Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-02-08
Peters Wife.


She was poor girl when he married her,
and Peter himself was the owner of little
farm, with $500 mortgage on it. You
would haye thought, to hear Peters mother
and grandmother, and sisters and aunts and
female cousins talk, that Peter had been a
Prince by birth, or heir to a princely for
tune at least, and she the ''beggar IN aid of
the old English ballad, to whom second
King Cophueta' had stopped and raised
her to the throne. In all the five years that
succeeded her marriage, | never, by any
chance, heard one Of Peter' female relatives
confess that Susan had said, or done, or
looked the right thing in any part of her
mortal career. She was lazy, she was shift
less, she was no cook; she could NOT, she
would not mend Peters clothes properly !;
she was extravagant; she was the incarna-
tion of all domestic vices and poor Peter,
who might have done SO much better" was
the cry on every side. Peter loved his wife,
L suppose, In the beginning, but he was but
a man, and could not hear this contin-
ual chorus Of condemnation without feeling
in time that there might be something in
1t, after all. He began to give himself the
airs of a martyr, and to turn Susan into a
thorough house and home slaYe, by way of
convincing her of her surprising good for
tune. She was a gentle, NECKLACE little
thing, acquiescing in the general verdict,
and loving Peter with all her hear, and soul
Day by day she drudged and dropped, and
when left my native town to journey to far
distant lands, [ bade her farewell with pc
cuiiar emphasis and tenderness, feeling sure,
in my mind that | should never see her in
this world again.
Ten years passed slowly by, and return
ed to settle down for lite in the familiar town
The very day after my arrival, and before |
had time 10 inquire after my friends of the
earlier years, | saw handsome carriage pas
sing by the house-horses, harness, coach
man, livery, and crest on the panels, all in
city style. A portly, good lacy, with rud-
dy, smiling face, sat inside, and | saw sevc-
raj of our most respected citizens on the
sidewalk lifting their hats as the carriage
passed. No one was near, Of whom | could
make the inquiry, ''N no on earth is that ?"
and putting on my things | called on the
Browns. Peters grandmother and Peter S
maiden cousin lived in that house. Peter s
married sister was there making call, and
the carriage was just driving away from the
door as [ entered.
who is it p was almost my first oues-
ton.
Peters grandmother, rho, in old days
had headed all the attacks on the faithful
little woman whom | supposed to be in her
grave, answered me with a beaming smile.
Don't you remember her? Haven you
seen herr That's Peters wife -
Peters wife Then Susan is dead US [
expected, and he has married again, said |.
Susan dead - cried the grandmother
with a look of horror Dear Susan How
came you to think of anything so horrible ?
y by that was Susan. y
Yes, said the cousin, that was my dear
Susan. But she has grown so handsome
that do not wonder thai you do not recog-
nize her.
Dear Susan" said the married sister.
''Such party as she is to give tomorrow
night and how well she does the honors, and
how beautifully she is always dressed -
''Ah, Peter was lucky man to get her,
and | always said so - chimed in the old
grandmother.
Scarcely believing my ears, l bade them
good day. On the steps | met Peter. He
had not changed, and he gave me an invita-
ton to that wonderful party on the spot.
You must come and see how dear Susan
has altered and improved - he exclaimed.
All, my dear friend, few men can say they
have a vile like mine. "
He boted into the house, and | went on
up street. Just at the corner met Peter 5
mother, and his maiden aunt. In the old
times they would have seen Susan grilled
alive with pure pleasure, now and then but
on this day they were ready to sing her
praise with the rest.
''Oh-it is so nice to think you are here
in time for the party, said Peter mother.
Il want you to see the supper table. Dear
Susan arranged the flowers with her own
hands. But then dear Susan has such
taste -
"Oh, yes,'' said the maiden aunt 81 al
ways said that dear Susan had such taste
You must go to the party. Dear Susan will
be so delighted TO see you back.
When | had escaped from them, | went
straight to the house Of one of my female
relatives, and besought her to read the rid
die that was perplexing me so.
what has dear Susan DONE" said l,
''to be canonized like this? A martyr she
was, most certainly, when l went away but
now is saint and they are all worshiping
her What does it mean ?
My widow cousin looked at ME with a
slight smile.
.'Have you seen her p
Eyes grown fat and ruddy, and in car
riage that looks as if it had jdst driven out
0! Central Park. -
''Well, that is the solution of the riddle
my dear-the carriage and all the rest Of it.
Susan uncle died in China last year, and
left her, in her own right, a fortune of q
hundred thousand dollars.
"Oh - said [, and then | understood ii
all.