Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-04-27
have been much after the manner set
forth in a certain legand of olden time :;
for he embelllshed his recital by al,usion

have been much after the manner Sc,
forth in 4 certain legand of olden time
for he embelllshed his recital by alIusior
10
| " The Sleeps in tae meadow
The cows are in the corn"
adding that they wouldn't have been there,
if Mrs. Heath had been al home, because
she'd have seen them before they 60 in.
and hallooed. She would have seen the
oxen, 100, before they got across The river
and saved him the trouble of getting them
back. But after tracing all these unto
ward events to her absence, he said 10
himself consolingly, Il guess she won,
go any more, she always was a home
body"
Mrs. Heath did 60 again though, and
again, and the day she went for the
fourth time, her husband took council with
himself as 10 what he should do to stop
her gadding." Seated on the doorstep,
in the shade Of the old trees, he spent an
hour or two in devising ways and meas
ures, talking aloud ali the time, and hav-
ing the satisfaction of hearing nobody
dispute with him.
1t is hard to think of her getting to
be vlsitin' woman" said he, .'and it's
clear It amt right. Keep her at home,
I've read in the Bible, Gold Richards
Bible knowledge was somewhat confused,
quotation varied slightly from the scrip
tural phrase " keepers at homes,') but ii
says too, he added, with the true, sincere
man, that husbands must set great store
by their wives and treat them well. /
won't scold Milicent, I'll harness up and
go for her toni ght, and commin' home,
1 Ii talk 1t all over with her, and tell her
how bad 1t makes me feel, and if that
wont do, Ili-something else"
In accordance with his praiseworthy
resolution, he might have been seen about
sunset, hi,ching his horse at Mr. Browns
door; for, strangely enough, Mrs. Heath
visits had all been at the same pi, ce.-
Going up to,he door, he stopped in amaze
ment at seeing his wife In the kitchen,
just taking Oft a great WOODEN wash apron,
and putting down her sleeves, which had
been rolled up for washing. He listened
and heard her say, as she took some
money from Mrs. Brown, 1t won't be
SO that can do your washing again"
1t has been great favor TO have you
do 1t, while l have been poorly" said
Mrs. Brown, "and I'm glad to pay you
for 1t. This makes four times, and here's
two dollars. lis just as we'll that you
can't come again, Tor l think l shall be
well enough TO do 1t myself"
Two dollars, just the price of the
newspaper, exclaimed Mr.. Heath, as the
truth flashed across him. Rather a sill
ent ride they had home, TIL at last he
said
81 never was SO ashamed during all
my life -
"Of what 2" asked his wife.
Why, TO have you go out washin';
amt 50 poor as that comes 10"
Well, l don't know" replied his wife,
'when man Is too poor to take a news
paper, his wife ought not to feel above
going out washing"
Nothing more was said on the subject
at that time, though some ill feeling lin
gered in the hearts of each. The max
ing up was no mawkish scene of kissing,
embracing and crying, such as romance
writer's build their useless fabric with,
but as Mrs. Heath was finishing her
household duties for the night, she said ,
quietly.
Il don't think did quite right, Rich
ard"
/ don't think l did, either" respond
ed the husband and SO the spark was
quenched which might have become a
scathing fame blightIng all the domestic
peace under their humble roof.
AT last the voyage Is ended, and the
sailors talk only Of home now. They
talk of those they are to meet, of their
wives and children TO whom their thoughts
have SO often wandered during these three
years absence. They wonder if the young
sailor. Alfred Heath. who lies so SICK will
ever see his home again, and with their
rough tones subdued almost 10 gentleness,
they speak Of his anxiety TO see his dear
mother.
He is so hopelessly i'll that his heart IS
now where the worn spirit ever turns IN
Its hour of bltterest sorrow or its approach
TO the unseen end-to God and his moth
er. Family as his heart beats, it still
throbs with earnest desire for life. Dim
as his eyes has become. he fancies that
they would brighten once more at the
sight of his mother and his failing mind
become cleared could he lean on her
| breast.
With folded hands the sailor prays !:
his words as confused and indlstinct to
those who listen, but al. clear and earnest
are they to the Great listener above
And when the ship had reached her dis
tant port, and mIngilng voices are all
around the sick sailor, his comrades bear
him comfortably to home-a miserable
home-but better TO him than a rocking
vessel in the midst of a sounding sea-
"Now, if | could see mother" he mur-
INJURED TO the strangers which were ar
round him.
She is sitting by the vine-covered win
dow patiently reading the Shipping Jour
nal, and thinking meanwhile OF her ab-
sent boy thinking II was time for him TO
return, and hoping tha, he will never go
IN saa ,r,in How quick the words catch