MRS. DIBBLE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 753, 14 April 1877, Page 2

MRS. DIBBLE.

A Domestic Sketch. (From the < Danbury News.') (Continued.) Dibble one day returned from his business, under a sense of depresison. Ifc had been a hard day; business complications perplexing, tithes duo, money '< short," It was with Dibble one of those seasons when a man

most needs and appreciates womanly sympathy nnd the tranquilizing influence of domestic life. He found Mrs AugustaDibble perfectly radiant in a blue print, trimmed with black velvet buttons and with an artificial rose in her hair. While he waited for her to ask, "What weighs so heavily upon your mind, Solomon, dear?" lo! she began: "I must have a new silk dress this season, Mr Dibble." " I thought you had three or four silk dresses," irreverently responded Dibble. " " I said a new silk ; I haven t a dress decent to wear in public, positively not one!" ,' : -...i.i " Money is tight," quoth Dibble. " Money is always tight." " I don't know where I am going to get enough to meet my liabilities." , _ "I am very sorry, but 1 dont know as I cau help that;' t "Can't you-- can't you wait awhile for your dress ?" " Wait ! I'm surprised that you ask me such a question, Mr Dibble. I think I am the best judge of what my wardrobe requires ; and any man of proper self-respect desires his wife to dress in accordance with his social \ position." ' "tTertainly, Augusta, certainly; but at just this time "Look at Elder Johnson'* wivts, appearing in new suits every few weeks, while Thave had to sit by dressed like a beggar, and' yet when I ask you for just one hew dress, it is a hard matter and I must be put off with excuses and wait, and wait, and stay at home, or go in my old duds ready to sink with mortification. It isn't what you promised, Mr Dibble. It isn't what I am ready to accept." " But vou see, Augusta •" " I see,' Mr Dibble, that you're disposed to refuse my most reasonable request, and T must say, I should think you would be ready to cry, 'shame ' upon yourself. After all your promises and your protestations to be thus niggardly about one simple little dress ! But let me assure you, sir, you've mistaken your woman. Once for all, am Ito understand that you refuse to allow me to dress decently,' or am I not?" ' • " , "No, no, no, Augusta." " Very well, then ; let; us have no words about ' it. Let ; me have one hundred and twenty-five dollars, I put it at the very lowest figure, 1 Mr '■pm^tyZu.YyyyAA- "' . ' t , Dibble counted i out the money, and passed sadly, but hot : slowly out. He called in npon J_.nri' Eliza. : A ; nn : Eliza was a thin, spare woman of anxious countenance and faded garments. , She was intensely practical,- and had this morningibeen makigg^onfon pickle.; i She sat down squarely, facing Dibble, her elbows resting on-ber chair-arms: ' " Haven't I always been a faithful wife to you Solomon Dibble?" responded Dibble, starting slightly. " Haven't T ' alway ■ scrimped and helpetd you along ?'. , ..,-. , .... „ ■'■■ "Certainly!" r " "Then," .pursued Ann Eliza, clenching the argument at once, < u why 'don't I have a ! s good' clothes as Augusta?" , , v .^y- " Why ybu— -you— %you do, don't you?" stammered Dibble. • "Don't l? You know I don't,' Solomon Dibble. You'kn6w she has ■"} two dresses to my one; : Here T> work : and scrub, and scrimp, and she just 1 ; sits in her parlour; and embroiders. I've stood it ;a's long as I'm going to,' Dibble. I'm not going to .be ground down and trodden inder •'-foot in the dust'.in this r lyay'anv ;;: • , J ; f* P, how iby head aches ! •' groaned Dibble, pressing his hand to his temples. there is anything I despise it is a whining man. Why don't you go and get your darling AugU^ta to nurse yon up? ; I want you tb^ive me the funds to buy a new silk dress, and I aWt want to waste wordß over it until my pickle burns On to the bottom of the -kettle, either." "My dear Ann Eliza," began Dibble, " the demands of business are just nqjv so pressing that— --" '* " I don't believe they are any more pressing than they always are.; You needn't tell me, —if Augusta ; wanted a new dress' she'cl have it, Solomon Dibble." Dibble, convicted out of his own conscience of ,tje latter charge, . moved toward tbe door. Mrs Dibble ... planted herself squarely against the • way of exit. ' ' : ;•* You don't leave here,! Solomon .', D>ibble, until you hand out the money. I know my rights." Dibble counted out the price of liberty and escaped with a. pang in : " his heart deep as the void in his pocket-boot. He. turned for consolation to the ever affectionate Sophronia. Sophronia met him; , tenderly. Sophronia's hair, eyes, and complexion were. white, with a yellow tinge ; her dress was also whijte with , v _v yellow tinge 1 ; her disptiMtipn l was ▼ery sweet. She met pintle in the front hall, removed his bat and pktted down, the little spot of hair upon his forehead with a truly conjugal love pat. '•Lo! here," thought Dibble, "have I found a haven of rest, an asylum from the turmoil and perplexities of the world." " I'm so glad you've come to tea, Solomon !'? said Sophronia. . m 'Dibble sat down to the; table, yy Sophronia's offspring manifested aB ing disposition to (labble and intb dishes at inopportune

seasons. Sophronia herself oouldn!t restrain them, and Dibble had proved himself a failure iu family government ; but he was philosophically disposed to look for beauties rather than deformities. "How beautiful is, the family circle where piety and contentment reign !" quoth he. y " When you're here 1" murmured Sophronia. "How very becoming is your toilet, Sophronia !" "1 dress for you, Solomon." "How delicious this gingerbread!" "I made it for you, Solomon." "Solomon dear," continued Sophronia, raising her liquid eyes, "could ,t you let me have money enough to-day to buy me a new dress?" The question, entered Dibble's heart like an arrow. He said not a word but slowly counted out the j coin, and again passed into the street. His brain reeled; he gasped for breath. Was the world then made ef ashes? were every one of his dolls stuffed with sawdust? There remained Julia Almira. Julia Almira. Julia Almira passed her time in the various stages of invalid* ism.. It was said that affliction sometimes deepened the sensibilities and broadened the sympathies. It might be he should receive condolence where least he expected it— from Julia Almira. He rang her door-bell, agitated by feelings fluctuating between hope and fear. ife be concluded in our next.)