Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-25
SELECT Gale.
EASY WARREN.


body's clever fellow, as heard public man once
remark "a very extensive office, ," with numerous
duties never discharged. Raymond used TO sit in
the chimney corner late on winters night be-
cause he was too shiftess TO get ready for bed.
But after awhile the fire burned ow-the glow on
The embers faded. and il grew cold in the chimney
corner; then Raymond became chilly and he
would sneak to rest, where his wife perhaps had
been for several hours, endeavoring to recover
from the severe fatigue Of DAYS work, iuto which
had been crowded the greater portion Of her bus
bands legitimate duties RAYMOND owned a
large farm, left him by his father 1t was good
land but the fences were not in repair and every
body's cattle roamed through the fields, and Ray
mond's crops were not sufficient to Weld the fami-
y a decent support. The farm had once been
well stocked but for want Of proper attention the
cattle became poor-tho sheep were never folded
even in the most rigorous weather, and many Of
them died. The wool was never properly sheared
and washed, and when taken to market 10 would
not bring the market price. Had it not been for
Raymond's wife, who was business woman the
family must have suffered for the common neces-
saries Of life.
Raymonds chores were rarely attended TO by
himself: but, was a neighbor sick no man was
more willing to work in his place. He was relied
upon a man who would always neglect his own
interests, to look after those of somebody else
lie could never set himself at his own iarui-work
to oblige a neghbor, he took job ia his field.
Il was bleak morning in mid-winter. Ray
mond Warren's wife was ia the barn yard fodder
ing the cattle Raymond was in bed The light
of a brisk FIRE which his wife had built shonc di-
rectly in his face. Il awakened him; the room
was warm, and Raymond was persuaded by It's in
Wting appearance He sat down by the fire place
in his shirt sleeves, and waited for bis wife come
and get him some breakfast. As he warmed his
feet he felt that he had reason to congratulate
himself on his happy situation, aud he said TO
himself:-
"'Tain't every mans got such a wife as | have
Here she's made good fire. and Ill bet all the
chores are DONE
The chores we're done, and RAYMOND had scarce
ly finished his soliloquy when the useful wife has
tened TO the Fireplace to warm her hands, which
had become thoroughly chilled by the cold handle
Of the pitchfork, with which she had been throw
ing hay and straw to the cattle
1t might be supposed that these occurrences
took place early in the morning; not so. II was
ten O'Clock when Raymond Warren left his bed.
His wife had been sewing for two hours before she
prepared her breakfast Then she urged Ray
mond Tor an hour longer TO get up. lie made
fair promises, but left them all uuiuliilled. She
waited until it was nine o'clock, and then, know
ing her husbands easy habits, aud ashamed to have
the cattle unied at that hour of the day, she de-
termined to attend to their wants herself.
the fire was -
81 wish had some tea. Sally--but never mind,
you've put the things away-a little warm water,
with a htue milk and sugar in it. will do just
well. and 'vhiiu yOl are about It, you may get me
a little piece of bread; but just as you choose no
matter about it. anyhow. 'Tant every mans got
such a woman for a wife,
She might have answered. " IL is not every wo-
man that has such a husband
But she knew such remarks would only make
bitter feelings, and though fadgued with the vio-
lent exercise She had taken, she went cheerlnlly
and prepared her easy, good-uaturel husband
cup of tea, slice of toast aud then asked him if
he would not cut some wood.
ITO be sure ! will +" was his response.
His breakfast over, he took up his AK and mount
ed the wood pile and cut half dozen sticks. when
along came a neighbor, who wanted Raymond to
accompany him to a saw-mill about two miles dis
tant, and assist in loading upon sled some
boards which had been sawed for him-of course
Raymond went and his wife was compelled to cut
wood enough to keep the house warm until the
following day
Mrs Warren was in appearance 4 feeble wo-
man, but she had endured hardship which would
have destroyed the constitution OF one much more
robust Day after day her strength failed her,
yet She made no complaint Raymond that
she grew pale, and was often disturbed with fears
in regard TO her but he was too easy TO mention
the subject, and the useful wife became more and
more feeble, until she was seized with a violent
cough. Raymond was one day thoughtful enough
TO speak 90 the village doctor as he passed their
home with his ponderous medicine por;manteau
on his arm, and the benevolent gentleman, who
had some knowledge of Kaymonds peculiar fail
ings, left the woman innocent tncture, and
forbade exposure to the cold atmosphere under
;Ay circumstances, aud also declared that her
complaint OF character very much aggravat-
ed by severe exercise.
For few days Raymond remembered the doe
tors counsel, and, he had respect for the ply
sician, ho obeyed him nearly his constitution
al failures permitted, but soon the wife was again
obliged to chop wood and feed cattle, and, taking
a severe cold, she faded as would fade the summer
rose in a frigd climate.
When Raymond Warren's house was desoate
and his fireside cherries, he saw what had been
his great during the two years of his married
life, and he mourned his wife deeply, it must be
said in his favor, both as a helpmate and com
panon He rented his farm and managed to exist
easily for one year, but he was not satisfied with
a chIldless widower's solitary lot, and he began to
look about him for a second hepmate and com
panion. In few months he took TO his home a
woman who he confidently felt would ill the place
left vacant by his first wife. Sadly was Raymond
disappointed.
A few weeks elapsed, aud he fell back into his
old habits with complete abandon. Leaving his
own work in a neglected state, he worked dgent-
ly one day to assist neighbor in getting wood to
his house, aud be returned TO his home, late at
night, hungry aud iahgued, expecting that his
wife would nave ready for his relreshment an in
vitng supper In this hope he had refused TO
take supper with the neighbor whom he had assis-
ted. Poor fellow the kitchen, where was TO have
been his excellent supper, attended by smiling
wife, was cold and unoccupied. NJ frugal board
was there, and Mrs. Warren was in bed.
Raymond was much astonished, but was too
good natured to complain, and silently he ventur
ed to explore the cupboard for crust on which
to satisfy the Cravings Of his appetite. Not a
crumb was there. 1t was evident his wife had de-
signed he should 60 to bed supperless and sup
PEERLESS to bed he did 90, grieyng seriously over
his hard lot lie had never before been so badly
treated, and he thought it indeed distressing, but
yet his disappointment not sad enough to rev.
olutionize his constitutional good nature, aud
without a mutter he fell sound asleep.
Raymond Warren did not hear chanticeer
Lutte the morning as it dawned the night after his
grievous disappointment 1t was spring-time,
and the birds sang under his window, but he heard
them not yet he heard his wife, who had risen
before the sun, call him
"AIr. Warren, here I've been for an hour in
the cold. The woods all burned. It's time
had some cut. If you want any breakfast you
had better get up"
Was Raymond dreamngY Was this a voice OF
reproach that came TO him in his sleep, with the
recollection Of the wife that had gone before him
to the Spirit LandY Not soft was a voice from