Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-27
sDon't Tell 1etSey Jane"

"And, for your life, don't tell Betsey
Jane !"
Mr.. Nicodemus Harding, having ut
tered this caution in a low, earnest tone
of voice, alighted from a Concord wagon
in front of his own farm house door, and
stood there a few moments in a brown
study, watching the figure of his brother
in-law and the lawyer. as he drove back
toward the village of W, whence the
two men had just come.
Don't tell Betsey Jane y
Now Betsey Jane was Mr.. Nicodemus
Harding's wife, q stirring notable soul,
who made more butter and cheese, and
in the course of the season, than any
other woman for miles around. Strong,
healthy and hearty, she 'made the house
p TqEk y" s s4n4 "f If hen codemus Harding
! owned his farm that day, and was a we'll
TODD, in fact a rich man to boot, it was
owing in no small measure to the skill
and energy and general go-aheadative-
ness of this Betsey Jane. What was it,
then, that the ungrateful man was not
about to tell her?
1T would never do, neverr thought
Nicodemus to himself, shaking his head.
Shed be wanting a new carpet, or a new
silk gown, or the house all painted over,
or some such nonsense. No, the woman
is the weaker vessel, it won't do to trust
one too far. Their heads won't bear it
So Mr.. Nicodemus passed through the
house, and out toward the barn with the
pre-occupied 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 empty and
silent as he went through it. But oh ! if
he could have seen the buxom, good look
ing female who stole silently ont of the
pantry, and as silently followed him on
his way toward the barn.
Mrs. Harding came back in about
twenty minutes or so, with face red
from suppressed laughter.
Don't tell Betsy jane she said, pig
Cling into her gingham apron. You are
very smart map, NicOdemus, and nv
brother, Tim Noyes, is another, and a
lawyer in the bargain. Don't tell Betsey
Jane, indeed Two wretohes, YOU de-
serve all you'll get pretty SOON"
Betsy 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 off to the village once more. Bet.
sey Jane had begged in vain to go. Mic
odemus was boumd on business busi-
ness which woman could not under
stand he loftily exclaimed. He, lord
and master, well out of sightBetsey Jane
went about that business which a woman
could not understand, with a merry
twinkle in her bright black eye
At four p. m, Nicodemus returned
home again looking quite as important as
before. He tip-toed along through the
kitchen, Betsey Jane watching him from
the corner of her eye the while. He
passed out into the shed. A fragrant
smell of smoke came forward to greet
him-an odor of burning corn cobs grad.
ually curing ham.
ran frantical!y forward to a large fire
smoulderiug in the ash house, and a large
ham or two covered over by blankets. |
hanging plaeidly there. The veil he
gave brought Betsey Jane from the house
instanter, to find Nicodemus groyelj, =
before the ash-house door, weeping ng
wailiug and tearing his hair, and ana
ing yell after yell of despair. utter
why, bless mel what's y
are you in a fit? Let n ,nv , H sa Ter
shrieked BetS ev ya ran '0r Inc
"Camphor Brings- ey zane.
# some kind, p' ,son 1U nrir ~ po oa
Sicodemus frap' .,caliv p''''H SSi'eo
+ o w omaG' you've ruined me- Twelve
noa s; dollars in government bonds did
pu' a that ash hole for safety lust a
Se0' ago, and you've gone and burne "a
- EN- to cook that cussed bacon. Poisc n !
Poison! Poison Aud let me get on Of
this dreary world
'Oh-so that was what you were mt
going to tell Betsey jane Aren't Won
ashamed of yourself, Nicodemus Hard
ing?
Nicodemus could not answer. 10 laid
prestrate in the ashes and howled.
Get up and don't be fool = 8 aid Rat.
sey Jane. amiably. I heard Won ana
brother Tim conspiring at the d DOR that
day, and watched you go to the asb.boIe
and soon found out what you had bid
away there. Woman is the wes ker vas0el
no doubt, but she don't put tu ,elye tbon.
sand dollars where the first match tba+
ZONES handy can burn it up here are The
bonds, Nicodemus-for ten tbonsana
we kept two for my honesty.'
foor NIcodsmus He gathered him.
elf up out of the ashes, and took his
was left of them. He rather
links it pays best, on the whole now n
ell Betsey Jane.
Crosse Isle, Detroit thi, AXIS, will be the