Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-06-19

eff you was to seperate, | suppose
you've got enough to live on" sug-
gested she cautiously.
Mrs. TIinkle's rocker jerked itself
into full stop. She had often said
that "Reuben must choose betwixt his
folks and her." that "she would off,"
and the like but to have third per
son hint at separation startled her.
"Well-yes," said she hesitatingly.
''pve got the property | Llought with
me when | was married. / won't deny
but 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. / have to keep
stirring him up, and, after all, he
don't appreciate me-
81 believe it would wake him pret-
ty throughly if you should leave him."
returned Miss Niddlins. "IIe'd be-
gin to realize what smart wife he
lost"
''He'd clutter the kitchen with his
greasy harness, and camp down ON
the lounge in his boots-that's what
he'd do the minute | was Off" snap
ed Mrs. Iinkle.
''IIc couldn't manage without you,
to save his life," declared Miss Md
dlins, confidently. "lIe'd go down on
his knees to you to get you back"
Mrs. Ilinkle seemed tlattercd by the
idea.
"a pretty figure he'd cut" laughed
she, "tat as he is. and looking, you
might say, if he'd been blown up in
his clothes!"
81 am sure l don't see how you can
smile, situated as you are" said Miss
Niddlins, showing symptoms of q
fresh cold.
"IIis folks have tried my soul ont
Of me" cried Mrs. Hinkle, hastily re-
suming her wrath, "and what madden
ed me the most has been to see Reu-
ben take it so cool. That man hasn't
any more nerve than tub of lard !
| wouldn't value jumping off the meet
ing-house steeple if | thought it would
give him a start
"Poor woman!' said Miss Niddlins,
displaying the red silk handkerchief
which might properly be called her
badge of mourning. '1t's your duty
to yourself to go where you can take
some peace in your life!"
81 don't feel clear" said Mrs. Hin
lle, as she settled the coffee for din
ner, and thus ended the first confer
ence.
But as Miss Niddlins spent the week,
justifying Mr.. Hinkle's apprehensions,
she and Mrs. Hinkle had ample OPP
portunities for renewing the discuss
ion of the latter's grievances, till,
from not feeling "clear," Mrs. Hinkle,
by the time her guest departed came
TO feel as she expressed it, "all in a
muddle.' Even her ox-eyed husband
noticed something amiss with her.
81 wonder whether or no sage tea
wouldn't be kind Of quoting to Law
iny," he reflected one morning as he
logged along to the village after tur-
nip seed II hain't seen her so frac-
tious since she had the neurology in
her face. If she wasn't a poor sick
creetm l don't know but l should get
put out with her--I really DON'T and
Mr.. Hinkle lowered his voice to an
awestruck whisper as he gave utter
ance to this treasonous thought.
ellis folks lived in sick-head-
ache-colored house at the -Four Corn
ers, and his sister Phebe was hanging
out clothes in the backyard as he drove
up.
"Got any sage to spare?" cried Mr..
Hinkle, whoaing Dobbin.
"Mercy on us! is Laviny going to
make cheese in mud-time?" was Miss
Phebe's answer
"'Tisn't none of her doings," said
Mr.. Hinkle, slowly, furnishing the
wheel with his whip-lash; 'but she's
in a terrible nervous way, and I think
maybe she needs something soothing.
What's good for her nerves?"
81 don't know, without it's sound
scolding, replied Miss Phebe with her
mouth full of clothes pins.
"Now, sister, you're hard on Law
iny," said Mr.. Hinkle, in an injured
tone "She amt tough, like what you
be-
"Her temper is tough enough; but
I'm suited if you are, poor soul" and
Miss Phebe hunted for both sage and