The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-10-25
By KATHLEEN NORRIS

HNEAR Mrs. Norris"
writes Blanche B.,
from a suburb near
Dubuque, "my problem is so
serious that it threatens to
wreck my married happiness.
I'm not a fool, I've been a bust
ness woman, I'm running a
home comfortably and econom-
ically, but can't work this one
out. Please tell me what you'd
do in my place.
Frank and I were engaged
for four years before we could
marry, because his mother was
dependent upon him, and his
two brothers calmly refused to
do anything for her support. But
when I had a good bank account
and we were buying a home we
felt that we could risk it, and we
were married four years ago. was
then %; Frank 80. At the time my
wonderful mother was running a
successful small grocery, with my
father as assistant. Dad drove the
delivery wagon, answered the tele-
phone, and SEEMED to be what
she called him, her partner but
it wasn't long after her death that
we discovered that she had been
carrying him all along as a liability,
not an asset. The business rapidly
went to pieces, Dad sold out for
half its value, bought a cottage,
and said he was going to retire.
| Dad Definite Handicap.
He made only seven payments
on the cottage which he lost, and
in IL months had spent the more
than 81, 600 the business had brought.
Then he came to us. That was a
little more than year ago.
Shortly afterward my uncle,
Dads brother, came to see us, and
Dad Hospitality invited him to stay,
paying me 81 a week board. This
Uncle Dan gratefully agreed to do
was at the time earning SIC a
week in a part-time job, but it didn't
work. The two old men got every.
thing at home into a mess while
was away; pipe dribbles, dirty
dishes, icebox left open, bathroom
disgraceful-they were worse thar
children. would have had to pay q
maid what l was earning, and we
had no room for her, so it seemed
wiser to do things myself. l like
homework, and am a good manager
and cook.
Husband Plays Sad Role.
Nov my life is simply that of 6
board-house keeper for two rather
exacting old men, Uncle Dan scru
pulously pays me dollar day; il
he goes away for three days to see
his married son, he deducts thai
money. OF course this doesn't pay
me, and of course my husband
doesn't like finding the bathroom
occupied when he gets home; the
evening paper scattered about; the
comfortable chairs pre-empted. He
differs with both the others politi
cally, and they argue and taunt him
and if he holds his tongue they fee
triumphantly that they have scored
They play cribbage by the hour
talking all the time; they are late
for meals, slow about everything
fussy, and with long explanations
and requests We are both getting
horribly nervous about it, and it i,
especially trying to me because
want a child, or children, and il
would be impossible to have a baby
in the house with one bath, two
bedrooms, and four adult occupants
uncle Dan is rather sweet anc
willing, but Dad is exacting anc
critical, and never says an affection
ate OF appreciative word. But wha
can do? He is "a, and slightly lame
from sciatica. have q brother
who can send me $40 a month fol
Dads keep. but he demands tina
for tobacco. My brothers. wife will
have nothing to do with Dad, so h,