The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-22
HOW PETER CARTwRIGHT
tanned A SHREW.

Within the bounds of my district there liv-
ed local preacher, who was small, very
easy, good natulred, pleasant man; he was be-
lieved also very pious man, and good and
useful preacher. His wife was directly the
reverse and almost everything that was bad,
saving. it was believed. she was vrtuous.--
She was high-tempered, overbearing, quarrei-
some, and violent opposer of religion She
| would not fix her husband's clothes to GO ont
to preach, and was unwilling he should ask
blessing at the table, or pray in the family
And when he would attempt to pray. she wo'd
not conform. but tear around and make all the
noise and disturbance in her power. She would
turn the chairs over while he was reading, sing
ing or praying, andif she could no. stop him any
other wav, she would catch a cat and throw
into his face while he was kneeling and try
ing to pray. Poor little man! surely he was
tormented almost to desperation. He had inyi-
ted several preachers home to talk to her, and
see if they could not moderate her; but all to
no purpose she would curse them to their face,
and rage like demon. He had insisted on
my going home with him several times, but,
fraakly confess, was afraid to trust myself.
Pitied him from my very heart, and so did ev-
erybody else that was acquainted with his sit
uation. But at length I yielded to his impor-
tunities, and went home with him one evening,
intending to stay all night. After we arrived.
/ saw in momen, she was mad, and the Gevil
was in her as big as an alligator; and fixed
my purpose, and determined on my course
| After supper he said to her very kindly, sCome
wife, stop your little affairs, and let us have
prayer That moment she boiled over, and
said. Il will have none of your praying about
me- spoke to her mildly, and expostulated
with her, and tried to reason; but no, the fur.
ther went, the more wrathy she became, and
she cursed me most bitterly. then put on
stern countenance, and said to her, Madame,
if you were wife Of mine, would break
you OF your bad ways, or would break your
neck &
"sThe devil you would sa she. yes,
you are pretty christian, amt you?' And
then such volley of curses as she poured on
me, was almost beyond human endurance.
"'Be STILL said /, I'VE must and win have
prayer But she declared we should not.
"SNow,' said to her, sif you do not be still,
and behave yourself, I'll put you out of DOORS,
At this she clinched her fist, ard swore she
was one half alligator, and the other half snap
ping turtle, and that it would take better
man than Iwasto put her out. 1t vas a small
cabin we We're in, and we were not far from the
door, which was then standing open. caught
her by the arm, aud swinging her round in
circle, brought her right up to the door, and
| showed her out. She jumped up, tore her hair,
| loaned; and such swearing as she uttered, was
seld m equaled, and never surpassed. The
door, or shutter of the door, was very strong
ly made TO keep out hostile Indians; shut it
tight, barred it, and went to prayer, and pray
ed as best could, but had no language at my
command to express feelings; at the same time,
was determined to conquer, or die in the at
tempt. While she was raging and foami z in
the yard and round the cabin, started spir-
itual song, and sung loud, to drown her voice
as much as possible. The FIVE or six little
children ran and sqnatted about and crawled
under the beds. Poor thilgs, they were scared
almost to death.
81 sang on, and she reared and thunde-ed on
the outside, till she became perfectly exhausted
and painted for breath. At length, when che
had spent her force, and became calm and still,
and then knocked at the door," saying, "Mr.
Cartwright, please let me in.''
"sWill you behave yourself If let youic?n
| said I.
$50 yes,'' said she, Il will,' and throwing
myself on nv guard, and perfectly self possess
set. Iopened the door, took her BY the hand,
led her in, and seated her near the fireplace
| She had roared and foamed till she was in .
perspiration. and looked as pale as death. AZ
ter she took her seat, 90" said she, '.what
fool am ""
.Yes," said I, 'about one of the biggest fools
ever saw in all my life. And now said !,
syou have to repent of all this, or you must go
to the devil at last.' She was silent. Said 1,
Children, come out here; your mother won't
hurt YOU now,' and turning to her husband,
said, Brother G. let us pray again. We kneel-
ed down, and bothprayed. She was as quiet
as lamb. a
sAnd now, gentle reader, this YVES one of the
hardest cases ever saw on this earth, | must
record it to the glory OF divine grace, l lived to
see, in less than six mouths after the frolic
with the devil, this woman soupdly converted
to God. and il ever there was a changed NOR
tai for the better, it was this saiGwoman Her
children, as they grew up, all. believe, OBJ
tanned religion, and the family became re-
ligious, happy family, and she was as bold in
the cause of God as she had been in the cause
OF the wicked one."