Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-10-28
The following is the story ofTom Snoops
rom the Barre Gazette: agi ~ ,3

The following is the story of Tom Snoops-
from the Barre Gazette: ~ ati aif,3
II never undertook but once said Tom,
"to set at nought the authority of my wife.
You know her way-cool, quiet, but de-
termined as ever grew. Just after we were
married, and all was nice and cozy, she
got me into the habit of doing all the churn-
ing. She never asked me to do it, you
know, but then she-why it was done just
in this way. She finished breakfast rather
before me one morning, and slipping away
from the table, she filled the churn with
cream, and sat it just where / couldn't help
seeing what was wanted. So / took hold,
regularly enough, and churned till the but
ter come. She didn't thank me, but look
ed so nice and sweet about it that | felt
we'll paid. Well, when the next churning
day came along, she did the same thing,
and followed suit and fetched the butter.
Again and again it was done just so, and
was regularly in for it every time. Not q
word said, you know, Of course. Well, by
and by this began to be rather irksome.
wanted she should just ask me, but she nev
Ler did, and couldn't say anything about i
teI save my. life, so on we went. At last
made a resolve that would not churn an.
other time, unless she asked me. Churn-
ing day came and when by breakfast--she
always got nice breakfasts-when that was
swallowed, there stood the churn. l got up,
and, standing a few minutes, just to give
her chance, put on my hat and walked
out doors. ! stopped in the yard to give
her time to call me, but never word said
she, and so, with palpitating hearth NOV
ed on. | went down town, up town, and
all over town, and my foot was as restless
as was that Of Noah's dove. felt as if l
had done wrong-I didn't exactly feel
how-but there was an indiscribable sens
alton of guilt resting on me all the forenoon.
It seemed as if dinner time never would
come, as for going home one minute before
dinner, would as soon have my ears off
i So went fretting and moping around town
! till dinner hour came. Home went feel
ing very much as a criminal must when
the iuryis out having in their hands his
destiny--life or death. couldn't make up
my mind exactly how she would meet me,
but some kind Of stormI expected. Will
you believe it?-she never greeted me with
sweeter smile, never had a better dinner
for me than on that day; but there stood the
churn, Just where left il! Not word was
said; felt confoundedly cut, and every
nnouthful Of that dinner seemed as if 1t would
choke me. She didn't pay any regard tc
it, however, but went on just as if nothing
lhad happened. Before dinner was over
had again resolved, and showing back my
chair, / marched to the churn and went q
ii, Justin the old way. Splash. drip, rattle
splash, drip, irattle--I keptit up. a:As ifil
spite, the butter never wasso long coming
supposed the cream, standing SO long, ha
got warm, and so L redoubled my efforts
4 Obstinate matter--1the afternoon wore ,
way while l. was churning. l. paused q
last, from real exhaustion, when she spok
] forithe first times Come, Tom, my ideai
you have ratified that 3butter-nilk quil
long, enough, fits only for fun YOU d
: doing it, ! knew how it was in a fiasl
She had brought the butter In the forenoon
and left the churn standing with the butte
:. milk in, for me to exercise with. Inevs
set up for myself in household matters .
ter that. =, -