Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-15
HIS FOLKS.
How the Hinkles Settled their Matri-
mOnial Difficulties.


Mr. Hinkle plaeidly hung up his almanac,
And went out To SOW the early peas. He could
stand almost anything, and yet remain as Sc
rene a. cabbaxe-heaG-which, indeed. his
wife often said ne resembled. Lavinys tant-
runs troubled him about mueh a. "A musketo's
kuzzing would trouble an elephant; but he
thought they were kind of wearing to her, and
that she '.came to quicker" alone. So he left
her swinging herself seasick i'm the rocker. and
.hGffied OF To the garden with a hoe and a pint
dlins-
"And hOw's your poor vife?r said she. sniff
kHg. She suffered with chronic cold in the
head, which gave her an extremely sympa-
s'Able to he stirring" replied Nh. Hinkle,
shutting on in his brown leather moccasins.
Even a cabbage-head may be, as 1T usually is.
Iutfied inside, ami deep in his slow-beating
heart Mr. Hinkle was annoyed at the sight Of
Hiss Niddiins and the embroidered bed tic king
bag which betekened weeks visit.
" Layinys Putehiky enough without being
set on, said he, leaning on his hoe in the favo-
rite attitude adopted by scare-crows. ..Yes
really think she Is" he went on, weighing the
proposition deliberately. =. Not that 1 mind
her being >pry-tempeTed and splitting out at
me- Its only way she has. and comes of her
enloying such poor health. She'll cool down;
out that o III maid haint any call to Pile her.
ami here MI Hinkle gave the hOe-handle a re-
ehtiul poke. a. N IT perSOnated the spinSter
aforesaid Like many meR not gifted in public
speaking. he was much given To talking aloud
when alone. indoors. his wife claimed eS-
elusive right of speech.
80 And here I've stuck, like a dab of putty.
from the day married with Reuben" she was
saying 70 Miss Niddlins. Give had 10 walk on
eggs. or hi~ folks woald he in nv hair. They've
had Their remarks tn make about all NV do
ing>. aud, YOU may depend upon il, il grinds."
Mrs Hinkle must have been ground very
sharp indeed, Judging by her cutting tongue.
Poor thing.' grOaned Miss NidslIins uSing
Der handkerchief Just then because it would
produce the effect of pity.
" See how ] Was put upon this morning bv his
sister Phebe." said MIS- Hinkle, moving the
end OF her nose pidly back AMI forth with her
fore-fBger. a, il she were playing ON a Jews
harp. That woman had the impudeEce to
twit me Of ncglecting Reuben. because leave
hlm to get his own supper sewing circle
hights.''
''Don't tell me so,'' shifted Miss Nidllins.
"Did Ar- HInkle complain TO herr
. Catch him complaining" cried Mrs. Hinkie;
''he hasn't got spunk enough Why he's 40
more grit than a hay-stack, and he's as sot.
couldn't make him break with his folks il was
10 safer. Wish was single; then 1 wouldn't
to go when yOu pleaSei"
Mss Niddluls 81 hed an affirmative. 1t was
her peculiar trial that her relatives never oI,-
posed her going.
E. III you was 10 separate. 1 suppose you've
touslv.
Mrs HinkIe's rocker ierged itself into fun
stop. she had often said that Reuben must
Choose betwiSt his folks and her." that .She
would take herself on and the like; but TO
have 2 third person hint at a separation startled
her.
wer-ye>.'' said she, hesitatingly. give
got the property brought with me when / was
married won't deny but what Reuben has
done the fair thing there: bat then. if he'd been
some men. he M ght have doubled it by this
time. The long and short of il il. he's half
asieep. 1 have to keep stirring him UP, AMI,
after all, he don't appreciate me-
- believe II would wake him pretty
thoroughly il You should leave him. returned
Miss Nhidilns = He II began 10 realize what a
smart wife he'd lost
He'd clutter the kitchen with his greas II
harnesses. and camp down OH the lounge in h :
Loots-ilat's what he'd do-tLe inmate was
on" snapped Mrs. Hinkle.
