The workingman's advocate., 1870-04-30
TALES OF THE BOKDERS.
THE coATRAsT OF WIVES.
BIT ALEx1KDTA EIIHrNE
(CONTINUED.)

(CONTINUED.)
elf" said he, Mrs. Jean Todd had
been hostile to this measure, would she not
have declared it manfMlly, as is her uniform
practice in similar cases -
The boxmaster could not answer the
question satisfactorily aud the deacon, con-
tinuing his arguments, persuasions, pro-
misses, and batteries, at least got the victim
to put his name to the bill. Upon the in
slant the door opened, and Mrs. Jean Todd
appeared before them. She went forward
TO the table, and laid her hand upon the
document
Is that your signature, SIR" said she,
looking calmly at her husband
sou ay-I believe, yes-I did put my
name to that paper" replied Anf'rew in
great CITATION = ht,t | rhocht ,'- left me
to do as I chose w!'en " gaed c,';. II ye
d'dna want me to sign 4, Sc shoniina hae
left the room.
A bill is no binIin document con
tinued she, without seeming to attend TO
what the boxmaster said. e until il be de-
ivered. It's no delivered sac lang as it IS
m my hands; and never will be delivered
by me sac lang as recollect the words o
the wise man O the east, wha said If
thou b. surety for thy friend, thou art
shared with the words o thy mouth Yet
this paper is no my property. The stamp
is yours, though my husbands name is still!
his" Turning to the hOxmaster, who was
shaking and retaining his breath with pure
foar-" Do you stand by this, sir" said
she, in commanding voice, which increased
bis fear, 6 or do ye repent OF 2"
g L repent o't," replied Andrew, with
dry lips, and gurgling of the throat, as il
he had been on the eve of choking.
"Then, fancy" continued Mrs. Jear
Todd, "ye would like yer name bacl
again."
sou ay-surely," replied Andrew.
Well, then" said she, as she with th'
greatest coolncss took up her scissors tina
hung By her side, and with affected precision
cut away bis name there it is is"-handinl
it to him. And turning to the deacon
a The rest is yours, sir hse nae RIGHT t.
neddle wi your name-there's yer paper
returning to him the mutilated bill.
/ At this operation the deacon stared will
= supplied look of wonder and contempt
lie had never before seen 50 cool an ex
ample Of female rule and marital weakness
and bis pride, his selEshness, and his spite
were all reused and interested by the ex
traordinary sight He was too muct
affected for indulging in vulgar expression
Of feelingz which could not adequately b'
expressed by mere language. Taking VI
his hat, and casting the boxmaster look o
sovereign contempt, and upon Mrs. Jear
Todd one Of anger, he bowed as low as |
deacon ought to do, and left the room. Th'
circumstance produced no very unpleasan
consequences to either the bOxmaster or BIZ
wife. She, no doubt. reprOved him 70
bis stupidity but the point Of her wratl
was turned away by the repentance anC
soft words Of her husband, who promised
never to do the like again. He had, be
sides, some defence, arising out of her du
bious conduct, which, though quite easil..
} understood, be could not well comprehend
The naivete Of his statement, that " sh
shouldna hae left him unprotected" wa
quite enough to have Modified a muc
sterner woman than Mrs Jean Todd, an
during the same night they we're far hal
pier couple than Deacon Waldie and hl
fair spouse.
When the deacon went home, and n
ported the extraordinary proceeding to b
obedient wife, the grief it occasiOned was
, some degree overcome, on the part of tn
j. husband, by the favorable contrast it eI
abled him to form between the boxmaste
and his wife, and him and his obedieI
snouse Mrs. Waldie did all in her powt
pe to aid the operation but she did not forg
u the bill, which her father was pressing bal
to procure.
Dc "Surely every man s no under the rule
i his wife. +" said she, with the view to leadiI
.s ,s to another cautioner.
= tNo. God be thanked y said the de
" con, there are some independent men
4 the world besides mysel Every husband
e no henpecked. Every man that has VI
doesna glory in being 'Pecked BY such
hem"
"There's William M'Gillavry," said I
sly wife, in q soft and unassumlng tom
"he is independent o his wife,"
"Do ye mean, Peggy, that should
him to sign the bill ?"