Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-14

1t ny this time. The long aud short Of II is |
he's halfasleep. | have to keep stirring him
up, aud, after all, he don't appreciate me !"
| believe it would wake him up pretty
thoroughly if you should leave him." return.
cd Miss NddIins He'd begin to realize
what smart wife he'd lost"
"He'd clutter the kitchen wi Tn his greasy
harnesses, and camp down on the lounge in
his boots-thats what he'd do-the minute
| was off! snapped Mrs. Hinkle.
"He couldn't manage without you, to save
his life, declared Miss Niddlins, confidently.
"Hed go down on mis- knees to get you back.
Mrs. Hinkle seemed Aattered by the idea.
"a pretty figure he'd cut" laughed she,
"fat as he is, and looking, you might say, as
ifhe'd been blowed up in his clothes -
I'm sure don't see how you can smile,
situated as you are" said Miss Nlddlius,
showing symptoms Of fresh cold.
d" HIS folks have tried my soul out of me"
cried Mrs. Hinkle, hastily resuming her
wrath; "and what's maddened me most has
been to see Reuben take it so COOL That
man hasn't any more nerves than tub of
lard wouldn't value jumping of the meet
ing-house steeple if thou ght it would give
him a start"
" Poor woman !" said Miss Niddlins, dis.
playing the red silk handkerchief that might
properly be called her badge of mourning
ats your duty, to Yourself to 60 whore you
can take some peace Of your life"
al don't feel clear" said Mrs. Hiukle, as
sue settled the coffee Tor dinner, and thus
ended their first conference.
But as Miss NiddIins spent the week, JUST.
flying MIR. Hinkle's apprehension, she and
Mrs. Hinkle had ample opportunities for re-
newing the discussion of the atter's grew
ances, 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 would
not be kind of quieting to Laviny," he re-
tected one morning as he logged along to the
village after turnip seed " hain't seen
her so fractions since she had the neurology
in her face If she wasn't poor sick cree.
tur don't know but should get put out
with her-I really DON'T" and Mr.. Hinkle
lowered his voice to an awe.struck whisper as
he gave utterance to this treasonous thought.
His folks lived in sick-heo dache-col.
ored 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.. Hink-
lie, whOaing Dobbin.
Mercy on us is Laviny going to make
cheese in mud time7" was Miss Phebes an.
swer.
"Tisnt none Of her doings," said Mr.
[ Hinkle, slowly, punishingt he wheel With his
Q whip-lash; but she's in terrible nervous
way, aud think maybe she needs something
soothing. What's good for her nerves?'
(,
ing, replied Miss Phebe, with her mouth
full Of clothes-pins.
Now, sister, you're hard on Laviny,"
5 said Mr.. Hinkle, in an injured tone. "She
amt tough, like what you be"
; Her temper is tough enough; but lm
, suited if you are, poor soul !" and Miss Phe-
be hunted for both sage and valerian, though
inwardly persuaded that all the peoples in
the world couldn't sOOthe Layiny when she
once got set out"
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had been doing
. furious forenOon's work, and, ready to drop
, from exhaustion, was just haning up the mop
= after scrubbing the kitchen floor, when dear,
laundering old Reuben scuffeI across the
threshold with his torn paper bags, scatter
ing dried leaves like an autumn wind, and
, leaving muddy mOccasin tracks at every step.
: Before those clumsy footprints Mr., Hinkes
I feeble iorbearance fed. The herbs her hus-
: band had trusted might prove narcotic act
. ed upon her as Il powerful irritant.
, Reuben Hinke :" said she, bracing her
: aching back against the pump, how much
. longer do you think I'm going to wash floors
, for you to liter"
t There, there now don't fret" pleaded
l Reuben, I'm sweep 1t up You do putter
round more n you're able, that's fact You
know I'm ready and willing to hire girl
/ any day
} "A girl smouching my paint !" cried Mrs.
I Hinkle in wrath. Put down the broom,
Reuben /; you've made tracks enough. Your
e folks shall never have that handle, that |
spend your money on hired help"
"lwish you had some Of my spirit Reu-
ben Hinkle," said she, coiling her back hair
with rapid motion, as if she were winding
e herself up; "if you had, you wouldn't 60
0 nigh Lavlny for one while. She's contrary,
y and depend upon it she'll be great deal
e more apt to come back If you don't tease her,
d I'll keep house for you, so don't you be a
mite concerned"
7 Mr.. Hinkle groaned in answer. As dough
}. is without yeast, so was he without l4aviny
J. "He needed her to keep him up, he said, pa
/ thetically, and though tortures would not
have wrung from her the confession, i. was
y equally true that Laviny needed him to keep
8 her down. Some leaven is safest hidden in
h its three measures OF meal. Certainly in
g her husbands presence, Mrs. Hinkle had
= been patient Griselda compared to what
= she now was, freed from home restraints
: She fretted and fumed in an explosive man.