Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-02-23
The Flute Player. i,.
A STORY FOR WIVES

.9...s,.-sy A STORY FOR WIVES -fsrzf y
Oh blessed with temper whose ulcloudnd ray
Can make tomorrow as cheerful as to-day
She who neer answers till a husband cools,
Or if she rules him, never shows she rules
Charms by accepting, by submitting sways,
Yet has her humor most when she obeys.
Harry Jones was one of the smartest
young men of the village in which he
was born. His parents were Industrious
and contented; and he himself was of
that active and cheerful disposition which
derives pleasure from habitual employ
ment and requires no excitement of vice
or folly in the hours of leisure. Harry
Jones was by trade cabinet maker. He
was skilful aud ingenious workman, and
his master delighted to exhibit the tables
and drawers which Harry manufactured,
as the best specimens ofhis workshop.
He lived in small town; to which the
large societies was almost entirely un-
known. On summer evening he might
be distinguished ON neighboring green
as the best bowler at cricket; and at the
annual reyel he could try fall with any
lad of the surrounding villages. But his
chief delight was proficiency as. a flute
player. He made himself master of all
the newest country dances, and OCCASION
ally astonished his friends with some more
elaborate piece of harmony, which re-
quired considerable science and taste in
its execution. He was a distinguish
member of the band of volunteer per-
formers at his parish church, and had
several times received the praise of the
clergyman for the skill with which be
had regulated the less praeticed abilities
of his companions, All these recreations
were in themselves innocent, and Harry
Jones had sufficient sense and virtue not
to permit them to divert his attention
from the duties of his occupation, nor to
make him forget that life had more i'm
portant objects than the pursuit even OF
sinless amusement. 5
BY his industry and frugality, Harry,
at theageof fye-and-twenty, had saved a
little money. His master was kind and
liberal towards him, and having himself
other occupations to attend to, resigned
his little interest as cabinet maker to
the here of our story. Harry became, if
possible, more assiduous; he did not want
friends and customers, and there was a
particular object which gave an .addi.
tional. spur to his industry; he naturally
and prorpely desired wife as soon, as he
ACQUIRED the means: of maintaining one
In neighboring village he had formed
an acquaintance with young woman
who possessed those exeellencies which
strongly recommended themselves to
the prudential part Of his character, Her
4 parents were honest and pious people
who had brought up their daughter witt
/ the strictest attention to economy, ano
with those hibits of regularity that as
sign to every duty an exact time and
place for its fulfilment These habits O.
order snd punctuality had become sec
ond nature to Mar ha She would mo-
allow herself to, deviate from the pre-
scribed path, nor could she endure any
deviation in. those by whom she wa
surrounded. She had sincere and at
feetionate heart; precision had glVel
something of coolpess and formality te
her character, Harry, with the madness
of "a lovers eyes, saw everything to ad
mlre: he considered that her seriusnes'
would properly regulate his cheerfulness
4 and that the strict discipline which sh
! exercised over her own actions Woul'
control his inclination for hasty ant
various modes of occupation. He wa
4 satisfied that he could not make a NOR
1 prudent choice, and the world though
/ also. They married.
At the end of the first fortnight afte
4 their Union, Harry sat down by the eve
ming freside exceedingly fatigued h
| felt incapable of exertion, and rename,
for sometime listless and dispirited
Martha began to read aloud from
serious book /; but she did not choose tn
most favorable moment tor making
proper impression. Harry yawned an
almost fell asleep. Martha laid dow
her book and recommended him to loo
over his accounts with every disposlt
ion to do right and oblidge hls wife
Harry felt that the labors of the da
were over. he thought of his flute. In
sense offatigue was at once forgotten, a
: he again placed his old book of tunes b'
fore him. He played his briskest jigs-
, but Martha did not beat time; he tire
! his most pathetic airs-but Martha r.
mained unmoved. He discovered to hi
) notification, that his wife did not loy
] music. @
! The next exening Harry did not fol
get the recreation of his flute /; he playe
in the very best style; and he appesle