Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-09-18

contented. l don't believe Queer
Victoria herself takes more solid com
tort than ] do sitting by the East win
dow, on summer afternoon, reading
my newspaper"
"But you are just as we'll off with
out it," answered her husband, fol
want Of something else to say
Il never neglect anything else 70,
reading, do I!'' asked Mrs. Heath
mildly
"No, don't know as you DO" ans
wered her husband; "but II ns an
extra, like-I shall stop it, lie add.
ed, in tone that showed plainly
enough he wished to stop the conver.
sation.
l she'll tsse the paper remarked
MS wife VI have to 60 out washing
to pay lcr
This was not spoken angrily, but 50
firmly that Dir. Heath noticed it.
though by no means remarkable for
discernment in most matters. 1t
sounded SO different from her usual
quiet "as you think best" that he ac-
tually stopped moment to consider
whether it was at all likely she would
do as she said.
Mr. Heath was kind husband, as
that indefinite description is generally
understood: he did not beat his wife
and always gave her enough to eat
More than that, he had certain re-
gard for her happiness, which already
made him feel half ashamed Of his de-
cision; but, like many other men who
have more obstinancy than wisdom, he
could not bear to retract anything,
and above all, to be convinced that he
was wrong by woman,
However, with a commendable wish
to remove the unhappiness he caused,
he suggested that as the papers were
carefully saved, and she found them
interesting, she could read them over
again, beginning at January, and tax.
ing one week clear through the year
they would just come out even, he
concluded; as if it were singular fact
that they should do so.
Notwithstanding the admirable prop.
ostion he still felt some uneasiness
1t followed him as he walked up the
pleasant lane to the pasture, and il
made him speak more sharply thar
was his wont. if the cows stopped
while he was driving them home t.
crop the grass where it was greeneS,
,, and sweetest on the sunny slope. Il
troubled him till he heard his wife
cad him to supper in such q cheerful
tone, that he concluded she diln't
care much about the newspaper aftel
all.
About week after, as Mr. Heath
was moving ore morning, lie was sur.
prised to see his wife coming out
dressed as if for a visit.
Il am going" said she, "to spend the
day with Mrs. Brown; | leave plenty
for YOU to eat !" and 50 saying she
walked rapidly on.
Mr.. Heath thought about It Just
long enough to say to himself "she
don't 60 visiting to stay all day
once year hardly, and its strange
she should 90 in haying tirae."
Very long the day seemed to him
to 60 in for a luncheon, dinner ans
supper, and TO have nobody to speal
to; TO find everything SO still. Th'
old clock ticked stiller than usual h
thought; the brood Of pretty whit
chickens that were almost alw peer
ing ropi1d the door, had wandered OF
somewhere and left It stiii-r sat he
even missed the busy click Of the
knitting needles that was apt TO put
him out 80 when he was doing any fig
uring.
Il an glad, hc said to himself, as
he began 10 lool, down the road at
sunsc,. that Millicent don't so visit
ing al the time as some women do
there she is Just coming
"How tired you look said he, as
she came up; why didn't you speak
about il and I'd have harnessed up
and come after YOU"
Il am not very tired" she answered,
but her looks belied her indeed, her
husband dcclared she looked tired a
day or two after.
What was his great amazement TO
see her go away the next Tuesday IN
the same manner as before.
To his great dissatisfaction. every
thing seemed that day to partake OF
his w.te's propensity for going away.
a man don't want cold food in hay
time said he, as he sat down TO din
ner. In The same grurabling mood
he counted the mishapS OF the morn
ing, which seemed to have been much
alter the manner set forth in 8 certain
leyand of olden time; for he embellsh
ed his recital by allusion to-
The sleeps in the meadow,
The COWS in The corn,
adding that they wouldn't fave beer
there If Mrs II. had been at home
because she'd seen them before they
got in, and halloed She would have
seen the oxen before they got acros:
the river, and saved him the trouble
OF getting them back. But, after
tracing all the untoward events to hel
absence, he said to himself, consollng
ly, i guess she won't 60 any more
she always was a home body"
Mrs. Heath did go again though
and again; and the day she went TO,
the fourth time, her husband took
counsel with himself as to what be
should do to "stop her gadding"
Seated on the door step, in the
shade OF the old .rees, he spent an hour
or two devising ways and measures
talking aloud all the time, and having
the satisfaction OF hearing nobody dis
pute him.
"It is hard to think Of her getting
to be avisitin' woman" said he, "andi :
clear it amt right--keep her at home,
I've read in the Bible told Richards
Bible knowledge was somewhat con
iused-his quotation varied slightly
!. n.