Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-02-28
For a few days Raymond remem.

failings permitted, but soon again the
wife was obliged to chop wood and
feed cattle, and taking a severe cold,
she faded as would fade the summer
rose in a frigid climate.
When Raymond Warren's house
was desolate and his freside cheer
less, he saw what had been his great
error during the two years of his
married life, and he mourned his wife
deeply, it must be said in his favor,
both as helpmate and companion.
In a few months he took to his home
a woman who, he confidently felt
would fill the place left vacant by his
first wife. Sadly was Raymond dis
appointed.
A few weeks elapsed and he fell
into his old habits with complete alb
andon. Leaving his own work in a
neglected state, he worked one day
diligently to assist a neighbor in get
ting wood to his house, and he return
ed to his home, late at night, hungry
and fatigued, expecting that his wife
would have ready for his refreshment
an inviting supper. In this hope he
had refused to take supper with the
neighbor whom he assisted. Poor
fellow the kitchen where was to have
been his excellent supper, attended by
smiling wife, was cold and unoccu-
pied. No frugal board was there, and
Mrs. Warren was 10 bed.
Raymond was much astonished, but
was too good natured to complain,
and silently he commenced to explore
the cupboard for crust Oh which to
satisfy che gnawing of his appetite
Not a crumb was there 1t was evi-
dent his wife had designed that he
should 60 to bed supperless, and sup
PEERLESS to bed he did go, grieying over
his hard lot. He had never before
been so badly treated, and he thought
it indeed distressing, but yet his dis
appointment was not sad enough to
revolutionize his constitutional good
nature, and without a mutter he fell
sound asleep.
Raymond Warren did not hear chan
ticleer salute the morning, as it dawn
ed after the night Of his grievous dis
appointment. 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
{" Mr.. Warren, here I've been an
hour in the cold. The woods all
burned. It's time | had some cut
If you want any breakfast, you had
buttuL geC up
Was Raymond dreaming? Was
this < voice Of reproach that came to
him in his sleep, with the recollection
of his wife that had gone before him
to the Spirit-Land? Not so-it was
voice from the wife who dwelt with
him in this sphere of existence, that
came to remind him of duties not dis
charged, upon the performance of
which depended the satisfaction of
those desires which had intruded Wis
ions Of feastS upon his hours of rest
All this he felt, still he did not offer
to leave his couch.
Raymond Warren again said the
voice, "you left me yesterday without
wood to help a neighbor get wood for
his wife, and you went to bed last
night without your supper. You'll
not get a bite to eat in this house till
you bring me wood to cook it with"
There is plenty of chips" said
Raymond in palliation, rising on his
elbow as he spoke.
"Get up, then, and bring them into
the house., said the resolute wife. 81
didn't know you when we were mar
ried, but l know you now. | know
what killed your first wife. You
want to make a slave of me. I'll at
tend to my duties; but if you dom
do your chores the cattle may starvt
and you'll never get a bite to eat il
this house unless you take it uncook
ed, if you don't cut wood yourself OF
get somebody else to do it for you"
Raymond started bolt upright, anC
it was not many minutes before he wa,
at the wood pile. Diligently did ht
work until he had cut an armful
which, like dutiful husband for the
first time in his life, he carried intt
the kitchen.
His wife made no allusion to wha
had passed between them, and Ray
mond, although burning with curiosity
to know where she had learned wha
she had revealed to him, dared no
commence conversation in relation tt
it. The train of ills it might revive
was fearful to the easy mans mind.
His breakfast was over; forgetfu
of its lesson. careless Raymond wan
dered away from home, his morning La
bors in his farm yard unattended to
and his wood pile unvisited. He re
turned home at noon, strong in the
faith that he should sit down to {
good dinner, because he was one of
those men who think that a wife shoule
always give her husband good din
ner, whether she had anything to cool
or not. Mrs. Warren had enough tc
cook, but nothing to cook with; how
ever, much to Raymond's satisfaction
when he entered his house he found
the table all spread, and he knew be
should soon be invited to take seal
4 near it. s
When the invitation came he hast
ened to his accustomed seat, lifted the