The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-10-13
From Gleason's Literary Companion.
TRAINING FOR A WIFE.
BY J. HENRY sYkoNps.


William Newell was a strange humor
ist. In his boyhood days he had been a
very hard worker; having been left al
an early aye an orphan, his own hands
had kept him out of the poor house
He claimed 10 be the smarte.t boy in
town, and every holiday he held himself
IN readiness to prove his claim. il any
chose 10 dispute ii; and year after year
he stepped into the ring. wrestled with
and threw every sturdy young fellow
that dared TO show himself upon the vii.
Iage green. When he WAS twenty -one
he married, much against her father
wish. pretty Ida Lee. ihe miller's daugh
ter. A few days subsequent, he receiv.
ed intelligence that he had fallen heir To
An immense fortune from a distant con.
nec'ion in England. of whom he had nev
heard before.
The fortune did not change William,
although il did every one else in the vii
lage. and people began to call him Mr..
Newell. or Squire Newell, until he threat
sned to whip any one within an inch O.
their lives who should call him anything
but plain Bill Newell lie fought the
large farm formerly owned by Squire
Flanders. where he gathered the finest
stock Of blood horses and dogs in the
country and the farm Of Bill Newell was
celebrated for miles around rs the best
place in the world for sport on holiday.
There was constant routine OF foot
races and horse races, cricket and base
ball matches, pitching qr"i's and lhrow-
ing weights. spsrring and fencing leap
ing and jumping. boat racing, and wres'-
ling. and. in fact, all manner OF rugged
manly sports.
One daughter blessed the marriage Of
William Newell and Ida Lae-a charm
ing girl, with all her mothers beauty
and All her fathers robust healih. A.
young Ida grew. she was made an hon
orarv member Of MI The boating. cricker.
and base ball clubs. about the country.
and nj the age OF fifteen she could sit n
horse. handle An oar. or fire n pistol.
with many nm older and more exparen.
cah hand. and half the Young fellows in
the country roundabout had fancied
themselves in love with rha pretty young
Ida bur their ardor Was generally cool
ed by The bold assertion Of Newell, that
ih. man who would marry his dau gh'er
must frs, oui-ria him and oui run him.
whip him with the gloves and with the
foils, and beat him with qu"iis and the
cricket bat In vain Mrs Newell called
her hu~hand's decision absurd and fool
i.h, and rried TO laugh him out Of il he
vas firm in The heory which he had ad
vnnccd. and tha hand OF his dauyhler
remained unsohght.
During the summer succeeding Iia's
eighteenth birthday. her mother decided
tina, she should GO into society come.
that shc should see snme,f ing OF the
world beyond the Newell! farm and To
this end trip was arranged to Niag.r
and Saratoga. Mr.. Newell raised no ob
jsctions, and the Projected tour was car
ried into effect Al the Falls, Mrs and
Miss Newell made the arqusintancs OF a
young gentleman from New York, Al.
bert Whipple. young man of good fam
Iilv. fortunate, and edacation. Whipple
followed the Newells To the Springs. and
his acquaintance ripened into intimacy.
and in due Time he proposed for the hand
of In. Mrs. Newell told him candidly
Of her husbands pecaliarilies she IA
vored bis eni,. thought him q capital
match, would be pleased TO welcome him
| 10 the farm, but she warned him Of ~ h At
he might expect from Mr. Newell Moth.
ing daupted. young Whipple returned