Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-10-27
VOL. XIV NEW SERIES, VOL. XVIII

81 told them | 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 the town, cord Of wood each, if
| succeed in asking you this question alone,
and making sure your wife does not know my
| business until after breakfast tomorrow
/ morning.
Cults knew his wiies standing too well to
feel very sensitIye-and taking the bill from
| the stranger, he smiled and SAID
I'm 60 with you to look out cedar posts.
and keep dark, for the Jokes sake but /
| don't know as she'll let me stav in the house
to-nlghti don't own it, replied the good
natured Cuts.
suppose you go TO the place and see to
setting the posts. | will send bov to tell
her you had to 60 off suddenly. on little
business, and will be back in the morning"
said the stranger.
IN do that, =" replied Cuts. for never
quarrel with her. but let her have her own
trifes. -
Good man. said the stranger. there
are no trifies 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 Cuts.
shaking his head in way that would have
warned Others from the trap in which his
feet were fast.
"You see the purse is hers he added.
land that has been crIeier ietter than her
Will to me. But viii try u cegin anew, for
her good and the children s -
The boy was sent with the message. but
the boy wash 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 thrcatenings, to find out the mysterious
errand Of that hateful town nabob that had
come into tie country to separate happy
families.
But Cults yielded himself up to a dumb
spirit for the night and no measures could
induce him to talk on any subject out of
him.
About midnight she wore herself out. and
went to sleep; but at daybreak she began
again. lie then ventured to say, As soon
as breakfast is over. I'll break the news to
you"
You II never eat a m0rsel in my house.
can tell you cried Nantippe, "till You have
told me what the man wanted Of you
Then you II waita good while 10 hear it, 80
said Cuts. 'fr have vowed ia never tell
1t till had first eaten my breakfast and
with these words he went out.
Ma am Cutts 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 while she
went out to the barn, and found him seated
on an upturned hali-bushei measure. calmly
peeling and eating raw turnip.
1T does seem as if this here man had pos
sessei You Your breakfast is cooling; do
come IN
Here was point gained
Cults went in as required. and ate his
breakfast When that was over, madam set
tied herself back in her chair. with her face
foil of eager expectation. and said
"Now begin. What did that ere man
want"
'IIe wanted some cedar posts, replied
Cults. calmly, without. looking up; and THAI
was all.
II an arrow mad struck Ma am Outts. she
could not have manifested more surprise
and shame.
Il am the laughing stock of this town.
added Cdtts. and from this hour turn
over new leaf. I'm hencei0rth the head Of
my iamilv-and unless this house is made
mine. shall finish of room in the barn
which is mine-and YOU will be welcome to
share IL with me- n not. tn live there with
my boys. and you will find me q civil neigh
Dor"
Ma'am Cats power was broken. Since
then the farm has been called John Cuts
place and he's the head Of the house.