The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-02-26
Gflftte0.
From Sartain's Union Magazine.
EASY WARREN.
BY WILLIAM T. CoGGsHALL.

Ramona Warren was "nice' man
everybody's clever fellow, as l heard a
public man once remark, ga very exten-
sive Office" with numerous duties, never
discharged. Raymond used to sit in the
chimney late, very late on win
ter's night, because he was too shiftless to
get ready for bed But after awhile the
fire burned low-the glow on the embers
faded, and it grew cold in the chimney
corner; then Raymond became chilly, and
he would sneak to rest, where his wife
perhaps had been for several hours, en-
deavoring to recover from the severe
fatigue of days work, into which had
been crowded the greater portion of her
husbands legitimate duties. Raymond
owned large farm left him by his father.
1t was good land, but the fences were not
in repair, and everybody's cattle roamed
through the fields, and Raymond's crops
were not sufficient to yield the family a
decent support. The farm had once been
well stocked, but for want of attention
the cattle became poor-the sheep were
never folded, even in the most rigorous
weather, and many of them died. The
wool was never properly sheared and
washed, and when taken to market it
would not bring the market price. Had
it not been for Raymond's wife, who was
a business woman, the family must often
have suffered for the common necessaries
of life.
Raymond's chores were rarely attended
to by himself, but was neighbor sick, nc
man was more willing to work in his place
He was relied upon as the man who would
always neglect his own interests, to look
after those of somebody else. He could
never set himself at his own farm-work
but he was considered an excellent hand
when, to oblige neighbor, he took job
in his field
1t was bleak morning in mid-winter.
Raymond Warren's wife was in the barn
yard foddering the cattle-Raymond was
in bed. The light of brisk fire which
his wife had built, shone directly in his
face. 1t awakened him-the room was
warm, and Raymond was persuaded by its
inviting appearance, to arise. lie sat
down by the fireplace in his shirt sleeves
and waited for his wife to come in and get
him some breakfast AS he warmed his
feet he felt that he had reason to con-
gratulate himself on his happy situation,
and he said to himself
"Tain't every mans got such wife as
I have. Here she's made good fire, and
I'll bet the chores are all done"
The chores were done, and Raymond
had scarcely finished his soliloquy, when
the useful wife hastened to the fireplace
to warm her hands, which had become
thoroughly chilled by the cold handle of
the pitchfork, with which she had been
throwing hay and straw to the cattle.
1t might be supposed that these occur
rences took place early in the morning
not 50. 1t was ten o'clock when Raymond
Warren left his bed. His wife had been
sewing for two hours, before she prepared
her breakfast then she urged Raymond
for an hour longer, to get up. He made
fair promises but left them unfulflled.
She waited until it was nine o'clock, and
then knowing her husbands easy habits,
and ashamed to have the cattle unfed at
that hour of the day, she determined to
attend to their wants herself
Raymond's first salutation to her as she
stood by the fire, was,
"I wish l had some tea, Sally--but
never mind, you've put the things away,
little warm water, with little sugar and
milk in it, will do just as well, and while
you're about it, you may get me little
piece of bread; but just as you choose ;
no matter about it, anyhow. 'Taint everv
mans got such q woman for wife,"
She might have answered, :,
"It is not every woman that has such
a husband"