Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-10-05
" I S @ q d u 4 n Y o q
THE SHOEMAKER AND HIS TWO WIVES,
ny ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.


Every body was plying Mr. Sampson. the
shoemaker OF the village Of b. Now, gentle
reader, you need not guess Brunswick. nor
Bethel, nor Bloomfield, nor any other VILLAGE
beginning with B, for will assure Won he
torehand you won't guess right; no body
knows the identical place beginning with n =
except the writer. Well, every body was
plying the shoemaker and as he passed daily
by my window on his way TO his workshop.
Involuntariy drew down my face in token
OF commlseration, though why should do i,
could not for my life have explained
But every body said he was an unhappy man.
miserable man; that his wife almost scoIded
his life out of him; that she was the bioocst
scold IN the country, beat Xantppe of classic
al memory all hollow; that in her fits of pos-
sion she whisked the poor shoemaker about
very much like West India bamboo in
tropical hurricane. Never was such n scold
her tongue might oe heard the first thino in
the morning and the last at night. She was
so constantly scolding she would never take
t'me TO de, so the poor shoemaker's misery
seemed mtermnable. All the men were tell
ing how they would manage her if thew had
her Tor wife; and when n half dozen of
them collected at farmers house, the shoe
makers vile was often the theme, and manv
were tho modes punishment devised by those
who had not the shrew TO deal with. Il, MIGHT
generally be observed on such occasions thai
NOSE who were suspected of being hcnpeck
ed now fortified by the numbers present, gen.
orally talked most valiantly how they would
manage the shoemaker's wife if she BELONGED
to them, now and then casting fur,ive chances
at their busting good wives present. But IT
was pian to be seen the women did not relish
Tins theme when discussed BY the men. They
would talk pathecalIy of the sh6emaker;s
grievances among themselves, talk eloouently
oil the misery man must suffer i'm being tied TO
such termagant; but no sooner did the I'M
lucky husband attempt TO harp upon the same
string Than, touch hornets nest. all the wo-
men were out with paIlativcs, and warm in
the defence of the shoemaker's wife. EVERY
woman had her peculiar trials. Mrs SAMPSON.
no doubt, had hers as we'll as others. She
had no flesh on her bones, and was as yellow
as saiiron-it was plain she was a sick wo-
man. Mi Sampson appeared pleasant enough
out OF doors, but for all that he might be n
tyrant at home"
mus was poor Mrs. Sampson defended in
spite OF her tongue. But, whatever thew Cel,
called upon to say in behalf of Mrs. SAMPSON
IN the presence OF their husbands, their svm-
Pa'hes were actually altogether on the sid.
OF Mr.. Sampson. Every good wife wreathed
her lace INTO the most becoming smile when
sne accosted MIR. Sampson, merely out of in
silnctve good nature far be il from me to
lnsInlate that 1t was to contrast with the thin
lips and sour visage of his own good wife.
Seeing the state of things, began naturally to
study the conntcnance of the poor man as he
passed by my window, in order to read the
ines Oh care, the burrows Of misery. and cripo-
ing air oil henpecked man. But, truth to
say, no such things were to be seen. He cen
orally passed with careless sturdy tread.
hummlng tune or picking his teeth. As for
wrinkles, his hale, good-natured, handsome
lace looked as if it might bid defiance to them
Tor many year 10 come. His bright omen
eye looked as if il lad never twinkled with
any thing but good humor; and, instead Of
oelng the most miserable, at once set him
Gown Tor the happiest man in the VILLAGE Of
ID. NO one bought oflener gingerbread and
candy for his children, or new gowns for his
wife. When, arm in arm, they trudoed alone
10 meeting on aSunday no man seemed moro
ouslly to chat with his wife, and no woman
looked prouder Of her husband The secret
seemed to be in his having good-naturedv ac-
commodated himself to the disposition OF his
wlie, without compromising his own ndcpend-
ence. After all, it depends less upon external
circumstances than on our own disposition.
whether we are happy or miserable in this
life ''''
In process Of time the shoemaker's wife
died, leaving her husband to follow her to the
grave with as many children as followed Mr.,
Rogers to the stake, and whether that was nine
or ten we leave the reader TO determine. Con
trary TO the expectations OF every one, Mr..
Sampson moWned long and truly for his
wife She had been thrifty housewife, and a
neat careful mother, and so used were hus-
band and children TO severe discipline, that il