. A volume of Browning lay
open upon the Uttered window seat:
one of Emerson had tumbled to the
floor. Now, Mrs. AiESley'S shibbOleth
was culture, whereof, to her, books
were the high sign. Their promiscu-
Gus distribution was an evidence of
their constant use. If ones means
did not permit one to have both
servants and books, it surely were
better to fOrego the former for the
sake of possessing the latter; and,
having the books, how could one
chain ones spirits to the trivalities of
homework? But now, as she ap-
preached the living room, the dust,
the furniture out of place, even the
scattered books seemed to proclaim
more of disorder and discomfort than
they did of the refinementS of a cul
tured home.
MARY Graham!" she cried as her
visitor arose.
"Alice, | hope you'll pardon my
coming week earlier than you ex-
pected. AS Brother Johns obliged to
be away from home, decided to
come here first" -.-~
"Oh, I'm so glad you came! Fred's
away, and wan-I want" Her COM
posture gave way and she was collapsed
sObbing in her friends arms.
little later the whole miserable
story came out: Erred has changed
sou his wife sObbed. while the friend
noted with kindly eyes the disorderly
room, the soiled and torn silk of the
mistress, and in her own mind came
to some sage conclusions.
"Fred has no sympathy for me- He
never seems to see that l need any.
sometimes think that he has no love
for the children, either. At least he's
never at home when he can be away.
And the things that we used to en-
joy so much together-books-he
seems to hate. You see this dress
the children's clothes are in even
worse condition. / asked him this
morning for money for them and he
accused me of wanting another silk
for myself. Now he's gone for a
month-and talks of a separation
after that"
"A separation, Alice! Nonsense!
Things may be bad, but they can't
be so bad as that Will you let me
help you?"
"Yes, if you think" Sobs fin
ished the sentence.
swell, then, you must let me take
complete charge. First, I'd suggest
that you follow Fred's advice and
give your maid vacation. Well do
the work and be all the better for it."
"Alice, | see how il is" said Mary
little later; "your training as rich
mans daughter didn't fit you for the
position of poor mans wife. Fred,
you say, will be home in a month
Much may be done in that time"
/ Mrs. Ainsley was surprised and
ashamed to see how happily the chill
dren, who had never been required
so much as TO pick up a garment for
themselves, responded to Mary's sug-
geStiOns and did all kinds of work.
What was more, they kept at 1t day
after day. The boys removed the
rickety fence from the front and side
yards. They mendeG the alley fence
and planted flowers and vines where
they would do the most good This
didn't cost much. Within the house
was another matter. But three or
four men transformed the place in a
week.
At the end of two weeks all that
Mary had planned and more was ac-
compfiShed. What had once been
dreary house became a home in ap-
pearance. lacking only Freds' pres
ence to become one in reality.
"We're impressionists-and futur.
lists: we've produced a homelike
effect. You can do the nice little
details later" said Mary with
laugh. "Now for your wardrobe"
With generous enthusiasm Mary