- He couldn't manage without vou, TO save
his life declared Miss Nid,llins, confidently.
= He'd go down on his knees 70 sou to get you
back
Mrs. Hinkle seemed battered by the idea.
" pretty figure he'd cut" lau ghed she, =. Fat
a he =, AMI boxing YOU might say, as if he'd
:" M sure don't see how Won can smile.
situated a. YOU are, said Miss Nidil.ns show
ing synpsonas OF fresh Cold.
. HIS folks have tried IBy soul out of m. :"
cried Mrs Hinkle. hastily reSuming her wrath;
.sBd what maddened the most has been ~ see
feoben take Il - cool. That man hasa't any
more nerve than a tub OF laTdi I wouldn't
value junping n the meeting house stceple II
thought II would give HIM start
" Poor woman" said Miss Ni,ldlin-. display
ihS Tie fcd Silh hand NeTchicf that mi ght Prop
eriy be called her badge of mourning :. It's
You dHty 10 Yourself % go where YOU can take
some peace OF your Hie.''
n. -
settled the coffee for dinner, and thus ended
their first conference.
But a. Miss \ii,iliHS spent the week. Justify
,ng MI HiIkie's sPprehen>iOus. she ami VI rs.
HlnAle had ample opPOrtuntie. for renewing
The discussion of the latter's grievances. TILL
from not feeling CLEAR" Mrs Hinklp. by the
time her guest departed, cam> to feel, a. she
express il -'dil TO- q mUtisile." Even her OK
eyed husband noticed something aIniss with her.
wen'ter whether or no sage tea wouldn't
ee KIM Of s3ietLng to Layiny," he reelected one
morning a. he logged along 10 the village after
tuTnip seed a.. hain't seen her ~ fractions
since she hal the neurology in her face. Ifshe
WASH Z Poor sick creetur A don't know but /
should get put out with her-I really DON'T
ans Mr.. HiLkle lowered bis voice to an awe
Su0cA whisper a. he gave utterance to this
'Tea~onouS thoIght.
. Has folks, lived in sisk-headache -colored
Acusc AT the FsHr corners. and his sister Phebe
MAS hanging out clothes in the backward as lac
drove up.
Got any age to spare?' cried Mr.. Hinkle.
Mercy Us, IS Layiny going 10 make
cheese in mud-ti.Se?'' was Miss Phebs's answer
'Iisn't none of her doinss.s said Mr.. Hin
kie, slowly, Furnishing the wheel with his whin-
lash but she'sin a terrible nervous way, AMI
think maybe she needs something soothing
What's good for her nerves.
- don't know, vithout it's a sound seold-
ing" replied Miss Fbebe, with her mouth fun
OF elothe>-pins.
Now, sister, you're hard on Lariny,- said
Mr.. Hinkle. in an injured tone. ..She amt
tough, Ike what YOU be-"
:" Her temper il tough eBou Oh: but Ira suited
q You are. poor soul" and Mis- Phebe hunted
ior both sage AMI yslerias, though inwsrdly
persuaded that al the peoples in the world
eoa.in't sooJhe Lsyiny when Ahe once got ''set
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had been doing a
furious foTenOOn'S work. and. ready To drop
sTom exhaustion. Wa Just hanging up the mop
ssiter seresb ne the kitchen aoor when dear
bluDdermg old Reuben scuffed across the thres-
hold with ME torn pa per bags scattering dried
leaves Ike AN autumn W md. and leayins muddy
moecssin tracks ar every step. Before those
clumsy footprints AIRS. Hinkle's feeble for-
bsarance fed. The herbs her husband had
trusted might prove a narcotic acted upon her
a. powerful irritant.
aching back against the pump, show much
longer do Won think I'm going 10 wash floors for
There, there, now don't fret pleaded
EeHb@n; .pH sweep 10 up. You do Puftsr
round more'a you're able. that's a fact. You
anow I'm ready ard willing TO hire girl any