The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-04-14

'"|' VI 'otSI, allI tnen asked II he would
not cut some wood.
TO bc sure will,' was his RESPONSE.
lis breakfast over, he took up his axe
mounted the wood pile and cut halfa-do
zen sticks, when along came a ncighbol
VINO wanted Raymond to accompany him
to Saw-mlll about two-milcs distant, and
assist III loading upon a sled some boards
which had been sawed for him-of course
Raymond went, and his wife was compell-
ed to cut wood enough to keep the house
warm until the following day.
Mrs. Warren was in appearance a fee
Dle woman, but she had endured hard
Sl1p which would have destroyed the con-
Stltutlon of one much more robust. Day
after day her strength failed her, yet she
made no complaint. Raymond saw that
Sh" grew pale, and was often distu, bed
with fears in regard to her, but he was too
easy to mention the subject, and the use
fnl wife became more and more feeble, un-
III She was seized with violent cough
Raymond was one day thoughtful enough
To speak to the village doctor rs he pass
cd their house with his pondcrous medicine
portmantcau on his arm, and the bcncv.
! Olcnt gentleman, who had some knowledoc
ot Raymond's peculiar failings lett the wo-
man an innocent tincturc, and forbade on
posur" to cold atmosphere under the cir
cum>tancos, and also declared that her
complaint was Of character very much
! aggravated hv severe exercise.
For Il few days Raymond remembered
III" '"ct"r'S counsel. and rs he had res
! p"ct Tor III" physician, he obcvcd him rs
nearly as his constitutional feelings permit
ted, bat soon the wife was again Obliged
to chop wood and feed cattle, and taking
n sever" cold, faded as would fade the
summer rose i'll Il frigid climate.
When Raymond Warrcn's house was
dCsolat" and his frcSidc cherries. he saw
that he had been i'll great error during
tn" tw" years Of his married life, and he
incurred his wife deeply, it must be said
III hH favor, both as II hclp-mate and q |
companion. Ac rented his fam and ma |
naticd to exist easily for one year; but
he ewas a domestic map-hc was not sat
.isiicd with childlcSs widower's solitary |
lot, and h" began to look about him for |
second h"Iprnatc and companion. In
few months he took to his home woman |
vino he confidently felt ltwould fill the place
left vacant 10y his first wife. Sadly was
Raymond disappointed. 4 few weeks
and !.e fell into his old habits with COM
P'etr abandon. Leaving hsi own work in |
neglected state, he worked dilipentlv |
one day to assist ueighbor in getting
wood to his house, and he returned to his |
home, late Mt night, hungry and fatigued,
cHpe ting that his wife would have really |
tor his r"trcshncnt IN inviting supper
In this hope he had refused to take SUP
per with the ncighbor whom he had as
sisted. Pocr fcl low! the kitchen, where
was to have beh his excellent supper, at
tended 10y smiling wife, was cold and |
unoccupicd. No frugal board was there,
80! Mrs. Warren was in bed. Raymond
was m:'c'; astonished, but was too good
natured to Complain, and silently he VEN
turcd to explore the Cupboard for a crust
on which to satisfy the g"aS'ngs Of his
appetite Not a crumb was there. Twas |
evident his wife had designed that nG !,
should 90 to hed supperless; and supper
less to bed he did g, gricving seriously
over his hard lot. He had never before
been 50 badly treated, and he thought it
indeed distressing, but yet his disappoint-
mcnt was not lad enough to rcvolutionisc
his constitutional good nature, and with.
out muttcr he fell sound asleep.
Raymond Warren did not hear chanti- |
clccr salute the morning, as it dawncd af- |
ter the night Of his grievous disappoint-
ment.' IL was spring g-time, and the birds |
sang under his window, but he heard them
not yet he heard his wife, who had risen
before the sun, call him
Mr.. Warren, here I've leen for an
hour in the cold. The woods all burned.
II is time had some cut. If you want
any breakfast You had better get up
Was Raymond dreaming! Was this
a voice Of rcproach, that came to him in
his sleep, with recollections Of the wife that
had gone before him TO the Spirit Land.
Not so--it was a voice from the wife that
dwelt with him in this sphere of existence
that came to remind him of his duties not
discharged,upon the performances ofwhich
depended the satisfaction of those desires
which had intrudcd visions Of feasts upon
his honors of rest All this he felt, still
! hc did not offer to leave his couch.
I" Raymond Warren,' again said the
voice you left me yesterday without wood
| TO help a ncighbor get wood for his wife,
and you went to bed last night without
your supper. You'll not get bite to eat
in this house till you bring me wood to
cook it with.
There's plenty Of chips" said Ray
mond, in palliation, rising on his elbow as
he spoke
"Get up. then, and bring them into the
house, said the rcsolute wife. II didn't
know you when We were married, but
know you now. | know what killed your
first wife. You want TO make slave Of
me- III attend to my duties; but il you
don't do your chores, the cattle may starve,