Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-02

Mr. Hnkle lowered bis voice to an awe
struck whisper as he gave utterance TO this
treasonous thought.
His folks lived in a sick k-headache-c
house at the Four Corners, and his sister
Phebe was hanging out clothes in the back
yard as he drove up.
Got any sage to spare ?" cried Mr..
Ilinkle, whoaing Dobbin.
Mercy on US is Laviny going to mako
cheese in mud time2" 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 ner-
vous way, and | think maybe she needs
something soothing What's good for her
nerves
al don't know, without its sound
scolding," replied Miss Phebe with her
mouth full Of clothes pins
"Now, sister, you're bard on Laviny,"
said Mr.. Iinkle, in an injured tone "shc
amt tough like what you be-"
"lIer temper is tough enough but I'm
suited if you arc, poor soul :" and Miss
Phebe hunted for both sage and valerian,
though inwardly persuaded that all the
poppies in the world couldn't soothe l.aviny
when she once got "set out"
Meanwhile Mrs. Hnkle had been doing
furious forenoon's work, and, ready to
drop from exhaustion, was Just hanging up
the mop after scrubbing the kitchen floor,
when dear, laundering old Reuben scuffed
across the threshold with his torn paper
bags, scattering dried leaves like an su-
tumn wind, and leaving muddy moccasin
tracks at every step. Before these clumsy
footprints Mrs llinkle's feeble forbearance
fed The herbs her husband had trusted
might prove narcotic, acted upon her as
a powerful irritant.
"Reuben Hinkle," said she, bracing her
aching back against the pump, chow much
longer do you think I'm going to wash floors
for you to litter ?"
There, there now don't fret, plead
ed Reuben; ON sweep it out. You do
putter round msron you're able, that's
fact You know I'm ready and willing to
hire girl any day"
"a girl smouchipg my paint" cried
Mrs. Hinkle, in wrath "Put down the
broom, Reuben; you've made tracks enough
Your folks shall never have that handle
that | spend your money on hired help"
You're rather hard on 'em Layiny,"
said Mr.. Hinklc; "they mean well by you.
Here's Phebe now been and sent you some
thing stilling. | told her what fzz your
nerves had been in lately"
80 you have been running me down TO
your folks" I" cried Mrs. Hinkle, garing at
her husband. "After all I've stood from
you, Reuben, it's too much"
Mr.. Hinkle was mild man--mild as
milk--but even the sweetest of milk will
sometimes turn sour 10 thunder storm,
and oft recurring matrimonial tempests had
had their effect upon him.
"rve always made excuses for you, La
why, aud tried my best to live peaceable,
said he slowly; "but believe 'taint in
the power Of mortal man to get along with
you"
Then in a state Of great amazement at
himself, he went out to untackle Dobbin
aud SOW the turnip seed. Listening in
vain for the dinner horn, he returned to
the house half an hour past noon to find the
fire out, his unlucky mud-prints dried upon
the floor, and bis wife absent.
Conc az in bng % hor .;s,a. T.;.
guess" said he, patiently setting out the
Sunday remnant of beans; I'D have hitch.
ed up if I'd have known she wanted to 90.
She wouldn't speak to me- s'pose, cause
I'd riled her. hadn't oughter done it,
thafsra fact"
Having relieved hi, mind bv mi. lost
confession, Mr.. Hinkle ate his dinner with
an oycellent annette and in dro ,;n,a ~.
sumner also. his wife not having onne,red
II expect she calculates for me 10 no
for her and ia better be off, aid ho
he strained the milk with exfreme oar.
and deliberatiop. and bv This means lot
slow stream trickle down the outside of mo
nail mon the snotless naptrv aoor :. W.
If there amt Ezra Trim now ~ and Ss
he smoke. in at the west door came his wire,s
brotber.in.law with unw;lling foo, a,
though ooaded on by the snears Of the set.
ting .nn behind him 0 ''
. L,v;nv ,in,t sicL homo p, ..id Al.
uinkle ,nxiously
" No. 'tisnt hat replied Mr. Trim
twisting his finger under his collar .s
his crayat choked him" ,tisn't tbat.
hut
" Sbo'. eetting mos, ont of ,a,;enoo
waiting for me I snnnose - sps,es,ed ,ho
nnmspectinc Reuben wall IA onab,a.
zone before onlv the off ox broke hronah
| the fence, and"
-, ,.
LtVlny says sue won come Dack, ln-
terrubted Mr. Trim desDerotelv ., FIR
she's lived with YOU as long as she can
stand it ~
Mr.. uipkle Aopped down ike n starch.
less dicky. Il might have kpowed she
couldn't bear what | do" groaned he II
/" This morning when she was blowing off
me, | spoke hash to her | don't see how
[ come 10. But. Ezra. YOU don't think now
she won't never come round ?"
Mr.. Trim muttered something about his
sister.in.law being ., pretty resolntep - and
tened away.
81 wish you'd carry over Layipy', eoueb
medicine" said Hinile. rousino himself
=" Lord to think of her hacking in m.
night and me not bearing her And. Ezra
Id take il kindly of Won if you'd sten in |
in the morning and tell me how she rested -
NJ Iii, ao,.;.ol A. L..I a -.