Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-03-08
WHOLE NUMBER l65.

Now, Betsey Jane was Mr.. NieOdemus
Harding's wife-a stirring, notable soul,
who made more butter and cheese, and
took more eggs and fowls to market in
the course of the season, than any other
woman for miles around. Strong,
healthy and hearty, she made the
hOusewOrk hy,' to use her own energet-
ic expression; and if NieOdemus Hard
ing owned his farm that day, and was a
well-tO-dO, in fact, rich man to boot,
It was owing in no small measure to the
skill and energy and economy and gen.
eral gO-aheadativeness of his Betsey
Jane. What was it then, that the un-
grateful man was not about to tell her F.?
1T would never do, never thought
NicOdemus to himself, shaking his head
She'd be wanting new carpet, or
new silk gown, or the house all painted
over, or some such nonsense. No, the
woman is the weaker vessel, and it
wont do to trust one too far. Their
heads wont bear it,
So Mr.. NicOdemus passed through the
house and out toward the barn with the
preoecupied air Of hen who has an egg
to. lay and don't know where she can
hide it from the eyes of mankind to the
best advantage. The kitchen was emp
ty and silent as he went through It.
But o if he could but have seen the
buXom, good looking female who stole
silently out of the pantry, and as silent
lly followed him on his way toward the
barn.
Mrs. Harding came back in about
twenty minutes or so, with a face red
with suppressed laughter.
Don't tell Betsey Jane she said, gig
Cling into her gingham apron. You
are very smart man, Nieodemus, and
my brother, Tim Noyes, is another, and
a lawyer in the bargain. Don't tell
Betsey Jane, indeed! Two wretches
you deserve all you viii get pretty
soon.
Betsey Jane said no more, but bided
her time. A week passed away, and !
then brother Tins wagon drove
up again to the door, and Nicodemus
stepped into it, and was of to the vii
lage once more Betsey Jane had asked
in vain to 60. Nicodemus was bound
on business-'business which a woman
could not understand he loftiiy ex-
claimed. He, lord and master, well
out of sight, Betsey Jane went about the
business a woman could not understand,
with merry twinkle in her bright
black eyes.
At four, P. NJ, Nicodemus returned
home again, looking quite as important
as before. He tip-tOed along through the
Betsey Jane watching him
from the corner of her eye the while
He passed out into the she'd A fragrant
smell of smoke came forward to greet
OdOr of burning corn and grad |
ually curing ham.
Nicodemus turned deathly pale, and /
ran frantieally forward to a larEe fife.l
in the ash house, and a !
large ham or two covered over by |
blankets, hanging placidly there. The |
yell he gave brought Betsey Jane from |
the house instanter, to find Nieoden1us |
before the ash house door, |
and wailing and tearing his !
hair, and uttering yell after yell in de- |
spair.
why, bless me what's the raatter ?
are you ina fit2 Let me run for the
camphOrp shrieked Betsey Jane.
'CamphOr Bring arsenic Bring
poison Of some kind, pOisOn-pOison = /
yelled Nieodemus, frantically tWO- |
man, you've ruined me! Twelve thou |
sand dollars in government bonds did / 1
put in that ash-hOle for safety, lust a |
week ago, and you've gone and burnt !
them to cook that eussed bacon. Rison! |
PisOn Pison And let me out of this
frearY world
fO-so that was what you were nott
going to ten Betsey Jane Aren't YOU
ashamed OfyOqEself, Nieodemus Hard
ng? --......, ~ ----..
NicOdemus could not answer. He
aid prostrate in the ashes and howl
ID. en sI
! 'Getup-donit be a fooIr said Betsey
Jane, amiably. i heard yoUand broth
n Tim conspring at the door that day,
md watched you go to the ash-hOle,
md soon found out what you had hid
lway there. Woman is the weaker yes
iel, no doGbt, but she don't put twelve
dollars where the first match
hat comes handy can burn it up -
Here are the bonds, NicOdemus- ten
thousand. I've kept two thousand for
ny honesty ,-. -.-r---- ..--|
Poor Nicodemus.. He gathered him
elfup out of the ashes, and took bis
oOnds-what was left of them. He
ather thinks it pays best on the whole
low, to tell Betsey Jane. ..s i.zf /,