The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-04-03

MIR. Heath thought about it Just long enough
to say to himself, she don't 60 visitin' to stay
all day once year hardly, and its strange
she should 90 in hay-time.'
Very long the day seemed to him, to 90 il
for luncheon, dinner and supper, and have no
body to speak to; to find everything so still
The old clock licked stiller than usual, ne
thought; the brood Of pretty white chickens
that were almost always peeping round the
door, had wandered off somewhere, and left II
stiller yet; he even missed the bus y click Of
the knitting-needles thatwas apt to put him out
so, when he was doing any figuring.
Pm glad he said to himself and he beoon
to look down the road at sunset, that Mill
cent don't go a visitin' all the time, rs some
women do-there she is just coming.
How tired you look said he, as she came
up; why didn't you speak about it, and I'd
have harnessed up and come after vou.'
I'm not very tired, she answered; but her
looks belied her; indeed, her husband declared
she looked tired like for day or two after.
What was his amazement to see her 90
away the next Tuesday in the same manner as
before, without saying much about it before
she started.
To his great dissatisfaction, every thing
seemed that day to partake of his wife's new
propensity for going away from home "A man
don't want cold feed in hay-time,' grumbled he
as he sat down alone to dinner In the same
grumbhng mood he recounted the mishaps. of
the morning, which seemed to have been much
after the manner set forth in a certain legend
of old time. for he embellished his recital bv
allusion TO
The Sleeps in the meadow,
The cows in the corn,
adding that they wouldn't have been there if
Mrs. Heath had been at home, because she'd
have seen 'em before they got in and hollered.
She would have seen the oxen, too, before
they got across the river, and saved him the
trouble Of getting them back. But after trac-
ing all these untoward events to her absence,
he SAID to himself consoingly, ! guess she
won't go any more, for she always was home
body
Mrs. Heath did go again though, and again,
and the day she went for the fourth time, her
husband took counsel with himself as to what
he should do to stop this gadding.' Seated
on the door step, in the shade of the old trees
he spent an hour or two in devising ways and
measures. talking aloud all the time, and hav-
ing the satisfaction Of hearing nobody dispute
him. It's hard to think of her gettin' 10 be
vlsltIn' woman, said he, 6 and it's clear it amt
right Keep her at home, I've read in the
Bible, (old Richards Bible knowledge was
somewhat confused, and his quotation varied
slightly from the scriptural phrase, keepers
at home,) but it says too he added, with the
true science OF sincere man, that husbands
must set great store by their wives and treat
EN- well. won't scold Millicent; I'll harness
up and 20 alter her tonight, and comm home
III talk 1t over with her, and tell her how bad
ii makes me feel. and if that don't do, Ill
try something elsc'
In accordance with this praiseworthy reso-
luton, he might have been seen about sunset
hltchlng his horses at MIR. Browns door for.
strangely enough, Mrs. Hcaths visits had all
been made at the same place. Going up to
the door, he stopped in, amazement at seeing
his wife in the kitchen, just taking off a great
WOODEN wash apron, and putting down her
sleeves, which had been rolled I'D as if for
washing He listened and heard her saw, as
she took some money from Mrs Brown. 1t
won't be so that can do your washing again.
1t has been great favor to have YOU do it
while I've been so poorly answered Mrs
Brown, and I'm glad to pay you for it. This
makes four times, and here's two dollars IT'S
Just as well that you can't come again, for
think that shall be well enough to do it N.Y.
SELF
Two 1ollars-just the price of the news
paperP exclaimed Mr. Heath, as the truth
flashed across him. Rather silent ride home
they had, till at last he said, never was so
ashamed
'Of what q asked his wife.
why, 10 have you 90 out washin,. amt |
SO poor as that comes to-
We'll don't know replied his wife when |
a man is too poor to take newspaper, his |
wife ought not 10 feel above going out wash |
ing
Nothing more was said on the subject at |
that time though some i'll feeling fingered on
the heart Of each. The making up was no
nawkIsh scene of kissing, embracing and cry
ng such as Romance writers build their use
ess fabrics with, but as Mrs. Heath was fn-
shing her household duties for the night she
aid quietly,
Il don't think did quite right, Richard
l don't think did, ether responded the
husband and so the spark was quenched which
night have become a sca;hing flame, Llighting
ii domestic peace under their roof
AT last the long voyage is almost ended,
md the sailors talk only of home now They
ak of those they are to meet, of their wives
md children to whom their thoughts have so
'ften wandered during these three years alb
ence. They wonder if the young sailor, AL
red Heath,w who lies so sick, ever sees his home
gain, and with their rough tones subd1ed al
most to gentleness, they speak of his anxiety
o see his mother.
He is so hopelessly i'll that his heart is now
Ehere the worn spirit ever turns in its hour of
interest sorrow or its approach to the unseen
God and his mother. Family as his
cart beats it still throbs with earnest desire
Or life. Dim as his keen eye has become, he