Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-10-06

IL HihsI Uc rdiu III. Hlo idfOI Uotu ds II
hclpmate and companion. He rent
ell his farm and managed to exist ca
silly for one year; but he was domes-
tic man; he was not satisfied with a
childless widower's solitary lot, and
he began TO look about him for a Sec
ond helpmate and companion. In
few months he took TO his home wo-
man, who he confdntly felt would fill
the place left vacant by his first wife.
Sadly was Raymond disappointed
\ few weeks elapsed and he fell into
his old habits with complete abandon.
Leaving his own work in neglected
state, he worked diligently one day
to assist neighbor in getting wood to
his house, and he returned to his home
late at night, hungry and iatigued ex-
pecting that his wife would have ready
for his refreshment an inviting supper.
In this hope he had refused to take
supper with the neighbor whom he
had assisted. Poor fellow! The kitch-
en-, where was to have been his excel
lent supper attended by smiling wife,
was cold and unoccupied. No frugal
board was there, and Mrs. Warren was
in bed. Raymond was astonishcd, but
was too good -natured to complain, and
silently he venturcd to explore the cup
board for crust on which to satisfy
the gnawings Of his appetite. Not a
crumb was there. 1t was evident that
his wife had designed that he should
80 to bed supperless, and supperless to
bed he did go, grieving seriously over
his hard lot lie had never before been
so badly treated, and he thought it in
deed distressing, but yet his disap-
pointment was not sad enough to rev.
olutionize his constitutional good ma
ture and without a murmur he fell
sound asleep.
Raymond Warren did not hear
chanticlccr salute the morning as it
dawncd after the night of his grievous
disappointment. 1t was Spring time,
and the birds sang under his window,
but he heard them not; yet he heard
his wife, who had risen before the sun,
call him:
'Mr. Warren, here I've been for an
hour in the cold. The woods all burn
ed. It's time had some cut If you
want any breakfast, you had better get
up
Was Raymond dreaming? Was
this voice of reproach that came to
him in his sleep, with recollections OF
the wife that had gone before him to
the Spirit Land? Not so; it was
voice from the wife that ,iwelt with
him in this sphere of existence, that
came to remind him of duties not dis
charged, upon the performance of
which depended the satisfaction of
those desires which had intruded Wis
ions of fcasts upon his hours of rest.
All this he felt, still he did not offer to
leave his couch
Raymond Warren' again said the
voice, you left me yesterday without
wood. to help neighbor get wood for
his wife. and you went to bed without
your supper. You'll not get bite to
eat in this house till you bring me
wood to cook it with
There's plenty of chips, said Ray
mond, in palliation, rising on his ell
bow as he spoke.
Get up, then, and bring them into
the house, said the resolute wife. Il
didn't know you when we were mar
ried. but | know you now. know
what killed your first wife. You want
to make slave of me. I'll attend to
my duties; but if you don't do your
chores. the cattle may starve, and
you'll never get bite to eat in this
house unless you take it uncooked. if
you don't cut wood yourself, or get
somebody to do it for you.
Raymond started bolt upright, and
it was not many minutes before he was
at the wood-pile. Diligently did he
work until he had cut an armful, which,
like a dutiful husband for the first time
in his life, he carried into the kitchen.
His wife made no allusion to what
had passed between them, and Ray
mond, although burning with curiosi-
ty to know where she had learned what
she had revealed to him, dared not
commence conversation in relation it.
The train of ills it might revive was
fearful to the easy mans mind. His
breakfast over. forgetful of its lesson,
careless Raymond wandered away from
home. his necessary morning labors
in his farm-yard unattended to. and
his wood-pile unvisited. He returned
home at noon, strong in the faith that
|, he should set down to good dinner
because he was one of those men who
think wife should always give her
husband good dinner, whether she
has any thing to cook or not. Mrs
Warren had enough to cook. but moth.
ing to cook with: however, much tc
Raymond's satisfaction, when he en-.
! tered his homo he found the table
|, spread. and he knew he should soor
be invited to take a seat near il.
When the invitation came. he has
tened to his accustomed seat, lifted tn,
, cover from dish that he supposed
contained meat; and, truly. there was
meat, but just as it came from tn,
butchcr'sl Raymond was not a can
: nibal; he looked at his wife inquiring-
ly; she appeared to be waiting patient,
ly TO be served. He lifted the cover
: of another dish. there were potatoes
Just as they had been dug from tn,
earth. All the dishes that USUALLY
contained vicsuals were covered. Ray.
mond grew suspicious and he lifted thu
!. covers hastily There was bread as i
: came from the tray; there were turnip,