Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1885 — Real Poetry. [ARTICLE]

Real Poetry.

For real poetry and pathos watch that young wife and her mother at the baby linen counter, says the Albany Express. The wife of a year, probably; the girlish face looks a little sad, and motherhood is faintly shadowed there. She is purchasing garments for one who is as dear to her as her life. As each tiny article of the tiny trosseau is shown her a flood of feeling wells up and leaves a rosy stain upon her cheeks. That snowy mass of muslin and lace called a robe has a terrible fascination for her. Enveloped in that robe shersees a tiny form, the little nestling head, the wee restless hands, she almost feels the clinging fingers. “Isn’t it beautiful ?” she sighs and turns to her mother, who looks on not unsympathizingly, but with an eye to the practical and a present appreciation of the exact amount her son-in-law can afford to spend. “I must have this lovely robe, mamma.” “We will see, dear,” says mamma. “I am afraid it is too expensive, Oh, dear, yes; $lB. We will look at some others.” But the daughter is not satisfied. They begin to count up the cost of all that they need. Thb items grow apace. The amount is still too much. It is no use, they cannot spare $lB for one dress. Again she goes over the whole catalogue. She leaves out some things altogether, and says: “I can make all the plain things, you know, mamma.” Then they count up again. No, it is no use *, it can not be done, and the disappointed one has to leave the counter without the wished-for robe. If her husband could only see lier, but he can not. Besides he has given her all the money he thinks she needs; in fact he believes she can not possibly spend all the money he gave her on such little bits of things. When his wife shows him her purchase she will doubtless do it almost tremblingly. She knows he expects to see a great deal more for the money. He will certainly think she has been extravagant. She can not ask him for more money. It would not be just. He works So hard for all he has. And so the matter rests. Not a word about a costly robe. Did he but know what passed at the counter, the chances are that he* would find some way of gratifying the tender, loving ambition which thihks nothing too good for the little somebody she has not seen. Angeb—punishing outsSlves for the faults of another; or committing an additional error, if we are incensed at our on mistakes.