For ten days we heard nothing of the Wileys and then they drove up on their way home. They had had a wonderful time at Harvard and on the way home. On the way they stopped at a country hotel and John had climbed up to the peak of the roof and was unable to get down. Then he called to his father for help and that hard-hearted parent refused to assist him for some time but finally relented.
Mrs. Hart had no help in the kitchen and the Doctor thought they had better not stop but I persuaded him otherwise. I said: “We want you to stay. We will let you help us and will dispense with all frills. I have so arranged that Mrs. Hart shall not be overworked and shall be able to enjoy your visit.” On that understanding they consented to stay. The next day was Thursday, the meeting day of our Rotary Club, and the Doctor, the Wiley boys and my own four boys were my guests at the Rotary lunch. They made quite an array, and there was much quiet amusement as they filed in and sat down. After the lunch Dr. Wiley was called upon to speak and made us a short address—such a happy talk as only Wiley can make.
In the meantime Mrs. Wiley and Dr. Kate De Witt Miesse, our family physician and a friend of Mrs. Wiley, and my wife, were dining at the Pomfret Club, guests of my wife. Behind the curtains that night I heard the story from my wife of how her two guests discoursed on woman’s rights while she sat and listened and enjoyed the fun.
That night at dinner we had ice cream and cake for dessert, and the boys brought in the towering piece of cream fresh from the can. It towered above my wife as she sliced off the portions and finally toppled over on the platter. Mrs. Wiley had been watching it in nervous terror, and as it went over she screamed and shouted: “My soul and body!” much to our amusement. The Doctor informed us that for a moderate surprise she called: “My soul!” but great occasions called for: “My soul and body!”
The next day was raining and we were not able to visit the farm as we had planned but spent the day at home resting. The following day was beautiful and we had an early breakfast that they might be soon on the road. The topic somehow shifted to the question of woman’s rights and the Doctor proceeded to tell us how, in pursuit of these rights, his wife had become a criminal and been hustled to the gaol while her devoted family were scouring the country to find her.
They had been persecuting Mr. Wilson, he said, and merited their sad fate but he thought she had no business to leave three hopeless orphans stranded as she had. We all laughed and almost screamed with delight as the story proceeded.
After breakfast the Doctor begged us to go part way with them. They expected to stop at Valley Forge and they wanted us to go too. We finally agreed to go. At Doylestown my auto shed a tire and we sent for the garage man while we lunched in the shade of the trees. It was determined to leave my machine while I was to ride with my wife or with the Wileys. Then Mrs. Wiley cornered me and said I must not strike or push a lady while the Doctor paid the garage man.
When I tried to get in my wife’s car I found all the boys there; of course they wanted to be together, so I got in with the Wileys. We drove around Valley Forge Park and enjoyed the beauty of the spot and reminded ourselves of the poor soldiers, freezing and starving the winter away, and proceeded to climb the tower. John went ahead and reached the very top before his mother spied him and then she once more screamed: “My soul and body!”
My boys were very fond of Mrs. Wiley. So was I until I became aware of the disaffection she had stirred up. Previous to this visit my wife had been obedient, as all wives should be, but now she began to speak up. She told us Mrs. Wiley said that every wife who took care of her man and his children was self supporting and had a right to share his wealth if he had any. This is dreadful doctrine as all but the depraved must agree. I am wondering whether we had better have Mrs. Wiley again?