The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-02-26

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make bitter feelings, and though fatigued
with the violent exercise she had taken,
she went cheerfully and prepared her easy,
good-natured husband cup of tea and a
slice of toast, and asked him if he would
not cut some wood
"To be sure | WILL" was his response
His breakfast over, he took up his AK,
mounted the wood-pile and cut half-a-
dozen sticks, when along came neighbor,
who wanted Raymond to accompany him
to a saw-mill, about two miles distant, and
assist in loading upon sled some boards
which had been sawed for him-of course
Raymond went, and his wife was compelled
to cut wood enough to keep the house
warm until the following day.
Mrs. Warren was in appearance, feeble
woman, but she had endured hardships
which would have destroyed the constitu-
ton of one much more robust. Day after
day her strength failed her, yet she made
no complaint. Raymond saw that she
grew pale, and was often disturbed with
fears in regard to her, but he was too easy
to mention the subject, and the useful
wife became more and more feeble, until
she was seized with a violent cough.
Raymond was one day thoug ghtful enough
to speak to the village doctor as he passed
their house with his ponderous medicine
portmanteau on his arm, and the bcnevo-
lent gentleman, who had some knowledge
of Raymond's peculiar failings, left the
woman an innocent tincture, and forbade
exposure to the cold atmosphere under any
circumstances, and also declared that her
complaint was of a character very much
aggravated by severe exercise.
For a few days Raymond remembered
the Doctors counsel, and as he had re-
spect for the physician, he obeyed him as
nearly as his constitutional failings per-
mitted, but soon the wife was again obliged
to chop wood and feed cattle, and taking
severe cold, she faded as would fade the
summer rose in frigid climate.
When Raymond Warren's house was
desolate and his freside cheerless, he saw
what had been his great error during the
two years of his married life, and he
mourned his wife deeply, it must be said
in his favor, both as helpmate and
companion. He rented his farm and
managed to exist easily; for one year
but he was domestic mamie was not
satisfied with childless widower's solitary
lot, and he began to look about him for
second helpmate and companion. In
few months he took to his home woman
who he confidently felt would fill the place
left vacant by his first wife. Sadly was
Raymond disappointed. A few weeks
elapsed and he fell into his old habits,
with complete abandon. Leaving his own
work in a neglected state, he worked
diligently one day to assist neighbor in
getting wood to his house, and he returned
to his home late at night, hungry and
fatigued, expecting that his wife would
have ready for his refreshment an inviting
supper. In this hope, he had refused to
take supper with the neighbor whom he
had assisted. Poor fellow the kitchen,
where was to have been his excellent sup
per, attended by smiling wife, was cold
and unoccupied. No frugal board was
there, and Mrs. Warren was in bed.
Raymond was much astonished, but was
too good natured to complain, and silently
he ventured to explore the cupboard for
crust on which to satisfy the cravings
of his appetite. Not a crumb was there.
1t was evident his wife had designed that
he should 60 to bed supperless and sup
PEERLESS to bed he did go, grieving seriously
over his hard lot. He had never before
been so badly treated, and he thought it
indeed distressing, but yet his disappoint-
ment was not sad enoug III to revolutionize
his constitutional good nature, and without
mutter he fell sound asleep.
Raymond Warren did not hear chanti-
cleer salute the morning, as it dawncd
after the night of his grievous disappoint-
ment. 1t was spring-time, and the birds
sang under bis window, but. he heard them
not; yet he heard his wife, who had risen
before the sun, call him
"Mr. Warren, here I've been for an