Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-08-15
fiterarIl Selections.
From the American Union.
a SHREWD WIFE:
Or IN llnprOfitablG Trip to the Gold Regions.
BY wM. II. THOMAS.

q / think, said Mr.. Dana, as he pushed
back his chair from the breakfast table,
and looked hard at his wife, a pretty lit
tie woman With large blue eyes, e" think
] should like to 90 to California and try
my luck DO you think you could spare
me for year, Nelly?"
Airs. Dana made no reply; she ap-
peared to- he very busy turning out a cup
Of tca, although keener observer than
her husband would have noticed an un-
common nemulousness in her hand, as
Mr.. Dana ceased speaking.
Il think / might do well there" the
husband continued, as though speaking
10 himself
Are you not doing well here on your
farm 2" the wife asked, at length.
Pm making living perhaps, but its
only by hard work. Now if 1 should go
10 California, and be lucky, why, we
could have a great many more comforts
than we are blessed with at present"
We have everything that we could
wish for to make US contented, and I'm
sure I sigh for no luxuries, excepting
what We can well afford, Mrs. Dana re-
piled.
Yes, we have enough to eat, and
clothes 10 wear, but we can't buy lots of
good furniture, and have a piano, like
squire Bolton. Darn it, want to be as
rich as he is, and then l should be con-
tented, said Mr. Dana, 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 his wife.
Well, know that; but then who
could be contented with such wife as he
has? She's either crazy half the time,
or else
!. IIushp' cried Mrs. Dana, with a re-
proachluI look, remember that if she
Sfeeo tttuAtss oo IletfC w stAl'
:. But what l meant, Nelly, is, that il
lie had such wife as I've got, and with
his wealth he couldn't help being happy"
"And yet you want to leave a wife you
think 50 highly Of" Mrs. Dana said, with
reproachful look.
But you don't see that it is for your
comfort and benefit in the end. You
know, Nelly, that nothing in the world
would induce me to quit you, unless ii
was the hope of making fortune in a
short time. ! wouldn't be gone longer
than q year, and if liked the country
and thought you'd be contented there, I'd
send for YOU
The young wife strove hard TO main
tam her compoSure, as she asked
And what will you do with the farm
while gomez
Il viii get my youngest brother Il
come and live here and carry it on. Yor
shall be left in full charge, Nelly, witt
power TO doas you please"
Give me a week to think of it." thu
wife replied, " at the end of that time II
nuke up my mind whether to consent t,
your going or not"
Mr. Dana was too well pleased to ob
tain even tiis concession, to argue an,
further that day, and after bidding hi
wife read the accounts in the newspaper.
containing flae latest news from Califol
MIA, he started off to his work.
lie lad been married two years whe
the gold fever of 1913 and '49 broke ou
sweeping of thousands of our most il
dustrIous mechanics and farmers, leavin
many a hearthstone desolate, and man
wife to mourn for her absent husband
How few have returned with their al
tleipations fulfilled Thousands who le
: the New England States, expecting /
Y win conpetency in short time, hay
been too glad to work their passage bac
y - 27aAAs SLOW SAILING tub, While others tC
& proud to return empty handed, have toile
\ on barely aiming livelihood, and no
Il rest from their cares and troubles by ii
z bank q some river with nothing but
y rude board to mark their grave. Aft,
II Mr.. Dana left his wife, she washed h,
s dishes and put them away, and sat dow
Y to read the glowing accounts of the 90
" discoveries. The more she read the mo
n fascinated did she become, until she
. last came to the conclusion that if she W
. man she would be tempted to 90 Al
Try her luck.
Twice during the forenoon did she !
@ ruse he paper, each time her idea of !
y eonsenking to her husbands departu
~ grew weaker, until she finally made
her mlnd, if he asked her consent az;
sile would give II.