Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-02-01
Uncle Jacobs Wife.

Uncle Jacobs Wife.
We were sitting round the breakfast
table, my father, mother, brother Tom, two
sisters. and myself, one winters morning,
when the letters came in, nearly an hour
late, for, contrary to the custom Of many
country places, we had an eight-o' clock de-
livery.
"Postman says, sir, that the roads are
frozen so slippery that he had to leave his
horse at a farm-h house, and walk over with
the bag" said James apologetically, as he
laid the letters by my fathers plate.
!" There's always something wrong" said
my father with shrug, "when / am ex-
pecting important letters"
." Give the man glass CT beer" said my
mother, as James left the room
The girls smiled to each other at the
lofty sound, important letters" though,
to be sure, the prices of oats, wheat straw,
and potatoes were very important matters
in our fathers eyes. We, however, cared
little whether sheep ruled at heavy rates,
pigs were lively, or turnips dull, for it did
not seem to make much matter to us wheth-
err the markets were up or down, my father
never making money in either case. 1t is
not wonderful, therefore, that We should
have lost our interest in farming details.
My mother used to take these little mis-
fortunes very quietly. seYour father will
never make his fortune, my dears," she
would say with as pleasant face az pos
sible. q lie isn't the man TO do it, even by
accident; but as long as he gets enough out
of the farm to let us live comfortably and
want for nothing, think we ought to be
content; and then, you know, there is
Uncle Jacob to fall back on"
If my father would just pitch that sci
entifc nonsense of his on one side he would
soon make the farm pay; | wish chemistry
had never been invented" was Toms ire
weren't opinion; and as far as regards my
fathers application of science to the work
ing of our farm, Tom was practically right.
My mother supported my fathers views
with all her might, but as Tom said: "My
mother would be ready to see snow in Au-
gust, if my father saw IT," And this was
as it should be, and she and my father had
the dull comfort of their unanimity.
Tom, my DEAR" said my mother one
day, when he was trying to persuade her
to give her voice against one Of his fathers
newest notions. 81 would not oppose your
fathers opinion for almost any considera-
think on the five-acre field, if we were to"
Yes, certainly; quite twenty pounds"
interrupted Tom.
But your father would not be pleased,
and would pay twenty pounds any day (if
l had it), rather than have him vexed"
"The day will come, mother, when you
won't be able to afford it; it's quick work
going down-hill. One comfort is, however,
if the worst comes to the worst, we have
Uncle Jacob to fall back on some day"
But we have wandered from the break
fast table My father glanced through
couple of letters, which did not seem to
please him much.
Read that from Jacob, p" said my mother,
pointed to one.
90 How do you know it's from Jacob ?"
asked my father, always a little jealous if
he thought his letters were in any way scru-
tinized, even to the reading of a post-mark.
al see his writing across the table" said
my mother meekly. Here she touched an
otherEEeak spot of my fathers he was the
slightest bit envious of her better sight.
"Iswill wait" he said, and Clipped at
his egg. But the touch of spleen was but
momentary, and he presently broke Uncle
Jacobs red seal.
:. He is coming here" he said, without
looking up.
"He will be welcome" said my mother
and my father read on. He always read
straight through letter before enlighten-
ing us. Suddenly his face changed. He
turned pale, absolutely white, he whose
complexion was like that of one Of his own
rudy apples his hand shook, too, and he
threw down the letter.
"What is it? Is he dead ?" asked my
mother in her fright, forgetting that she
was looking at his writing.
"Worse than dead - said my father.
"What has he done 7" we three girls eX-
claimed in breath "Is ii very bad ?"
for my fathers face was a picture.
"Pshaw =" said my father, and his color
came back as he spoke, hes going to be
married"
" Married."
Married."
Married." We all pronounced the
dreadful word, and then there was silence,
and we thought much and said little The
matter. in fact, was beyond speech
There go your fortunes, girls!'' said
Tom, breaking silence, with a look that
reminded me of his old mischievous school
boy days.
'Hold your tongue, sir!" Numbered my
father.
81 must say think it inconsiderate OF
Jseob, highly inconsiderate," said my mo-
Their, but something in her voice pleaded fol
Uncle Jacob as size spoke; she was such an
unreasoning sort of woman my mother, il
her voice pleaded for Uncle Jacob as she
spoke; she was such an unreasoning sort o.
woman, my mother, in her habit of leaning
10 mercy's side.
"Inconsiderate DisgracefulI" said my
father.
"Yes, my dear Charles, very disgracsful,
said my mother; but 1 caught the same tone
of appeal in her voice.
Shameful Ridiculous Unheard of ,
My father was given to the piling o. cpl
thets. Pitiable in man of his age."
"He is old TO marry" said my mother.
ssOlk. Only think of il. | am sixty-se
ven, and he is not two years younger"
.sI suppose he was very lonely"
"Why could he not have come here
then? ?"
"His business, my DEAR" said my mother
al suppose ne cannot leave his his Office il
town for long"
"Why not have asked one of the girls tt
60 and live with him if he was lonely
Lonely nonsense! The man has nc more