The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-21
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 81. 1862

"No; was not at all tired" answered
the wife. "But, now, make haste in;
you are heated, and the cool night air may
do you harm"
Lovingly she drew him into the house,
and listened patiently to all that he had to
tell about the matters that had been talked
over in the town, and how he had settled
and determined nearly every question, be-
cause of his consequence and station.
''There's only one thing .vexes me-" he
said lastly, II was obliged to promise to
go again. Two evenings in the week are
fixed ON for the meetings, and as every
body was in favor, could not well say no.
However, it is but two evenings; the
whole history wont last longer
If Frau Margaret was alarmed atth be-
ginning of the evening, she was now
doubly fearful. Her quiet indoor happi-
ness seemed to be all at once threatened
by some great danger. She trembled to
think that her husband could find pleasure
away from hOme-away from his children,
and she had the sense to fOresee the con-
sequences. But she remained silent, for
she was too bewildered to find words to ex-
press her apprehensions, and then, she
knew that when her husband had once
made a promise, nothing would lead him
to break it, This made her sorrow the
greater, and for the first time since her
marriage, her pillow was wet with tears.
She, however, concealed her sadness from
her husband; she hoped that the good old
habits would rule again, and make him
dislike passing his evenings away from
home.
Although Frau Margaret was prudent
and sensible, she deceived herself in this
matter. Truly enough, Baptist first went
out for the evening unwittingly, and not
without struggle, but gradually this re-
sstance disappeared, and at last he longed
for the hour which led him among his COM
panions He was a man of clear judg-
ment, knew how to deliver his words neat
ly, and his comfortable circumstances gave
him certain Importance, so that, quite
naturally, in course Of time, he gave the
tone to the company, and his sayinSs were
received as oracles. That tiattered his
vanity, which therein got full satisfaction,
and before long, he wondered in secret
how he could have lived so many years in
the background, and had so little to do
with the world. The political and religi-
Gus questions of the day, about which he
had never before troubled himself, began
to excite his eager attention. He read
newspapers, journals, pamphlets, and be-
came great politician-at least in the
eyes of himself and his companions. The
magic circle of his calm and peaceful hap
piness was broken. Baptist himself had
done it, but without forebOding of what
he had destroyed. He fancied himself
happier than ever, and could not see that
all his household joys were blighted.
But Margaret saw and felt it. She
mourned in secret; the evenings when she
sat at home alone were sad and sorrowful
for her; and at last, as Baptist left off OBJ
serving any rule in his outgoing, but
longed more and more to be away from
home, she plucked up heart, and begged
of him to leave her no more.
''But why not?' rejoined Heinzel-
mann. "We do nothing. We debate
about matters for the good of the town
and Of the state. There must be great
changes, Margaret, before things can be
better with us. But, presto! it will
come"
"Oh, Baptist, what concern have you
with the town and the state ID" answered
Frau Margaret. "Look at your family
that is your town and state. When you
are with it, and fulfill your duty right
fully, then are you one of the best of citi-
zens. Consider we'll: the skin is nearer
than the fleece"
eyes, wife; but what do you mean by
that ?" said Baptist, little angrily. "Per-
haps I am not fulfilling my duty?"
''No longer the same as formerly, dear
husband Don't take it i'll, Baptist, but
my heart and conscience compel me-I
must tell you. You neglect your business
little Yesterday, you know, the town.
clerk wanted his Golfer; but you-you
went out at five, and the Golfer was not
finished"
"Eh, what J" cried Baptist, snappishly.
II had business in town-we were to lay
memorial before the magistrates about
the pavement, and that could not be done
without me and the town clerk can have
his Golfer to-day"
"No, dear husband" replied the wife,
"he sent little while ago to say that he
had got one and now, you see, the Golfer
must be kept on hand unsold."
The town clerk is an old fool" con-
tinued Baptist, tretfully. ''These aristo-
crats!-they always want to ride on the
necks OF US honest traders But patience!
Our turn will come some day."
But, dearest husband" said Margaret,
soothingly, ''the town clerk has always
been very agreeable and friendly with you,
and it is certainly not his fault, that the
Golfer was not ready at the right time.
Many go ont for wool and come home
shorn. Had you thought more of the skin
than of the fleece, you would have saved
yourself all this trouble. You understand:
your business-thats the skin the street
paving-that's the fleece"