Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1920 — KINDS OF TEMPER [ARTICLE]

KINDS OF TEMPER

By JULIA A. ROBINSON.

(©, 1920, byMcClure Newspaper Syndicate.) “Yes, there are two kinds of temper, John, I can vouch for that,” asserted Nathan, with a wink at bis friend. “Humph,” sneered John. “Guess it’s all one kind of temper with the women. Girls have sweet temper, mebbe, when they’re looking ont for a husband, before they get hitched. After a woman’s been married a bit there ain’t 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 it!” challenged John. “Give up if I do?” insisted Nathan. “Go ahead and prove it,” was John’s incredulous answer. Nathan sat back in his chair and squared his shoulders. ' “My wife’s a good cook,” he began. “I don’t say it because she’s my wife; others say it, too. She’s especially famous for her preserves. All the neighbors are crazy to have some of her preserves 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 a jugful; we have a lot of it at home, and it’s .good, I can tell you. Well, one October Sarah had been working enough to kill, preserving, standing over the hot stove till near midnight some days. I 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, ’ I told her. 'What’s the use of keeping at it? Just take a rest.’ “ ‘But they’re ordered,’ she explained. ‘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 l/alf full already.’ “ ‘Tell you what I’ll do,’ I said, for I felt good-natured just then. Til put up a hanging shelf for you;then they’ll be all together, and be out of the way.’ “ ‘That’ll be fine!’ she beamed. ‘Be sure and make it strong; they’re heavy.’ “I laughed at her for that reminder. Hadn’t I been carpentering more or less all my life, and didn’t I know how to make it hold?”

“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! “One night Sarah said, just before we went to bed: “Mrs. Jones is coming" for her share of the preserves tomorrow. I declare. I kinder hate to see them go, but I’ll be glad of th® money. I shall go right down and buy that dress for Nina. I haven’t told her about it, and she’ll be tickled to death.’ “We were sleeping soundly that night. About two o’clock there came a 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. “I was so dazed at first I couldn’t think; but my wife sat right up in bed. “ ‘Nathan!’ she gasped; ‘my preserves!’ That was all, but her voice had a hollow sound. “I sprang up, beginning to pull on my boots, but Sarah pulled me back. “ ‘No. Nathan, we won’t go down,’ she said, quite calmly. ‘lt’s done, and we can’t help It now. no use trying to save anything; the glass Is In it by this time. We can’t clean up tonight. Wai| till morning.’ “Even in my nervous condition I couldn't help wondering to hear her speak so calm. “Well, if you believe me, my wife waited till we’d finished breakfast before she’d go down into that cellar. “There won’t be time for breakfast after 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 uttered an oath. “My wife had never heard me swear before and I could see her shudder and a look of amazement creep into her eyes. Then she spoke, and I declare what she said nearly knocked me over. a .. “‘Oh, Nat!’ she exclaimed, the smiles actually creeping into her face, *hdre are some whole jars! Would you believe it possible?’ “She began counting —‘one, two, three, sour —five- —six —isn’t this something to be thankful for? It isn’t all lost, after all, and perhaps we can save some of the cracked ones.’ “Did she scold pje and xeli me it was aU my fault? I knew it was. No, sir, she didn’t! It made me feel mean to have her talk so cheerful—and that is all she ever said about it! I’ve been trving to make it up to her all these years—not the money part; we could stand that—but having her so sweet about it—l just felt I must be sweet, too. Give up, John?” he asked, turning suddenly to his friend. * “Humph!" grinned John sheepishly, -there are always exceptions to every ' Nathan laughed cheerfully, knowing he had worn