The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-31


asked Christie.
Not unless 1 choose"
Nor hang your hat on particular
peg ?"
Not l."
"Then, BRAN, you're happy man
. you've no cause to complain" return
ed Christie, earnestly.
"FOr my part, l think mans lucky
if he don't get vixen and slatterT
b0th," growled big man in the chin
ney corner.
"And for my part, think mans a
fool to get married at all" piped q
little man in the opposite corner.
"But, Christie" said Abraham, ''I've
always heard tell that your wife was
an uncommon tidy, economical wo-
man."
Economical CORY I guess she
isl She'd skin flea and sell the pelt
And she's tidy-ah, there's where the
trouble comes. She's wearing my life
out with her particular ways. Did !
ever tell YOU about the brass kettle p
Not's l remember" saidSA BRAN.
Lets hear,D said several voices.
"Well, it isn't much of story, but
then it kind o. illustrates what l was
saying" said Christie, refilling his
mug withafIp and his pipe with fresh
tobacco, while the rest followed his
example, and settled themselves in an
attitude of listening.
You see, we'd bought big brass
kettle to make the apple-jack ina
secondhand One-trust my Hannah
for that-cheaper you know-so, of
course, the outside of il was a trihe
black; but Hannah didn't think any
thing of that at first, she was SO tick
led with the bargain she had made.
But one day she went to see Miss
Hawkins, and came home all upset.
Miss Hawkins had just bought bran
new kettle that shone like gold. After
that it was nothing but Miss Haw-
kins' kettle over and over; and she
wished she'd paid more an got new
one. At last one night, l was woke
up by a grating, rasping sound. l
thought it might be rat in the cheese
safe, or a burglar filing the lock,
Hannah, says l. Hannah, what's that ?
and nudged her with my elbow. She
didn't answer, which surprised me,
because, in general a mouse couldn't
SO much as peep in the wainscOt but
what she'd hear it. | put out my
/ hand, and she wasn't there. l started
up in bed scared enough, [ tell you !;
and then | saw light streaming un-
der the kitchen door. Out jumped
and opened the door. and if you'll be-
| lieve me, there was that woman down
Oh her knees securing the outside of
| that brass kettle! That was the sound.
1 I'd heard. ~
"'Good gracious, Hannah! have
you lost your senses = says |. .r.ftszs
J / of oh Pnf
Pm awful sick, Christie.'
/ 'Then for the lands sake what are
you doing that for? saysI. s8aa
"'Cause, il | should die and Sal
Hawkins should come to my funeral,
and 60 peekin' around as she always
does, and get sight of that kettle l
never should hear the last of it!"
"And get that woman back to bed
till the kettle was secured, l couldn't
But she didn't die"
mo, she'd too much grit for that;
l thought for certain she would,
though; she got cold, and had an. aW-
fui attaelr the auinsg--for she'd
beeu ail7n when she went to bed but
somehow she pulled through, and has
been more and more set in her ways
ever since. She's got so now that she
]
Before the laugh which followed
this remark died away, from a small.
room adjoining the bar, where for the
last half-hour she had been closeted
with the landlady, forth issned Han
nah Bray herself. Grasping her hus-
band by the shoulder, and pointing to
the door, while every hair oil her head
bristled with Indignation, "Cbristie
Bray" said she, 'sdo you see that door ?
Well, the sooner you march out of it
the better. AS to the rest of these
sots," glancing around with lowering
brow, II only wish l had the training
of them for awhile"
God forbid !" calculated the big
man in the corner.
"Amen !" responded the little man
in the opposite corner.
And as the door closed upon Ham
nah and heI unresisting husband,
Abram Wicks raised his mug to his
lips, saying: tsHere's to the health of
our landlord, and The prosperity of
the Rising Sum-"
That Christie rendered prompt
obedience his better half must have
been due less to the force of moral
suasion than to his desire to avoid
scene for not many days elapsed be-
fore he was back in his accustomed
seat, AT home, meanwhile, things
went on very much as usual the gate
continued unmended, and so did the !
temper of Mrs. Bray, who considered |
herself very ill-used woman. a2
One morning as she stood at the |
sink washing the breakfast dishes, she |
saw her husband lead the horse from
the barn. Up flew the window:
"Christie! Christie Bray what are
you going to do with that horse ?"
go, forgot to MENTION" said the
deceitful Christie, I'm going over TO
the Fair"
"Fair? What Fair 2"
'''The Agricultural Fair over to To-
bego." arr
mot in the new wagon ?" cried his
wife, seeing him draw from the shed
that vehicle, radient in fresh paint and
varnish.
sThere's nothing else 10 go in un7
less its the wheelbarrOw,"s said Christie
'the old one went for boot, on know"
/" Well, now, you mark my words"
said Hannah, with a nod of her head
and fling of her dish-cloth, "just so
snre as you go to Tobego in that wag-
on, you'll break it, you and your
CA
Christie, intent upon buckling a |
strap, made no answer. @ f~...s
"Do you know what'll happen if
you do ?" asked she, solemnlY.
I'VE shall have to get it mended, / |
s'pose." said he jOcularly. stepping
into the wagon 80
"I'n go right straight to Chicago
and get divorce! that's what1l hap. !
pen," said she. - Pc
But, instead of being annihilated
by this tremendous threat, Christie
drove out of the yard with his usual
silent chuckle,an Hannah went about
her work with anger simmering at
her heart.-anger not altogether cause
less i'll this case, it must be admitted,
for it was at her instigation that the
wagon had been purchased. "There |
was no reason" she had said, "why
she shouldn't make as good an appear