Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-22

| potato patch into the lane. s,..-.s .
Mrs. Cults few into the house for her
sun bonnet, to follow them; but, by the
time abe got to the bars, her mysterious
visitor and Cults were driving rapidly
down the road. $50 - b -.
The strong-minded woman shouted af-
| ter her husband, 'fYoud better come
back, I tell you'll = but the wind was the
wrong way, and carried her words into
the potato patch. = - ~ naa ei T sas
s'Sh, said the gentleman to honest CUTE,
81 have very simple questionto ask you,
but shall have to ask you in confidence.
viii give you five dollars If you viii
promise not to repeat my words until to-
morrow sa
swell, SIR" replied Cults, 81 shouldn't
like to answer any questions that would
make trouble among my neighbors. I
have my hands full, I can tell you, to
keep out of scapes now; but I've done
II, an hain't an enemy in the world, as
know" - 81 -os
'tBut sir, you needn't reply to my
question unless you are perfectly wiling
said the stranger. IN
81 'tAsk your question, said Cults, Sand
I will not repeat 1t. n ees'r- -rssl fFs1s
swell, Mr.. Cults, am laying fence
on the Brisley place, that l have Just
bought, and l was directed TO inquire of
you where could buy cedar posts A
fellow in the store said, Cuts can tell
you, if his wife will let him; but she
won't. She'll insist on telling you her
self, and perhaps offer to drive you Hher-
ever you go to order them.' / told them
1 would see you and ask you only; and
the fellows bet on it. They are to give
you ten dollars, and two or three widows
in town cord of wood each, If sue
coed in asking you this question alone,
and making sure your wife does not know
my business until after breakfast to-mor.
row morning"
Cuts knew bis wife's standing" too
well to feel very sensitive, and taking the
bill from the stranger, he smiled and said:
'G'll go with you to look out cedar
posts, and keep dark for the jokes sake;
but don't know as she'll let me stay in
the house tonight; / don't own it" re-
piled the good natured Cults.
sSuppose you go to the place and see
to setting the posts. will send boy to
tell her you had to go off suddenly on
little business, and will be back in the
morning." said the stranger.
'1ll do that, replied Cults, 'for new
er quarrel with her, but let her have her
own way. l don't want to worry myself
about trifles."
'tGood man" said the stranger, 'sthere
are no trifles in this life. The smallest
act is important, and that easy good ma
ture of yours will ruin your family. Battle
that spirit to-day, and next Sunday take
your boys and 60 to the house of. God,
whatever she says, and be real msn-st
! the head of your own house and family"
otis rather too late to begin" said
Cults, shaking his head in way that
| would have warned others from the trap
in which his feet were fast. 'eYou see
the purse is hers, he added, sand that has
been crueler fetter than her will to me.
But will try to begin anew, for her good
will and the children's."
The boy was sent with the message,
but the boy wasn't sharp enough. Madam
Cults discovered the whereabouts of her
lord, tackled up and went after him.
All the way home, and far into the
night she used her eloquence, both in
pleadings and threatenings, to find out
the mysterious errand of that hateful
town nabob that had come into the
country to separate happy families.
''dumb spirit" for the night, and no
measure could induce him to talk on any
subject, lest she should pry the mighty
secret out of him.
About midnight she wore herself out
aud went to sleep; but st break of day
she began. He then ventured to say,
GAS soon as breakfast is over, I'll break
the news to you" --r-
'fYou1l never eat morselin my house,
l can tell you," cried Xantippe, "till you
have told me what the man wanted of
youl"
''Then you'll wait long time to hear
it, said Cults, "for I have vowed I'd
never tell II till l had first eaten my break
fast, " and with these words he went out.
Ma'am Cuts endured the torture SO
long as possible, and then got breakfast.
She called to the door, to no one in par
ticular, 'Come."
But Cults didn't come. After while
she went out to the barn and found him
seated on an upturned half-bushel measure,
calmly peeling and eating raw turnip.
SIT does seem as if this here man had
possessed you ! Your breakfast is GOBLIN;
do come in.
1t was point gained.
Cuts went in, as requested, and ate his
breakfast. When that was over, ma'sm
settled herself back in her chair, with her
face full of eager expectation, Snd said:
'tNow begin. What did that are man
want .s-.....- .-t.-...-.r
she wanted some cedar posts, replied
Cuts, calmly, without looking up; "aud
| that was all" -..
If an arrow had struck Madame Cuts,
she could not have manifested more sur
prise and shame.
'Iamtke laughing stock of the town, T"
| added Cults, sand from this hour turn
over new leaf. I'm henceforth head of
my family, and unless this house is made
mine l shall finish off room in the barn
which is mine-and you will be well
come to share it with me. If not, l will
live there with tho h0vs and Won will find