Litchfield enquirer., 1873-02-13
HIS FOLKS.
How THE ANKLES SETTLED THEIR MATRT
 WoNIA1 DIFFICULTIES.

How THE ANKLES SETTLED THEIR MATRT- MoNIAL DIFFICULTIES. ''1 can't stand it, and, what's more, 1 won't," said little Mrs. Hinkle, clutching the bars of her uncomfortable old cage of a rocking-chair
 MT. Hinkle placidly hung up his alma l mac, and went out to SOW the early peas. He could stand almost anything, and yet remain as serene as a cabbage-head- | which, indeed, his wife often said he re- sembled. Laviny's tantrums troubled | him about as much as mosquitoes bug zing would trouble an elephant; but he thought they were kind of wearing to her, l and that she ''came to quicker" alone. | So he left her swinging herself seasick i'll the rocker, and shuffled off to the garden with a hoe and pint dipper of peas. At the gate he met Miss Niddlins.
 "And how's your poor wife?" said she, snifing. She suffered with a chronic cold in the head, which gave her an ex- tremely sympathetic manner. 'tAble to be stirring" replied MT. Hin kle, shuff1ing on in his brown leather moc- casins. Even 8 cabbage-head may be, as it usually is, ruf1ed inside; and deep in his beating heart Mr. Hinkle was an- noyed at the sight of Miss Niddlins and the embroidered bed-ticking bag which betokened 9 weeks visit.
 'tLaviny's putchiky enough without be- ing set on," said he, leaning on his hoe in the favorite attitude adopted by scare crows. "Yes, really think she is" he went on, weighing the proposition delib- erately. "Not that mind her being spry- tempered and splitting out at me. It's on- | ly way she has, and comes of her enjoy ing such poor health. She'll cool down; but that old maid hain't any call to rile her," and here MT. Hinkle gave the hoe- handle resentful poke, as if it persona ted the spinster aforesaid. Like many men not gifted in public speaking, he was much gwen to talking aloud when sive right of speech.
 "And here I've stuck, like dab of put ty, from the day married with Reuben. " she was saying to Miss Niddiins. sTve had to walk on eggs, or his folks would | be in my hair. They've had their re- marks to make about all my doings, and, you may depend upon it. it grinds." Mrs. H1nkle must have been ground very sharp indeed, judging by her cutting tongue.
 ''Poor thing P groaned Miss Niddlins, using her handkerchief just then because it would produce the effect of pity.
 ''See how I was put upon this morning by his sister Phebe," said Mrs. Hinkle, moving the end of her nose rapidly back and forth with her fore-finger, as if she were playing on Jew's-harp. ''That woman had the impudence to twit me of l neglecting Reuben, because leave him to get his own supper, sewing-circle even- ings ?
 dlins "Did MT. Hinkle complain to her.
 "Catch him complaining P cried Mrs, Hinkle; Che hasn't got spunk enough. Why he's no more grit than @ hay-stack, and he's as sot. couldn't make him break with his folks if were to suffer. Wish was single; then wouldn't be nosed roun by 'em. Now here you are, free to go when you please p Miss Niddlins sighed an affirmative. It was her peculiar trial that her relatives never opposed her going.
 "H you was to separate, suppose you've got enough to live on," suggested she cautiously.
 Mrs. Hinkle's rocker jerked itself into full stop. She had often said that x06uDSu MuSb CuOOSC UcbW1Ab ulS xOlho and her" that "she would take herself son hint at separation startled her.
 "Well-yes," said she, hesitatingly. '1've got the property I brought with me when was married. I won't deny but 1 what Reuben has done the fair thing there; but then, if he'd been some men, he might have doubled it by this time. The long and short of it is, he's half asleep. I have to keep stirring him up, and, after all, he don't appreciate me Y
 ''I believe it would wake him pretty thoroughly if you should leave him" re- turned Miss Niddlins. "He'd begin to realize what smart wife he'd lost"
 "He'd clutter the kitchen with his greasy harnesses, and camp down on the lounge in his boots-that's what he'd do I--the minute was off!' snapped Mrs, Hinkle.
 He couldn't manage without you, to save his life," declared Miss Niddlins, eonfdentlo. "He'd go down on his knees to you to get you back" Mrs Hinkle seemed fattered by the l idea.
 "A pretty figure he'd cut, 1" laughed she. ''fat as he is, and looking, you might say, as if he'd been blown up in his clothes p '1'm sure don't see how you can smile, situated as you are" said Miss Niddlins, showing symptoms of fresh cold. ''His folks have tried my soul out of me-" cried Mrs. Hinkle, hastily resuming her wrath; land what's maddened the most has been to see Reuben take it so cool. That man hasn't any more nerves than tub of. lard I wouldn't value jumping off the meeting-house steeple if I thought it would give him a start" | ''Poor woman p said Miss Niddlins, displaying the red silk handkerchief that might properly be called her badge of mourning. 'It's your duty to yourself to go where you can take some peace of of your life P
 q don't feel clear" said Mrs. Hinkle, as she settled the coffee for dinner, and | thus ended their first conference.
 But as Miss NiddEns spent the week, | iustifying MT. Hinkle's apprehensions, she and Mrs. Hinkle had ample opportu- mites for renewing the discussion of the latter's grievances, till, from feeling ''clear." Mrs. Hinkle, by the time her guest departed, came to feel, as she ex- pressed it, "alI in muddle." Even her ox-eyed husband noticed something amiss with her.
 'I wonder whether or no sage tea wouldn't be kind of quieting to Laviny, he reflected one morning as he logged along to the village after turnip seed. ''l hain't seen her so fractious since she had
 IooNc1UDED ON FOURTH FACE.