Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-25
miscellaneous.
A NEW SAW OR CURING A BAD
HABIT


The lamp burned rather dimly. Sundry
multiplying incrustations had gathered upon the
wick which Susan supersttuously declared
were letters for her; at any rate they made
their Eight darkness, and il there were letters
tall, they we're dead letters so that IL be-
comes necessary TO remove them
81 wish you would bring me the lamp scis-
ots, Thomas, cant see worth a cent
All right again.
Now, let us know what lady Dedlock has
TO say said Tom, settling himself once more.
Susan continued the reading for FIVE min
utes and then stopped again.
MY throat is all dried up | wish YOU
would get me some water. There is some in
the pail in the back room
Tom got the water, and Susan went on again
Rap, tap. tap.
Somebody at the door, Thomas.
Take the light, Susan, and see who it is
You 60, Thomas
Tom did go. Ii was a man who wanted to
know where Peter Pendleton lived
Once more Tom was settled, but the fire
got down, Susan wanted him to fix it, though
the wood lay by the Fireplace
Il guess | won't hear any more tonight,
Susie will go to bed now said he yawning
There is only two pages to the end Of the
chapter.
Il am too fa.igued; and Tom retired in
disgust.
Three years after.
Tom sat in the store smoking a long nine
For nearly year he had spent his evenings
there smoking and telling stories till long az
ter bed time.
What for ? Tom used to have such cosy
times at home, evenings-why didn't he stay
there now instead Of loafng about the stores
and associating with the rowdies and vaga.
bonds of 'Spindlevlle.'
We are sorry to say it but Toms house i,
no longer pleasant place to him. III could
never sit there half an hour without his wifi
asking him to do something which more prop
erly belonged to her, and which she could do
just as WE ii as be-
That very evening he had sat down befor,
the FIRE in his comfortable sittng-room, to
make out some bills against his customers
He had got the items Of Mr.. Pendletons &C.
count on the paper, and was running up the
columns of figures.
Tom, wish you would get pitcher of
water, am almost choked. interrupted Susan,
who sat at the other side of the table, making
little apron for the baby.
'Forty-one, forty-seven, fhy-two, said
Tom continuing to add figures.
The pitcher lie on the table in the kitchen.
'Sixty-three, seventy-eight, eighty
Rinse it out before you put it into the pail.
Zero carries eight
Come, Tom, will your
Eight, eleven, sixteen
Il am almost choked, said Susan, reaching
over and taking hold of his arm. Get me
some water, will you|
Get it yourself-eight. eleven, sixteen
That is polite, / must say
'Twenty-one, twenty-eight.'
viii you get the water or not "
NO, | won't
1t did not used to be So snvelled Susan,
when asked you to do anything for me
Like darn fool, | did it--eight, eleven,
SIXTEEN
4 never thought you would treat me So
'Twenty-one, twenty-eight-'
you are an altered man ; you are off now
almost every evening" whined the poor wife
we pity her while we point out the fault.
There, exclaimed Tom, closing his account
book in a pet, and putting it back into the
secretary. Il should as soon think of doing
anything in Tophot as here
Selling his hat he rushed out Of the house,
and made his way to the store where we found
him at the opening of this chapter.
He had not been gone more than half an
hour before uncle Tim. her mothers brother,
Il substantial Odd farmer. who took a great in
terest in Susans welfare, made her call,
The poor wifes tears were scarcely dry,
and her eyes were swollen with weeping.
She believed herself to be the most cruelty a.
bused woman in Spindleville-a martyr to the
harshhess and cruelty OF her husband.
Where's TomS asked uncle Tim.
He is not at home. You know he never
- ba
Sussi,, struggling to repress a food Of tears.
Whats the matter, Susie You look as
though you had been crying continued the
old man. kindly. I'm afraid Tom amt so
good fellow as we used to think he was
Susan only shook her head, and uncle Tim
sat in silence for few minutes. Suddenly
the poor wife, no longer able to hide her grief,
burst into tears, and sobbed like child.
Whats the matter, Susie
Tom was very cross to me tonight
How did it happen !? asked the old man,
who had been close observer of his niece's
domestic relations, and who already under
stood matters very well.
why, you see be was making out bills,
and asked him to bring me pitcher of wa
ter. Then he scolded terribly
Il have been afraid of this since the first
week you were married., added uncle Tim
Il am sure do everything can to please
him, but he grows worse and worse
Il 'spose you wont thank me Susie for tel
lug you it is mostly your fault.
My fault, uncle ?
In my opinion"
why, uncle,'
Il remember nigh three years ago, passing
some time in the house here one night. Tom
had come in from work dreadful tired 90 that
day, throwing himself on the sofa TO rest his
tired bones. | remember, too, you made him
get up four times within an hour, to get things
for you, that you might have got YOURSELF
Was there any harm in that ?
'Sartain, when he was all tired out you
ought not to have bothered him. Things
have been going on in this way. You ask
him to do things that make him fret, Men
folks ought to bring in the wood and water,
and do the heavy work about the house but
when you make niger servant of EN-, they
won't stand it,
Susan reviewed the past and she could trace