The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-02-14
HIS FOLKS:

How the HinIIes Settled their Matrfmo-
NAL DifHcuities.
81 can't stand it, and, what's more, ]
won't, said little Mrs. HinkIe, clutch
ing the bars of her uncomfortable old
cage of roeking-chair.
Mr.. Hinkle placidly hung up his
almanac, 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 resembled. Laviny's tantrums
troubled him about as much as a mus
keto's buzzing would trouble an eIe-
phant but he thought they were kind
of wearing to her, and that she ''came
to quicker" alone. So he left her
swinging herself seasick in the rocker,
and shuffled off to the garden with hoe
and pint dipper of peas. At the gate
he met Miss Niddlins.
GO And how's your poor wife ?" said
she, shifting. She suffered with a
chronic cold in the head, which gave
her an extremely sympathetic manner.
cable to be stirring, replied Mr..
Hinkle, shutting on his brown leather
moccasins. Even a cabbage-head may
be, as it usually is, ruffied inside and
deep in his slow-beating heart Mr..
Hinlzle was annoyed at the sight of
Miss Niddlins and the embroidered bed
ticking bag which betokened a weeks
visit
"Laviny's putchiky enough without
being set on, said he, leaning on his
hoe in the favorite attitude adopted by
scare crows. eyes, 1 really think she
is, " he went on, weighing the PROPOSE
tion deliberately. ''Not that ] mind
her being spry-tempered and splitting
ont at me. It's only way she has, and
comes of her enjoying such poor health.
She'll cool down; but that old maid
hain't any call to rile her " and here
Mr.. Hinkle gave the hoe-handle a re
sentful poke, as if it personated the
spinster aforesaid. Like many men
not gifted in public speaking, he was
much given to talking ALOUD when alone.
Indoor, his wife claimed exclusive
right of speech.
"And here I've stuck, like dab of
putty, from the day I married with
Reuben. " she was saying to Miss
Niddlins. ''Tve had to walk on eggs,
or his folks would be in my hair.
They've had their remarks to make
about all my doings, and, You may
depend upon it, it grinds. "
Mrs. Hinkle must have been ground
very sharp indeed, Judging by her
cutting tongue.
"Poor thingi" groaned Miss Md
dlins, using her handkerchief just then
because it would produce the effect of
pity.
See how l was put upon this morn
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 a Jew's-harp. ''That
woman had the impudence to twist me
of neglecting Reuben, because I leave
him to get his own supper sewing-circle
nights "
Don't tell me 50 shifted Miss
Niddlins, g Did Mr.. HinkIe complain
to herr"
Catch him complaining " cried
Mrs. Hinkle; ''he hasn't got spunk
enough. Why he's no more grit than a
hay stack, and he's as sot. I couldn't
make him break with his folks if l was
to suffer. Wish was single then I
wouldn't be nosed round by 'eIh. Now
here you are, free to go when you
please
Miss Niddlins sighed an Affirmative
1t was her peculiar trial that her rela-
tives never opposed her going.
If you was to separate, I suppose
you've got enough to live on. suggest
ed she cautiously.
Mrs. Hinkle's rocker ierked itself
into q fun stop. She had often said
that g Reuben must choose betwixt his
felix's and her, that she would take
herself of, " and the ike but to have 8