Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-26

thing had been thorning him.
Job" she said, after she nad reflected a
| few moments. 81 am your wife. You are a
man, while am only woman. 1t is right
! that you should command. | am your most
| humble servant. Give me your orders as
you please; but l beg you 20 treat me
kindly"
And then, with sober face and Bonded
| head Sarah pursued her work.
| What in the world was Job Poison to say
now? He had never heard his wife speak so
| sadly before. He sat upon nettles. He got
up and went to the closet; and finally he left
the house. He went to the barn, and exam
| ined the beam over the tie-up. 1t was loose,
and he saw at once that it ought to be fixed
| but he would not do it then-it would look
too much like being governed by his wife.
| By and by he went around and looked at the
| steps at the front door. They certainly need
ed fixing, but he would not do the job until
after dinner. His wife had told him that he
had better do it before dinner. If he put it
off till afternoon, that would show that he
was not controlled by his wife.
For an hour and half Job Poison loafed
around the barn and shed like a man who
! knew not what to do with himself.
The door steps and the tie-up beam trou-
| BILE him. He knew that they ought to be
!
upon the new road.
At Tenth the dinner horn sounded, and
Job went in and took his seat at the table
| The old smile, that had, for fifteen years,
cheered him morning, noon and night, had
faded from his wife's face, and she gaZed upon
him meekly and submissively.
will my master have some Of this sauce 2"
| she asked. There was no irony in the tone
no malevolence: but she spoke quietly and
| politely.
Eyes" said Job, 81 should like some of it,"
But his dinner did not taste good to him.
He did not feel at home He felt, to use one
form Of his own thought, like cat in "a
strange garrett" After dinner he went out
and smoked in the shed; and then he went in
and fixed the door step This was finished
about the middle of the afternoon, and from
then until supper-time, he worked at his wood
| pile. At the supper-table he felt more ner-
vouS and uneasy than he had done at dinner.
Once or twice.he ventured to raise his eyes to
his wite's face but there was no smile for him
hone of the old happy look.
This was more than Job Poison had been
| prepared for He had-or supposed he had
screwed his courage up to the point of
meeting his wife's show of temper In fact,
| he had store of harsh, commanding words,
already arranged to hurl back at her when
! she should dare to question his authority, or
offer to treat him with contempt. But he
| had not planned for meeting such an emer-
| gency as this. He had announced his inten-
ton of governing his wife, and she had taken
him at his word. What should he do? How
should he commence? What sort of task
had he before him? As he sat in the Chin
ney corner, after the evenings chores had all
been done, smoking his pipe, he felt very
| 20 bn has att al 10
in meeting" and has forgotten his speech.
His wife had been in the habit, every even
ing, when she was WELL of singing and chat
ting over her knitting but her voice was now
! hushed.
AT nine o'clock he arose to attend to his
cattle. He looked for the lantern but could
not find it.
Where is my lantern:"
81 guess it is where YOU left it," said Sa-
rah. She laid down her knitting, and went
out into the porch, where she found it sitting
on bench. She lighted and handed it to
! her husband.
Shall do anything more for you, job 2"
She was calm and passive; he was choking
with perplexity.
"Thats ALL" he gasped. And then he
went away and fed the cattle, and got in his
wood for morning.
What cherries evening it had been
''On the following morning Job found the
| same sedate face at the breakfast table-nO
| smiles-no cheer-no social chatting After
| breakfast he went out and fixed the beam at
the tic-up; and then he was at his wits end
What would he have given at that moment
for suggestion from his wife. By and by a
lucky thought struck him. He could break
the ice without lowering his own dignity He
went into the house with this purpose.
- i
nervously III his pockets, "what do you think
about having the loom put in order!"
81 don't think anything about it, Job. You
can do as you think best"
g But you know whether you want to use it
or not, don't you?" Mr.. Poison exhibited a
little feeling.
{" The wool is at your disposal, Job. If
you please to have some cloth made, | will
spin and weave it. You have but to issue
orders" Her voice was very low and cam
and her bearingsswas respectful.
But" said Job, petulantly, and almost
losing his temper. you know whether the
| loom wants fixing"
''lf it is your wish my husband, I will go
and examine it, and report to you. | will do
anything you say. Only be kind to me, and
don't expect me to anticipate your wants
Shall go up with you now }"
"Yes"
The loom was in the shed-chamber, and
thither Job led the way. His wife pointed
out to him what was necessary to be done, and
then left him at his work.
| Dinner and supper-cheerless and dark
Joe Poison had gone the length of his line.
What in the world to do with hmselfhe did not
know. How could he work to advantage
without the suggestions of his wife? Where
were the helps and hints and encouragements
which, for so many years, had been his guides
and assistants D.? And when he came to think
of it seriously what sort of piece of work
should he make of it in attempting to rule
and govern person who knew more than he
did, and who understood better what should
be done I? And, furthermore, how was he to
call back the light of those smiles, and keep
up the warmth of the old love ?-What would
his home be with that light and warmth with
drawn?
: Job Poison took his pipe down from it,
5 little shelf over the fire place, and filed i
. with tobacco. But he did not light it then
He held it in his hand awhile, and finally IaiC
5 it upon the maGtel. Then he went and stood
before his wife, trembling like an eager child
Sarah, want to enjoy my smoke thi
: evening"
} She looked up at him wondering what HI
l meant.
a How can help YOU Job ?"
D Tell me that | have been a confoundet
fool"
e "And then kiss me, and be good to me
and let us be as we always have been. "
n Sarah YOU won't"
:, Tut, tut, Job. You are one Of the bes