The Georgetown news., 1856-03-20
THE vERMONTER's WIFE.

oack his chair from the breakfast table, an(
looked hard at his wife, a pretty little Wo
man with large, blue eyes, 4 think that
should like to go to California and try my
uck. Darn it all, everybody is going abou
here. Do you think you could spare mt
for year, Nelly?'
Mrs. Dana made no immediate reply, sht
appeared to be very busy turning out cul
OF tea, although deeper observer than hel
husband wolld have noticed an uncommon
tremulousness in her hands, as Mr.. Dana
ceased speaking.
i think might do we'll there, the hus
band continued, as though speaking tohim
self.
Are you not doing well here on your
farm?' the wife at length asked.
I'm making a living, perhaps, but it:
only by hard work. Now, if | should &C
to California, and be lucky, why, We could
have great many more comforts than WE
are blessed with at present
we have everything that we could wish
for to make US conteuted, and I'm sure
sigh for no luxuries, excepting what We car
well afford Mrs. Dana replied
{ Yes, We have enough to cat, and clotha-
to wear, but we can't buy lots Of good far
niture, and have piano, like Squire Bol-
ton. Darn it, | want t. be rich as he is
and then should be contented, MI Dana
said, rising from his chair, and walking
back and forth in the kitchen with energy
Mr.. Bolton is far from being happy with
all his wealth, said the wife
We'll, KNOW that; but then who conld
be contented with such wife as h. has,
She's either crazy half the time or else
/ 'Hush.' cried Mrs. Dana with . reproach.
ful look. Remember, if she hat her faults
50 have We all!'
But, what meant, Nelly, was thai il ht
had wife like mine, and with his wealth
he couldn't help being happy
! And yet you want to lca,e a Wit v"1I
think so highly Of Mrs Dana said wth a
/ very reproachful look
/ But don't you see that it i, far vour
comfort and benefit il the end. You know
Nelly, that nothing in The world would in
duce me to quit you, unless il WIS the hope
OF making a fortune IN ii short time |
wouldn't be gone longer shan year. ard
/ if | liked the country, and thought YOU
| could be cOntente1 there, Id Send for YOU.
The young wife strove hard t" retain her
composure, as she asked
What will you d. with tie fur, while
you are gomez
j will get my ycuugest brother - come
and live here and carry i IN. Yop hall
be left in full charge, Nelly. with power To
do as you please
Give me week TO tbihk II It, The wife
replied-'at the end If that time Il make
up my mind whether [ can consent 10 yoGr
i leaving me or not
/ Mr.. Dana was too we'll pleased 10 obtain
! even this concession, to argue anv further
! that day, and after bidding his wife read
! the accounts in the newspaper containing
i the latest news from California. he went I'll
to his work.
! Mr. Dana owned a flrm of about one
i hundred acres, near the town of Windsor
Vermont. He was young man. and a
/ person of considerable energy. and had
saved during his minority, a small sum Of
money, which he had safely deposited in the
savings bank, until such tine as he should
wish to use it.
After he became ofarc. b. had added t.
his capital ana when he thought he should
like JaLe Perkins for wife, aud proposed
to her, and was accepted h. bought the
farm which we find him occupying. and was
doing as we'll as any young farmer III the
neighbOrh0od.
He had been married Two year when the
gold fever Of 54S and ~ broke ont, sweep
ing off thousands Of our most industrious
mechanics and farmers, end leaving many
hearth-stones dosolate, and many d wife to
mourn an absent husband
How few have returned with their anti.
cipations fulfilled Thousand, who left the
New England States, expecting to win a
competency in short time, have been glad
to work their passage back in some slow
sailing tub, while others, too proud to re-
turn empty handed have toiled on, barely
gaining a livelihood and now rest from their
cares and troubles by the banks Of some
river, with nothing hut Il rude board to
mark his grave.
After Mr.. Dana left his wife, she washed
her dishes and put them away, and sat down
to read the glowing account Of the cold dis
coverles. The more she read. the more fas-
cinated did she become. until She at last
came to the conclusion that if she were a
man, she would be tempted to try her luck.
Twice during the forenoon did she pe-
ruse the paper, and each time her resolution
OF not consenting to her husbands depar-
ture grew weaker, until she finally made up
her mind, if he asked her consent AGAIN she
would give it.
Mrs Dana was n woman If com, ,,,;rl
Ever since she was child she had been
Obliged to labor and by her contact with
the world she had acquired a knowledge Of
business, which did not, however, impair or
detract from tie natural modesty Of q good
womans heart or mind
A week had not passed before the hus-
band again alluded to the subject upper
most in his mind. A company was about
to leave Windsor, and many of the rounc