The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-01-07

he went around and looked at the step
at the front Of the door. They GER
tainly did need fixing, but lie would
not do the job until after dinner. His
wife had told him he had better do it
before dinner If he put it off till af.
ter dinner it would show that he was
not controlled by his wife. tu
For an hour and half Job Poison
IeGfed around the barn and she'd like n
man who knew not what to do with
himself t.utt Hi'' 1se74 fr.rr.
The door steps and the tie-up beam
troubled him. lie knew that they
ought to be fixed but he could not
turn his back so soon upon the new
road. .a# 90 .....la ..... .a
AT length the dinner horn sounded,
and Job went in andstook his scat at
the tablc-the old smile, that had for
fifteen years checred him morning,
noon and night, had faded from his
wifes face, and she gazcd upon him
meekly and submissively. w.. u-
ai" Will my master have some Of this
saucer" she asked. There was no
irony in the tone--no mancvolence :;
but she spoke quietly and politely.
Yes" said Job, 81 should like
some"
But his dinner did not taste good to
him. 1Ie did not feel at home. lie
felt, to use one form Of his own thoughts
"lile . cat in astrange garret, AT
ter dinner he went out and smoked in
thcshcd; 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 work
cd ut his wood plle. At tho supper
table he felt more nervous and uneasy
than ne lad done at dinner. Once or
twice he ventured to raise his eyes
to his witc's face, but there was no
smile for him-nOne Of the old happy
look. ..t.. ........
This was more than job Poison had
been prepared for. He had-or sup
posed ho had-screwed his courage up
TO the point of meeting his wife's tenn
per. In fact, hc 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
emergency as this. He had announced
his intention of governing his wife,
and she had taken him at his word.
What should he do2 How should he
commence? What sort of IL 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 much like man who had
attempted to speak in meeting, and
had forgotten his speech. Ills VIZ
had been in tic habit, every evening
when she was well, of singing and
chatting over her knitting Nut her
voice was now hushcd. :. rru ...
At nine o'clock he arose to attend
to his cattle. lie looked for the Ian
tern but could not find it. .l
NHcIC 10 NY idhlci IL.
81 guess it is where you left it ?
said Sarah. She laid down her knit
ting, and went out into the porch
where she found it sitting on a bench
She lighted and handed it to her hus
band. .. ..-.... ..... .... .....
"Shall do anything more for you
Job?" I'll. u. ASA ...
She was calm and passive; he was
choking with pcrplexity. s ~.
"That's ALL he gasped. And ther
he went away and fed the cattle, anC
got in his wood for morning.
What charming evening it haC
Z been ... .......... ......
On the following morning Job founc
the same scdate face at the breakfas
. table-no smilcs-no chcer-no sOcia
: chatting After breakfast he wen
out and fixed the beam at tho tie-up
and then he was at his wits end
: What would he have given at that mo
ment tora a suggestion from his wife
He could not break the ice withou
lowering his own dignity. He wen
into the house with this purpose.
"Sarah," he said, with his hand
working nervOusly in his pockets
"what do you think about having tn
loom put in ordcr?" .......
; Il don't think anything about it
: Job. You can do as you think best.
"But you know whether you wan
D to use it or not, don't you?" Mr.. Pot
. son exhibited little feeling.
"Thc wool is at your disposal, Jof
i If you please to have some cloth mad
| will spin and weave it. You hav
but to issue orders" Her voice wa
very low but calm, and her bearin
f was respectful, ..........
"But," said Job, pleasantly, and a
: most losing his temper, /" You knoN
< whether the loom wants fixing"
eff it is your wish, my husband,
:. will 90 and examine it, and report
i you. 1 will do anything you say
t Only be kind to me- and don't expe(
e me to anticipate your wants. Shall
II go up with you now!' .p g..
It "Ycs." .. .... ....
h The loom was in the shed chambc1
G and tbithcr Job led the way. Ill
d wife pointed out to him what VIZ
n necessary to be done, and then left hil
to his work. .... ....
a Dinner and supper-cheerlcss an
Il dark! ...... ...
is Job Poison had gone the length ,
n his line. What in the world to d
IS with himself he did not know. Ho'
- | aoulL La ,rnrl. 10 nlun II [ n 90 uith nI