Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-02

said the stranger. 37a wsa aa
ASK your question: said Cults, ''and
will not repeat it, 4r,ts,..,ag 4Aoss34
''WelI, Mr.. Cuts, / am laying fence on
the Brisley place, that have just bought,
and was directed to inquire of you.
where l couldbuy cedar posts. A fellow
in the store said, Cults can tell you, il
his wife will let him, but she won't.
She'll insist on telling you herself, and
perhaps offer to drive you wherever you
go to order them"
II told them 1 would see you and ask
you only, and the fellows bet ON it, They
are to give you ten dollars, and to two or
three widows in towna cord Of wood each
If l succeed in asking you this question
alone, and making sure your wife, does
not know my business until after break
fast tomorrow morning. 9A' % sas,'"''7
Cults knew his wife's standing too
well to feel very sensitive, and taking
!he bill from the stranger, he smiled and
said: st ''4 = sa ga y !82@
"I'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, IRE
piled the good-natured Cuts. .sssp xaA
Suppose you go to the place and see to
tell her you had to go off suddenly, on
little business, and will be back in the
morning. said the strangers. ilads
''I'll do that" replied Cuts, s'fer l
never quarrel with her, but let her. have
her own way. I don't want to worry my
self about trifies" t
Good man. said the stranger, o"there
are no trifles in this life. The smallest
act is important, and the easy good nature
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 a real man-at
the head of your own house and family
''lts rather late to begin, . said Cuts.
shaking his head in q way that would
have warned others from the trap in
which his feet were fast
''You see The purse is hers,n he added.
land that has been crieler fetter than
her will to me. But l win try to begin
anew, for her good and the children'ssH,
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 mysteri-
Gus errand of that hateful town nabob that
had come into the country to separate
happy families. 1} sgv
But Cults yielded himself up to q ''dumb
spirit for the night, and no measures could
induce him to talk on any subject, lest she
should pry the mighty secret out Of him.
About midnight she wore herself out and
went to sleep; but at daybreak she began
again. He then ventured to say, "As soon
as breakfast is over, I'll break the news TO
you." vs. ss ~ "a sTAt
"You II never eat a morsel IN my house,
can tell yon," cried Xantippe, till you
have told me what the man wanted of
your f1ods ssn iaV sHp9194bA
Then you'll wait good while to hear
| it, said Cults, ''for have vowed Tdnever
tell it till / had first eaten my breakfast
and with these words he went out: i'S'IF
Maam Cults endured the torture as long
as possible, and then got breakfast. She
called to the, door, TO no. one in particular,
Come
But Cuts didn't come. After a while
she went out to the barn and found him
seated on an upturned half-bushel meas
ure, calmly peeling and aating a raw tur-
nip.
| lit does seem as if this here man mad
possessed you Your breakfast is coofin';
do come in .satf SEA gaf. oo4
Here was point gained. .5,. ..t
| Cults went in as requested, and ate his
breakfast. When that was over, lna'am
settled herself back in her chair, with her
face full of eager expectation. and said:
Now begin. What did that ere man
want ?"
''He wanted some cedar posts, replied
Cuts, calmly, without looking up'; sand
that was ALL IA .geaa- lii, a..t.,..
| If an arrow had struck Madam Cuts,
| she could not have manifested more sur
prise and shame. att 'fl- ani af
II am the laughing stock of this town."
added Cuts, land from this hour turn
over u new leaf. I'm henceforth head of
my family, and unless this. house is made
mine, | shall finish off room in the barn
which is aline-and youwill be welcome
to share it with me. If not, IN live there
with my boys, and you will find me a civil
neighbor." ri ." pHA
Ma am Cuts power was broken. Since
then the farm has been called John Cuts
place" and he's the head of the house,