South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-09
Miscellaneous.
Don't Tell Refser lane.

AND for your life, don't tell Betse
Janep
Mr.. Nicodemus Harding, having uttere,
this caution in a low, earnest tone of voice
alighted from Concord wagon in front @
his own farmhouse door, and stood ther
few minutes in brown study, watchin,
the figure of his brother-in-laW and tn,
lawyer, as he drove back towards the vii
1age OF W, whence the two men hal
Just come"
Don't tell Betsey Janep
Now, Betsey Jane was Mr. Nicodemu!
HardiDg's wife, stirring, notable soul
who made more butter and cheese, and
took more eggs and fowls to market
In the course of season, than any Other
woman for miles around Strong, healthy
and hearty, she made the housework fv,
TO use her own energetic expression: and
if. Nicodemus Harding owned his farm
that day, and was well-to-do, in fact a rich
man to boot, it was owing in no small
measure to the skill and energy, and gen
eral go-a-headativeness of his 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.
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 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
1t 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 out 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 sup
pressed laughter
Don't tell Betsey Jane" she said,
giggling into her gingham apron. "You
are very smart man, Nicodemus, and my
brother, Tim Noyes, is another, and
lawyer In the bargain Don't tell Betsey
Jane, indeedl Two wretches, you deserve
all you'll get, pretty soonl"
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 off to the village once more.
Nicodemus was bound on business
business which woman could not under
stand, he loftily exclaimed He, lord and
master, well out of sight, Betsey Jane went
about that business a woman could not |
understand. with merry twinkle in her
bright black eyes
At 4 p. m, Nicodemus returned home |
again, looking quite as important as before.
lie tptoed along through the kitchen, !
Betsey Jane watching him from the corner
OF her eye all the while. He passed out
into the shed. A fragrant smell of smoke
came forward to greed him-an odor of
burning corn cobs gradually curing ham.
Nlcodemus turned deathly pale, and ran
rantically forward to large fire smolder-
ng In the ash-house, and large ham or
'wo covered over by blankets, hanging
olacidly there. The yell he gave brought
8etsey Jane from the house instanter, to
ind Nicodemus grovelling before the ash
louse door, weeping and wailing aud tear
ng his hair, and uttering yell after yell of
lespair
Why, bless me what's the matter I?
Are you ina fit Let me run for the cam
lhOr," shrieked Betsey Jane.
Camphor Bring arsenic Bring poi
on of some kind-poison ! yelled Nico- {
Iemus frantically.
Woman, you've ruined me Twelve
thousand dollars in government bonds did !
put in that ash-hOle for safety Just a
week ago, and now you've gone and burned
hem TO cook that cussed bacon Pison
'ison ! PiSon And let me get out of
he dreary world"
"Oh-so that was what you were not
DING to tell Betsey Jane Amt you S
shamed of yourself, Nicodemus Hard '
~ ?" !
Nicodemus could not answer He laid 1
rostrate in the ashes and howled. a
Get up and don't be fool !" said Bet t
ey Jane amiably. 81 heard you and L
rother Tim conspiring at the door that
ay, and watched you go to the ash-hole, t
nd soon found out what you had hid away C
here. Woman is the weaker vessel, no L
oubt, but she don't put twelve thousand a
ollars where the first match that comes t
andy can burn it up Here are the bonds, 4
Iicodemus-for ten thousand. I've kept
vo for my honesty"
Poor Nicodemus He gathered himself T
p out of the ashes, and took his bonds e
hat was left of them He rather thinks
pays best, on the whole now, to tell Bet C
~ Jane. p