The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-10-26
1T COULD BE
WORSE"
81
By r. 81. WILKINSON
e. Ben syndicats.-wNU Service

label WILLIAMS Is an opti-
M ai as.5 person son. :.
is apt To present a CHEEKY lit
lie smile and say: -0h, well, it could
be worse
Which really has a Frightening eff
feet on the atmosphere and creates a
more hopeful outlook for the future
However. OF late, this I'll could be
worse business has become more or
less automatic with Mabel
She issues the statement In rather
an unconscious manner, no matter how
gloomy the circumstances, and some
how you ger the impression IL has be-
come habit
You can depend upon her saying II
when you have concluded reciting what
you believe TO be a tale Of unequaled
misfortune.
You find yourself waiting for the
words 10 escape her lips steeling your
self against them, thankful when they
are over
BIZ Williams. MaBel's husband. has
come 10 realize this more and more
during the past few months Of their
married life.
Bill is himself no pessimist.
He is ever hopeful for better times
and a brighter future.
And during the days Of prosperity,
ders were rolling in faster than they
could be taken c. re OF. Bill would vel
come the sound of Mabel saying: 1T
could be worse" whenever he came
home with a tale OF some minor mis-
fortune that actually had no effect on
his output. one way or the other.
But when the depression victimized
Bill along with hundreds Of others
when orders ceased flowing. when bust
ness dropped OF TO the lowest ebb in
history and life became q constant
round of worrying and fretIing and
wondering which way 10 turn, Mabel's
at could be worse" wasn't so consol-
ing.
Physically exhausted. mentally weary
Bill would drag his tired feet into the
house late at night flop dejectedly into
q chair and ,unburden himself on Ma
bel with bitter tale Of the hard luck
in which he vas playing, and predic-
tons OF a hopeless future.
Mabel would wait until the tragic
tale was ended, smile brightly and say:
''Oh, well, il could be worse"
She might just as wei have said: II
know you must talk about it, Bill, and
I'm willing 70 listen, but don't expect
me TO believe there's anything really
wrong"
That was the trouble with Mabel.
She never seemed to attach much i'm
portance TO things he had TO say rela-
tive 10 his business
The attention she gave him when
he talked was a dutiful attention, a
preoccupied, polite attention.
Her lit could be worse" was stereo-
typed.
Perhaps. Bill told himself. it was
his own fault
Perhaps he talked too much about
business, seemed TO display no inter
est in other matters of a domestic ma
ture, things that would be of interest
10 Mabel.
But despite this admission he wished
heartily she would inject q new stock
phrase into her conversation.
He wished she could thiak Of some
thing else to say besides at could be
worse"
For Bill wanted sympathy; wanted
the satisfaction of having some one
agree with his ideas.
II wasn't long after this that Bill
came home One night and admitted
that be was licked.
I'll never pull il through" he said
70 Mabel.
why there isn't enough money in
the cash box 10 pay the rent, which
is two weeks overdue. And I've turned
of every one In the Office but Nora,
the stenographer. Il something doesn't
break pretty soon, Wen 90 TO the wall"
Mabel smiled ar him and nodded in
a vague sort of way, and said: "0h,
well, it could be a lot worse. Bill"
Bill ground his teeth and dug his
nails into his palms until the blood
appeared.
How" be gritted, ''in HI could II
be worse?"
Mabel looked ar him, startled.
She sensed the Irritation in his tone.
saw the look OF fury in his eyes, and
wondered what she had done TO pro-
woke such an outburst OF temper in her
usually mild-mannered husband
why, BfIlF' she expostulated.
whatever Is the matter? Please don't
tel me you're allowing a few minor
business troubles TO ruin your dis
position. Please don't take it out on
mel"
Bill gestured hopelessly. and stood
up. I'm not taking it out on you. Ma
bel It's simply that that stock phrase
Of yours is getting on my nerves. No