National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-24

ia'tiH oipuih tHat you are u lawyer. we
haint got no quarrels; don't want no deeds
drawed or wills made, so if you're huntin'
a job OF my husband, yon may a well on
hitch your horse and drive on. We know
enough to make little money, and know
enough to hold on to it,
"Mv good woman you entirely misun-
derstand my errand. | can tell no person
but himself what it is, and must tell him
in confidence and alone II he chooses he
can break it to you the best way he can"
SO, my goodness sake alive! Brother
Lifts blowed up i'll the Mississippi boat,
bet ., Ia me, the poor fellow. He left
a little something, didn't he
~ never heard of him, and nobody's
'blowed up that | know of replied the
gentleman.
"O--now | know You're the man
what wants to go to Congress, and have
come here huntin' after votes. He shall
not vote for you hate politicians. espe-
cially them that goes agin women, and
thinks they were made to drudge and moth
in else go in for free and equal rights
for white tolks-men and women-for
| Scripture says, there sn't neither man or
woman, but all's one in politics. believe
the day is comm when such as you and
me will have to bow the knee to woman,
afore you can get the big place and high
pay that's eatin' us up with taxes You
can't see my husband We are goin' to
the polls on the way TO the mill. and III
promise you that he votes right"
I'm no candidate, and | don't know
what you are talking about An there
comes the man | want" And the stran-
ger went toward Mr. Cults, who had just
lcapcd pair of bar, which led from the
potato patch into the lane
Mrs. Cuts few into the house for her
sun-bonnet to follow them; but by the
time she got To the bars her mysterious
visitor and Cults were driving rapidly
down the road.
The strong minded woman shouted after
her husband You'd better come back, /
tell you!n but the wind was the wrong
way, and carried the word, into the pota-
to patch
"Sr,' said the gentleman to honest
Cults, II have very simple question to
ask you, but shall have to ask you in
confidence. ! will give you five dollars if
you will promise not to repeat my words
until tomorrow"
'Well, sir" replied Cults, II shouldn't
like to answer any questions that would
make trouble among my neighbors, | have
my hands full, can tell you, to keep out
of scrapes now but I've done it, and haint
an enemy in the world, as | know"
But sir, you needn't reply to my qu,s-
ton unless you are perfectly willing" said
the stranger.
"Ask your question" said Cults, "and
will not repeat it."
well, Mr. Cults, | am laying fence on
the Brisley place, that have just bought,
and | was directed to enquire of you where
| could buy cedar posts. \ fellow in the
store sad, Cults can tell you. if his wife
will let h,m but she won't. She'll insist
on telling you hersef--and perhaps offer
to drive you wherever YOU 20 to order
them
II told them would see you and ask
you only and the fellows bet on il. They
are to give you ten dollars, and to two or
three widows in the town cord of wood
each, if ! succeed in asking you this ques-
ton alone, and making sure your wife does
not know my business until after breakfast
tomorrow morning"
Cuts knew his wfe's standing too well
to feel very sensitive-and taking the bill
from the stranger, he smiled and said
"l'll 90 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," replied the
good -natured Cults.
o., ba pta,n apI to
setting the posts. will send boy to tell
her you had to 90 off suddenly, on little
business, and will be back in the morning."
said the stranger
an do that replied Cults, "ior never
quarrel with her, but let her have her own
way. | don't want to worry myself about
tritle>."
Good man said the stranger, "there
are no tritles in this life. The smallest act
is important, and that easy good nature of
yours will ruin your family. Battle that
spirit to-day-and next Sunday take your
boys and 90 to the house of God, whatever
she says, and be real man-at the head
of your own house and family.
Its rather late to begin" said Cults,
shaking his head in way that would have
warned Others from the trap in which his
feet We're fast.
"You see the purse is hers he added,
and that has been cruellcr ietter than
her will to me- But ! will try to begin
anew, for her good and the childron'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 elo4uence, both in
pleadings and thrcatenings, to find out the
errand of that hateful town ma
bob that had come into the country to sep
arate happy families.
But Cults yielded himself up to dumb
spirit" for the night, and no measures
could induce him to talk on any subject. /.
lest she should pry the mighty secret out I
Of him.
About midnight she wore herself out,
and vent to sleep; but at daybreak she
began again. lie then ventured to say :
''As soon as breakfast is over, III break .
the news to you"
you'll never eat a morsel in my house.
can tell you." cried Xantippe. still you .
have told me what the man wanted of
you"
Then you'll wait good while to hear .
it, said Cults, ''for have vowed I'd never /
tell il till had first eaten my breakfast"
and with these words he went out.
Ma'am Cults endured the torture as
long as possible, and then got breakfast.
She called to the door to no one in partic-
ular, Come
But Cuts didn't come. After awhile
she went out to the barn. and found him