The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1872-02-22

- and the cheerful song caused tn
time to fly fast, so that he wer
home later than usual, it was sim
ply because he was a good fellow
who must do as others do ; and
at such times, the wife compliance
. that the money left was barely sum
cient to purchase the needful thing
for the coming week, be was apt t
. tell her to "mind her own business,
Z and a few sharp words between
, them would be the result. Blu
, alas ! such scenes are too well know
to need description, and Mary, likr
many others, had grown weary
with complaining but nevertheless
she determined to do her best tokeeI
the house as comfortable as her linn
4 tied means would allow, and by
! kind words and looks to make home
as attractive as possible, feeling as
sured that by such means she was
was more likely to draw him from
the public house, while the opposite
course would likely drive and keeI
him there.
! However, our friend John is stand.
ing at yonder gate, with his wages
in his hand, evidently hesitating
what he shall do. Let US draw
near, and by doing SO we shall hear
what he has TO say.
"Well, what shall I do? I must
60 and pay my score, for I don't
wish to be dishonest: if I knew
how much it was I would send it;
but never mind, I'lI go and pay her
and have done with her, SO away
he went.
The moment the landlady caught
sight of John, she put on her best
smiles, and without giving him
time 10 utter a word, she said, 81
am so glad to see you; we have just
tapped a fresh barrel of our best,
and drawing a glass and holding it
to him she said, 81 wish you opin-
ion of it,"
"No, thank you, I don't wish
any," said John; 81 want to pay
what I owe you; how much is it ?"
"Come," said Mrs. Boniface, "it's
all stuff take a glass, man, what's
your hurry ?"
"No, not drop" said John, 81
want to be off,"
"Well, will you have a glass of
something short?" said the land
lady.
"No, nor long, either, " said John.
"But, said the landlady, tom
Smith is in the parlor, and Dick
Bates will be here directly; you
won't go just yet"
"Wnl you let me know how
much ? Powe you ?" said John, get
ting imDatient. cor shall 90 with
out settling"
"Ah, I see now" said the land
lady, "that I put my foot in it, this
afternoon, and offended you but I
hope you won't mind a few words
spoken in haste; come, let US be
friends once more"
"Not a dram will I take here or
any where else, if 1 know it," said
John "and as to offending me, that
don't matter that I see, so long as
you get your money"
"But," said the landlady, while
she was looking after the P's and Q's
(pints and quarts) "I don't like to
quarrel with any one, especially
with you now do let us make it up
aud as for the cherries, l have kept
them for you see, (fetching them
out of the parlor) here they are"
"No, thank you," said John,
with a smile; "I took your advice
and went and bought some, which
we're very delicious; and now take
what owe you out of this sOver-
eign-I want to be off,"
81 don't like" said the landlady,
"realIy TO change this without your
tasting something; what a0ilI you
take?" Throwing a sprat to catch a
mackerel, by the-by.)
"Nothing,I I say again, ," said John,
speaking decided; and taking upl
his change, he walked out and soon
found his way home.
"Well, 1 have made a nice mess
this time ," thought the landludy,
"and if ever I get caught again los
ing my temper, I'll be bound it
shall not be over such good Gus
toner; lift had been one of those
noisy fellows I shouldn't have cared
a bit, but a nice, quiet fellow like
John, who takes his glasses so regu-
larly, and pays up every week. !
However, I'll look out, and the
first chance 1 get to set him going
again, I will. He is not going to slip
in this way, I can assure him f; he
is too good to lose without an effort,
and when once again I have him
right, pll keep him I warrant"
While she was thus scheming
Johns future capture, he was hurry
ing home, and reached it much to
the surprise of bis wife, long before
his usual time; she, however, had
only to put the kettle on, and while
the tea things, the water
boiled.
John sat almost in silence, and
took his tea. Mary was on the
point of asking him how it was