Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-08-06
"The new harness. suggested Mrs. Heath

"that don't como every year, you know"
"Woll, there's twenty dollars accounted
for u..,Ena4. ln- .lal
ave had the carriage fixed up when you
bought tho harness" continued the wife.
swell that was eight dollars, that's twen-
ty-cight we don't spend every year--but the
other two, whero can they have gone 7"
CHANGING his eye over tho pages of the
memorandum pook, hc continued
"rll tell you what It's, the newspaper
costs just two dollars, and we can do with
out it. 1t is MT anything to ost drink nor
wear. don't do anything with it, and
you only lay it away up chamber. 1t may
as well be left out as not, and I'll stop my
subscription right away"
"Oh." said his wife, "you don't know how
much l set by the newspaper. | always
have sort of glad feeling when soc you
take it out Of your hat and lay it on the
kitchen mantlepice, just as do when some
Of the children come home; and when I'm
tired sit down with my knitting work and
read. can knit just at we'll when I'm
reading and feel so contonted. don't be-
lcve Queen Victoria herself takes moro SOL
id comfort than do sitting by the east
window, on a summer afternoon, reading
my newspaper"
"But are you not just as we'll off without"
answered her husband, for want of anything
else to say.
81 never neglect any thing else for read
ing, do ~ asked Mrs Heath, mildly.
"No, don't know ms YOU do" answered
hor husband; "but it seems an extra like
I shall stop IT." he added in a tone that
showed plainly enough he wished to stop
the conversation.
81 shall take the paper" remarked his
wife, "if l have to 60 out washing to pay
for it."
This was not spoken angrily, but so firmly
that Mr.. Heath noticed it, though by no
means remarkable for discernment in most
matters. 1t sounded so different from her
usual quiet "as you think best" that he
actually stopped moment TO consider
whether it was at all likely she would do as
she said
Mr.. Heath was kind husband, rs that
indefinite description is generally under
stood; that is, ho did not beat his wife, and
always gave her enough to eat. More than
that, he had a certain regard for her happi-
ness, which already made him feel halt
ashamed of his decision, but like other men
who have moro obstinacy than wisdom, he
couldn't bear to retract anything, and above
all to be convinced he was wrong by wo-
man.
However with commendablo wish to
remove the unhappiucss ho caused, he sug.
gested that as the papers wero carefully
saved, and she had found them SO interest
ing she could read them over again, begin
ming at January and reading one a week
clear through the year--they would just
como out even, he concluded as if it were a
singular fact that they should doso.
Notwithstanding this admirable PROPOSE
tion he still felt somo uneasiness. 1t follow
ed him as he walked up the pleasant lane
to the pasture, and it made him speak more
sharply than was his wont, if the cows stop
ped while he was driving them home, to
crop the grass where it looked greenest and
sweetest on the sunny slope. 1t troubled
him till he heard his wife calling him to
supper in such a cheerful tone, that he con-
cludcd she didn't care much about the news
paper, after all.
About week after this, as Mr.. Heath
wa, moving one morning, he was surprised
to see his wife coming out, dressed as for q
visit.
81 am going" she said, "to spend the
day with Mrs. Brown; leave plenty for
you to cat, and so saying she walked rapid
ly on.
Mr. Heath thought about it Just long
enough to say to himself she don't 90 visit
in to stay all day once year hardly, ant
it's strange she should go in hay time"
Very long the day seemed to him; to q
in for luncheon, dinner and supper, anc
have nobody to speak to; to find everything
so STILL The old clock licked stiller thar
usual, he thought; tho brood of pretty
white chickens, that were almost alway.
pecping round the door, had wandered of
somewhere, and left it stiller yet; he ever
missed the busy click of the knitting needle
that was apt to put him out SO, whom he
was doing any figuring,
81 am glad," he said to himself as he be
gan to look down the road, at sunset, "thai
Millicent don't go visitin' all the time, a
some women do; there she is just coming
"How tired you look" said he, as sh,
camc ups" why didn't you speak about il
and I'd have harnessed up and come afte
you!"
~ am not very tired" she answered, bu
her looks belied her; indeed her HUSBAND
declared she looked tired like for day o.
two after.
What was his amazement to sec her q
away the next Tuesday in the same manns
as she before started.
To his great dissatisfaction; everythin,
seemed that day to partake of his wifc's pro
pensity for going from home. IA maj
don't want cold feed in hay time" he said
As he sat down to dinner. In tho sam
grumbling mood, he recountcd tho mishap
of the morning, which seemed to be mucI
after the manner set forth in a certain 10
gend Of olden time; for he embellishsd hi
his recital by allusion to
, 1.-THE Sleeps in the meadow, $3.50
The cows in the corn" .a
: adding that they wouldn't have been there
: if Mrs. Heath had been at home, bccaus
she'd have seen them before they got il
and hallooed. She would have seen lh
! oxen, too, before they got across tho rive
, and saved him tho trouble of getting ther
Il ID. "a 4 IL