The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-02
THE HUSBAND WHO WAS TO MIND THE
HOUSE.

!
Once on time there was a man so surly
and cross, he never thought his wife did
anything right in the house. So, one
evening, in hay making time, he came
scolding and swearing, and showing his
teeth and making dust.
Dear laver, don't be so angry there's a
good man. said his goody TOMORROW
let's change our work. I'llgo out with the
mowers and NOW and you shall mind the
house at home.'
Yes, the husband thought that would do
very well-he was quite wiling he said.
So, early next morning, bis goody took
scythe over her neck, and went out into tho
hay field with the mowers, and began to
NOW, but the man was to mind the house
and do the work at home.
First Of all, he wanted to churn the but
ter, but when he had churned while, he
got thirsty, and went down to the cellar to
tap barrel of ale. So, just when he had
kno cked in the bung, and was putting the
tap into the cask; he heard overhead the
pig come into HE kitchen. Then off he
ran up the cellar steps with the tap in his
hand, as fast as he could, to look after tn
pig lest it should upset the churn but
when he got up and saw the pig had
already knocked the churn over, and stood
tn ere, roofing and grunting amongst the
cream which was running all over the
floor, he got SO wild with rage, that he
quite forgot the ale and ran at the pig as
hard as he could. lie caught it, just as it
run out of doors, and gave it such kick,
that piggy lay for dead on the spot. Then
all at once he remembered he had the tap
in his hand ; but when he got down to the
CO liar, every drop of ale had run out of the
cask
Then be went into the dairy and found
enough cream TO fill the churn again, and
so he began to churn, for butter they must
have at dinner. When he had churned n
bit, he remembered that their milking cow
was still shut up in the Dyer, and hadn't
had bit to eat or drop to drink all the
morning, though the sun was high. Then
all at once he thought twas too far to take
her down to tie meadow, so he'd just get
her on the house tops-for the house, you
must know, was tbatched with sods, and a
fineGssP of grass was growing there. Now
their house lay close up against a steep
down, and he thought if he has laid plank
across to the thatch at the back, he'd easily
get the COW up. But still ne couldn't leave
the churn, for there was his little babe
crawling about on the floor, AMI IF leave
it, he thought, the child is sure to upset it,
So he took the churh on his back, and
went out with it but then he thought hen
best first water the COW before he turned
her out on the thatch so he took up
bucket to draw water out Of the well, but as
he stopped down at the wells brink all the
cream ran-out Of the churn over his shout
ders, and SO down into the well.
Now it was 4ssr dinner time, and he
hadn't even got the butter yet; SO he
thought he'd best boil porridge, and filled
the pot with water, and hung it over the
fire. When he had done that. he thought
the cow might perhaps fall off the thatch
and bHssk her legs or her neck. So he got
up,onA house to tie her up. One end of
the, rope he made fast to the cows neck,
anathe,ather he slipped down the Chimney
and tied round. his own thigh and he had
to make haste, for the water now began to
boil in the pot, and he had still 10 grind the
oatmeal. so he began.to grind away but
while he was hard att, down fell the COW
off the house top after all, and as she fell,
she dragged the man up the chimney by
the rope. There be stuck fast, and as for
the COW, she hung half way down t6e wall. 1
swinging between heaven and esIsH iEfor
shesould neither get down norsnp!
e And gov the .godas had waited seven
lepgths and seven breadfhs for her husbanf
To- come and CHI her home to dinner; -
never as9ali had. At Lest she thoughtj
sksd Rsited long enough and went home. ]
Rat Wben; she got there and saw the say
esugiag, in sueh an ssiy placs, she ran Up
and cut the rope iptwd xish; her sesthe.
But as she did this ssdosn GANG beE hlsk auls
out Of. thschimpey /; and 80, Msisn S. B!d
Name sasscaus sinsids thsskitefsS shsrss she
Jssad I'm Handing q shssd ! 10 i the.