Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-06-10


Raymond Warren was nice man. ev-
cry body's clever fellow, as | heard a
public man once remark, "a very exten-
sise officer with numerous duties. new
er discharged. Raymond used to sit in
chimney corner late, very late on a
winters night because he was too shift
less to get ready for bed. But after a
while 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 Test. where
his wife perhaps had been for several
hours endeavoring 10 recover from the
severe fatigue of a days work, into
which had been crowded the greater por-
ton of her husbands legitimate duties.
Raymond owned large farm lef, him by
his father. II was good land, but the
fences were not in repair,and everybody S
cattle roaming through the fields, and
Raymond's crops were not sufficient to
yield the family decent support. The
farm had once been well stocked, but for
want of proper attention, the cattle be-
came poor-the sheep were never fold
ed, even in the most rigorous weather,
and many of them died. The wool was
never properly sheared and washed, and
when taken 10 market, it would no,
bring the market price. Had it not been
for Raymond's wife, who was busi-
ness woman, the family must have often
,,Ho thn nj
life.
Raymond's chores were rarely attend.
ed to by himself, but was neighbor sick,
no man was more willing to work in his
place. He was relied upon as the man
who would always neglect his own in.
teres,s 10 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 obhge a
neighbor, he took a job in his field.
II was bleak morning of 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 been built. shone directly
in his face. II awakened him-the room
was warm, aud Raymond was peIsuad-
ed by its inviting appearance to rise. He
sa, down by the fire. place in his shir,
sleeves, and waited for his wife to come
and get him some breakfast. AS he
warmed he felt that he had reasons to
congratulate himself on his happy situa-
ZION, and he said to himself
"Taint every mans got such a wife
as have. Here she's made good fire,
and Ill bet the chores are all DONE"
The chores were done, a.:.aa Ray mond
had scarcely finished his soliloquy, when
the usefp. wife hastened to the fire. place
- warm her hands, which had become
thoroughly chilled by the cold handle o.
the pitchfork, with which she had oeer
throwing hay and straw to the cattle.
1t nigh, be supposed that those occur
rences took place early in the morning
not so. 1t was ter o'clock when Ray
mond Warren left his bed. His wife
had been sewing for two hours, before
she had prepared her breakfast; then she
urged Raymond for an hour longer, te
get up. He made fair promises but lei
them untulfilled. She waited until il wa:
nine o'clock, and then knowing her hus
bands easy habits, and ashamed to have
the cattle unfed at that hour of the day
she attended to their wants herself.
Raymond's salutation to her as sht
stood by the fire was:
IL wish | had some tea Sally-bu
never mind. you've put the thugs away
little warm water, with little milk ant
sugar in it, will do just as well, and while
your about it, you may get me ll;ll'
piece Of bread; but just as you choose e
no matter about il anyhow. Taint ev
cry mans got such a woman for wife.
She might have answered:
"It is not every woman that has sucl
husband"
But she knew such remarks woult
| only make bitter feelings, and though ia