The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-30

KNOW many husbands HhN would be too
happy to have such a calamity happen to
them. Burns says,'An aud wife stongue,s
fackless natter andthett' siio Contention
ina house where perpetual silence is the
bono offnntv".- 7..1t 10 gulFof0 s..
! saw that he was hurt, and fastened tu
remedy the evil ! had done. Taking him
by the hand, | said a#a.e7
"lin, assure you | would not wound
your feelings willingly. | am no less your
! friend than ever was, and no less worthy
your confidence. Now, wish you to tell
me the cause of your trouble, that may
share it with you, or possibly alleviate it,
lie hesitated a few moments, and then
said, with considerable emotion ga .lB
We'll Burner, old friendship is strong
within me, and shall do at its prompting,
that which thought nothing could wiring
from me. You remember how happy was.
There Yves not q man in the world who had
more friends. than had. Ny home was q
happy one-my wife pleasant, my children
handsome and intelligent You never saw
my wife, Burner p m u:.s.n.. .rr .s.s.. E.
My lame, in the connection, sounded like
an imprecation upon his wife, and the Bur
ner q wrathful expletive-7 burn her" Som
ers continued .......s..:. sr-. ... .
when we moved up here things went on
in pretty much the same pleasant way, until
there came to the village lady whom had
| formerly known, ana about whom and ME
| there had been a little gossip in old days.
Our acquaintance was renewed, and visited
! her several times made no concealment of
my intimacy with her, and invited my wife
to accompany me, but she declined. She
wished to make no new acquaintances, she
said. There was frequent visitor at my
house, relative Of my wifes--who poison
ed her ears with suspicious that it was not
right between May Brennon and myself
She repeated the old gossip, with additions,
spoke Of my visits to Miss Brennon, and
hinted at criminality, as that nasty-minded
class always will, who, having small virtues
Of their own, and depraved fancies, conjure
up impure conceits regarding their neigh
bors, imputing lasciviousness and wrong
where the strictest purity might not see oc-
casion to blush. was returning home one
summer evening, on foot, having spent the
day in business at town few miles from
this, when, by strange chance, a short dis.
tance from town, met Miss Brennon. 1t
and she turned back with me, taking my
arm. We walked slowly, as the weather
warm, and stopped moment on the rustic
bridge yonder, to look down into the stream,
and say few pleasant words about old times
! saw some one pass by us as we stood
there, but was indifferent as to whom it
might be, and bidding my companion good
bye went home as happy as a lord. in an
ticipation of meeting the ones that I Ilovod
so we'll met with cold reception. My
bane was sitting with my wife in counsel.
and read judgment on the face that had
too many times lately turned unkindly to-
wards me.
$50 you've come, Mr.. Hypocrite, have
You ," was the first salutation.
Certainly, my dear, have come" re-
piled, "though can scarcely see reason for
the application ofthe name to me-"
"You cannot you who have just left that
vile creature, on whose account and whose
company you have all day been absent from
your home You cannot r' .,...
81 have been away all day on business"
said l, as calm as Socrates, Twas returning
home and encountered Miss Brenuon. We
walked together little way, and then left.
her for my pleasant home, and certainly did
not expect such q reception" .aMtrsa
"You did not" said she sneerinc,y,, "but
you are found out, sir. 3 You stood upon the
bridge withyour arm around the. strumpet's,
waist and kissed her y ..-....
! felt aroused at, this. 7 can bear any, at
tack upon myself, but the reflection upon
Miss Brennon was too much for me- you
know her pure character and exalted worth.
at is falsehood = shouted, "and your
informant is a malicious and malignant falsi-
fer" f.-afE rro .str-~nr-& = -ra4fFrN
The relative gathered herself up to 60, but
before she went gave her a lesson on lying
and talc-bearing that she has not forgotten
yet. She has never crossed my door since
As soon as she was gone I turned to my
wife and said 8A&a III.
.'As for you, madam, if you cannot make
a better use Of your tongue, you had better
never speak again. .,s,.s - .sg. .-rs.oll4sg
was heated, in a passion, and scarcely
knew what said, but the unkind words en-
tered into her soul I left the house, and
did not return for long time. l found her
calmly and nndstnrbedlv sitting where I
had left her, but she did not speak. In vain
addressed her, but she made no reply. I
grew alarmed. Ibegged her to speak to
me- 1t has continued thus ever since. Not
one word has she uttered to me or airy one.
my home is dismal as tomb, or I would
have invited you there N,ElG
lie, ceased. his story, and told him how
much interested T had been INIT "But,'1
said l. ''have you tried no remedy to cure
this disease, for disease it must be ~ Tie
told me that he had not '.Thcn, said I,
stake me home with you, and if don't cure
her, strike the spurs from my heel as an un-