The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-03-20
DON'T rELL uErsEN JNNEt


Aud for your life, don't tell Bctscy
Jane.
Mr.. Nicodcmus Harding, having utter
cd this caution IN a low, earnest tone OF
voice, allighted from Concord wagon
in front of his own farmhouse door, and
stood there a few minutes IN IA brown
study, watching the figure Of his brother
in-law the lawyer, as be drove back TO,
wards the village of W, whence
the two men had just come.
Don't tell Betsey Jauel
Now, Betscy Jane was Mr.. Nicodcmus
llarding's wife, stirring, notable soul
who made more butter and cheese, and
took more eggs and fowls to market in
the course ofa season, than any other
woman for miles around Strong healthy
and hearty, she made the housc-work Ay,
to use her own energetic expression and
if Nieodemus Harding owned his farm
that day, and was well-to-do, in fact a
rich man to boot, il was owing in no
small measure to the skill aud energy and
go-ahead-aiyeness Of his Betsey Jane.
What was II, then, that the ungrateful
man was not about TO tell her?
1t would neyerdo, never! thought Mic
odcmus to himself, shaking his head.
She'd be wanting a new carpet, or new
silk gown, or the house all painted over,
or some such nonsense. No, the woman
is the weaker vessel; il won't do to trust
ne too far. Their heads won't bear It,
So Mr.. Nicodemus passed through the
house and out toward the barn with the
pre.oceupied air of hen who has an egg
to lay, and don't know where she can
hide it from tho eyes of mankind TO the
best advantage. The kitchen was empty
and silent as he went through it, But
oh! if he could Lave seen the buxom,
good-looking female who stole silently
followed him on his way toward the
barn.
Mrs. Harding came back in about
twenty minutes or so, with face red
from suppressed laughter,
Don't tell Betsey Jane, she said, giqg-
ling into her gingham apron. You are
very smart .;nan, Ncodemus, and my
brother, Tim Noyes, is another, and u
lawyer into the bargain. Don't tell Bet
sey Jane, indeed Two wretches--you
deserve all you'll get pretty soon!
Betscy Jane said 10 more, but bided
her time. A week passed away, aud
then brother Tins wagon drove up again
TO the door, and Nicodemus stepped into
it, aud wa. OF to the village once more
Bctsey Jane had asked In vain TO 90.
Nicodcmus was bound oH busiue-s~
bu.iues- which woman could not un-
derstand, he loflilr exclaimed. lie. lord
aud master, well out Of sight Bet.ey
Jane wcpl abont That business q woman
could not understand, with a merry twin.
kle Ia her bright black eyes.
At4 p. m, Nicodemas returned home
again, looking quite a. important as be-
fore. lilo tiptood along through the hitch
en-, Betscy Jane watching him from the
corner Of her eyes all the while. lie
passed ont into the she'd 4 fragrant
smell 81 smoke came forward 70 greet
him-au odor Of burning corn cob- grad
ualN curing ham. Nicodemus turned
dcathly pale, and ran iraniieaily forward
to a large Gre Hmoldefiug in the asl-honse
and large bam or two covered over by
blankets, hanging pla@diy there. The
ycH be gave brought Belsey Jane from
the house iu.taater, TO fud Nieodemu-
groyeling before the ash-h0use door,
weeping ana wailut aul tearing bis
hair. aud uueHpg yeu after yen d dee
pair.
WIS. bless me' whats tine maiterl
Are gou ttadtf lot me un foI the cam.
ph9r shficked Belse} Jane
Camldsort l,riug afscujai Bring poison
ol some kind poison, ,cllcd Nleodemu,
fmmicalig
Woman. Fauyo ruined me, Twelve
thousand dgi'aF- 10 government bonds
did put mshat a.blnia Tor safety iust
j week ago. aud now fauye gone sud
burned fbe,u to cook tbal Guessed bacon
Poison Poison r0json' And Iei me
gei out al tha dreary world
Oh-so fhat was what you were Hot
going 70 tell Betseg Jane! AmtFcu
ashamed Of ysuuef Nitoiemus Hard.
mgf
Nle0demHs c1ald ugt answer lie lalt
PROSTATE ID ihe ashes aBd howied
Get Hp aHd don't be- d fool said Bet
seq Jane, aniAbiy heard yoa and
brother Tim eonsFirng at tie door that