The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-21
Squire Richards Wife.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

| AS'Su"'No kOi" " WdiIy oRIHI uuu MS Wile
only dead three months! Goodness me!p
"Tis awful! You may we'll be aston
ished, Mrs. Wilkes; it is terrible to think
of! Such deception! Why at his wife's
funeral, one would have thought him ac-
tually heart. broken; and then the Grape on
his hat is half yard deep!''
-"Ah, me, Mrs. Hanson, there 10 no de.
Pendence to be put on 'pearances The
world gets sinfuller and siEfuller every day,
and it can't be covered up with silk, or
broadcloth. AS said to my husband, Mr.,
Wilkes. the other night; says I, Simon,
things are comm to an awful pass! Every.
body will git into the State 3 Prison in two
year, at this rate' And says Simon, says
he, Il don't doubt it, Mnria"
"And you and MIR. Wilkes were right,
perfectly right, it is just so! But this
dreadful conduct of the Squire's has made
me more conscious of the truth of it'll
Strange that sensible man should behave
sol" ..,
"Yes, it is wonderful! but how did it cit
out, so quick! The Squire amt no hand to
tell Of things you know
Betty Higgins found it OUT last night
She was taking tea at the v idder Towns;
you know she's almost always visiting
somewhere, thoug h wouldn't mention it to
living peraon except you, Mrs. Wilkes;
and while they were at supper, the Squire
rode by in new buggy-going toward the
d'pot! People don't get new buggies for
nothing, you know!'
"No, that they don't, Mrs. Hanson--vid
dererS Especially"
swell, he wasn't gone more than half
on hour, before back he came, driving upon
the gallop-he didn't use to abuse his horse
when poor Mrs. Richards was aive-and 10
and behold! sitting in the new buggy with
him; and his arn ACTUALLY afound her waist
in broad daylight! was little girlish. look.
ing woman, ia pink dress and green silk
bonnet! Only think Of it-a pink dress
and green silk bonnet! and his arm around
her! 1t is ubomnabley
"My gracious! goodness! want to
know?"
ayes, it's every word Of it as true as our
minister's discourses, and Mr.. Sampwell
never exeggerates a-he's a fine man, Mrs.
Wilkes; and the wilder Town and Betty run
up to the ga,ret-they can see Squire Richards
house plain from the widder's garret win
dows-and the Squire drove up to the front
door, as if the side door wasn't good enough!
and then he got out Of the buggy and lifted
the woman on to the door.stone! Took her
right into his arms, in broad daylight, and
lifted hcf oh ID the dunr.stone!"
"My goodness! as if she couldn't git out
herself! It's indecent now, amt it!"
"To be sure it is! and he middle-aged
man and member of the church! Mr..
j. Sampwell ought to know of it, SO that he
could preach sermon on the duties of men
to their families. Only think of poor, dear
dead Mrs. Richards little daughter Elmetta
being ruled by step-motEet hardly older
: than herselfs 1t will break the po5t child't
" ". henrt!"
2 2 There waS long and impressive silence
during which the two aniable ladies' regalet
themselves with numerous pinches Of smut
r from box, which had made its appearance,
a in the lap OF Mrs. Wilkes. No doubt i
helped to digest the inomentous matter.
"Wal," recommended Mrs. Wilkes, {"
:. think sich doih's 10 awful! Gettin' Marie
:, ugin afore his wife is cold! Now, 'spos
= he'll say that he needed housekeeper, bu
- that's no excise, for my Mary Elizabeth 0
:. your Julia Ann would have been glad t
have gone. Mary Elizabeth is terrible fs
If vorite with little Emetto, and Mary Elizc
d beth is grand hand at managing children!
~ "Yes, Mary Elizabeth is fine girl, Mr.
! Wilkes, but her health isn't hardly goo
4, enough to take so much care as there wou
~ bc in Squire Richards family with all h
= company; but then Julia Ann could hG,
done it we'll enough. Julia Ann is RI
1. markable hand for children-can't he
20 learning of them something all the time 81
He is with them. Her example is SO beautifu
he you know ..... ..
be "Well, for my part, think somebot
%; ought to 60 and talk to the Squire about
1o II amt right for us-sisters in the church
to let him go and ruin hisself and darter q.
marrying nobody knows who! He ought
be reasoned With"
"That's just what think, Mrs. Wilke
IS" and I'called over here ON purpose to ask "
,rs to 20 with me to the Squire's, to.morio
,rd morning, and talk with him about it. Il
es. the best we can do"
ID. "Ill 60, and be glad to! ] hope I'm ne
of er backward in doin my duty"
in "Well, ! must be goingj I've made lol
ght call-to.morrow morning at'eight o'cloc
lils it's best to go early; I'll call over for 70
lis Do come and see me, Mrs. Wilkes! Y
- know it's an age since you've been to o
me house," Te' .
'ai. "Dear me. Mrs. Hansohi don't COZ
neo half as often as want to, but I'm asham
ep- to keep comm all the time. As / told !
husband, Mr.. Wilkes, the other day, say
Simon, I'm actilly afraid shall wear
OF welcome out over ito Mrs. Hansou's., A
C!L~A..l a. .a~..lI.