Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-18
THE HOUSEHOLD.
HOW I?

ona n the sort. To have person, after you've
baan through long explanation, put his fingers
IN his mental ears and query yen thus, or worse
still. "Haow7" is too exaaperating for human ma
trra IN bear, But that is what John Stringer die
10 me, bending bis head little nearer, ant
sneakiug in an absent aggravating manner that
,antalized me beyond words.
You see, John Strlnger and / were engaged
we'd been engaged for long time, and perhap
had got to be little too matter o. course to eact
other.
ii folks had gone to bed, and fell to telling
INN about Sophie Mills's wedding-her white
silk Dress her bride-cake, and her bride-maidt
rlst ed ali over to match it, and ended this
wAv
people that love each other; all that's o. no more
account than last years snow-drift. They could
be married in calico aud bomespun, with their
feet on rag carpet like this, and love each 9TH
or Just as well
ing the Goals flicker up aud die out again, and
picking up stray chip now and then TO fling on
the embers--a fashion he had when he was
thinking
guess l was rather more tindery than usual,
though didn't think so then; but when John
hant his great broad shoulders over, as II he
hadn't heard word said, and, in fact, had
AuIletltfR Detter 10 OCCUPY his uitnu, JUST ufeQ
up. first and then the blaze died down int o sulks,
and when we parted that night John and 1 had
htd our first and last quarrel
My heart did not msgive me that when I saw
John great tall figure going out tho door, 10
was the last time he'd, lift the latch for many a
We ~; but 30 il was.
Y u see held my head pretty high in those
day, and wouldn't show that was bit cut
up about it, so paired off with Mrs. Plumbers
Jesse, likely, spruce young fellow enough. but
IN ha nared with Jnhn than a annkIa-
shell is to brigantine.
Oh well, mother sighed and tried right hard to
bring us together again, but it wasn't to be.
John WAS a powerful, muscular man, and l
used to see him go up the road many a time
when was out in the shed milking, and, peep
ing out at him through the chinks, thought
his broad shoulders stopped more than ever,
aud his figure was growing more stalky like. Such
an awkward fellow as John was l came near
ruehipg out on him once in my sun-bonnet and
with my sleeves rolled up and tinging my arms
right round his neck but John liked to see
folks tidy. aud never didit.
jesse Plumber was the bean o. the village
dapper, neat, and dainty as you please; and all
the girls thought had come to my senses when
l ousted 'em o Jess. And by and-by it was Jess
that came sparkling o nights and sat o winter
evenings over the embers. and he was 80 soft
spoken and pleasant that even mother forgot
her vexation. (She always set store by john
mother did) Well. In the spring we were mar
lied, Jess and me, and had a string of pearls
ana real silk bridal dress and felt kind o lifted
ike when the girls crowded round me and hoped
Id be happy. / hoped so too; wasn't sure Of
RENE mbering tine days that came after, cant
recall one hard word | ever heard from jess.
We weren't near enough to each other to quar-
rel we juet laid apart like two odd volumes
there wasn't any fire twixt us. nor any thing
'twixt us, either love or laughing, whereas John
and had always been bubbling over one way
and another.
worked hard. for my silk dress and necklace
anliI I had MT cl,a nd ~ II ia
one day to make cloak for the baby. You see
couldn't give up my pride. and was just as high
spirited as ever But our farm did not prosper.
AMI Jess didn't prosper; and Mrs. Plumber came
to live with u.s. to look after things, she said, and
she got to plying him every now and then for
marrying q poor wife, and-Gh, we'll, what's the
use o. talking 2-sometmes couldn't help wish
ing John Srlnger's strong shoulders were at the
wheel when / working myself to death
morning and night for nothing
Then when baby grew bigger l took teach
ing an A b O class, a used to bef' 70 was
married. but what little knew had run wild
since then, and couldn't keep the boys straigh
somehow; and the girls did not care for sam
pleIs, for the Sewing -machlne had ridden right
Lyer everything. Then Jesse fell i'll O. the fever,
and with all tue fulning and fretting and
nursing of his mother and wi h all my watching
day and night, somehow he slipped or between
u.s. And found mvself widow, with the ILL
Jared, wasted farm on my hands, and Mother
Plumber drizzling aud maundering after jess in
a way to break my heart.
But kept my spirit up yet, and advertised
half the place for sale at the court -housei for
II | could sell it we should skin through som :
how on an acre OF two, l thought
Well who do Won suppose came over one sun.
ny afternoon AZ was standing IN the kitchen
Who to be sure, but John Stringer, large as
life-a little gray mayhap, and little more an
euar. but keen and strong as ever, He'd use
for that bit Of land, it seemed, and had had his
eye on it along back. always was wanting
what was not his Mother Plumber said She
owed him grudge for being more forehaadtd d
than Jess
1t took deal OF looking after and lawyering
and g .rveying aud the Lord knows what to set
tic it and used to see John Strlngers stoop
ing shoulders and broad felt hat down just be-
you'd the rise of the meadow time and again.
But he scarce ever came near the door, till one
day-I can't tell how it was-when the settle
ments were to be made, just took baby. up
stairs and had a good cry; for that bit o land
had been Jesses favOrte piece, and Mother
Plumber had been harrying me all day about it
"The ways o. Providence are 30 strange y
said Mother Plumber, laying her spec4 dow
atop o. the big Bible, and putting onthat awful,
ly patient air which was wearing me to skin and
bone-'Past finding out, Nov II Jess had mar
red Sophie Mills that was, and you"
But did not wait to hear any more. AS
say, Just caught up baby and went on to the
garrett. And while sat by the cobwebbed win
dow Mrs Barret-Sophie Mills that was-went
riding by in their new spring wagon, she and
barrel OF apples. Sophie nodded and smiled to
some one coming up the road and looking
along, saw John Stringer walking, thoughtful
like, right up to our gate, Just as he used to
come in counting days-for John never had any
foolish ways about him. l saw Sophie look back
at him as she and the children, with their tut
tering ribbons and gay ginghsms. disappeared
at the turn O. the road. Then smoothed my
Lar and washed my face and went down. The
time of settlement had come, knew.
MARY Ann," said John, grayely, "the lawyer
will be here presently; but reckon we car
make it all clear in our own minds without hlt
help and pve-Ive settled il in fact that there
are certain conditions on which I'll take th
lan1-if You agree"
Then flew into passion. "You'ye beer
long enough making up your mind says l, ~
don't throw my land at any bodys feet, and
haven't asked any favors of you, leastways
John Striuger."
Softly. there, softly u Gays John, puttinI
out his hand. "Dont be in a furry, little wo
man." ~. ....--...
John Stringer," says l, all in heat, "you'r
Just the same man yol was years ago when yo
thought was always firing up every time So'
got out o temper yourself
And weren't you littlo woman Z SAID JONI
quite gravely. Don't woman folks always LAX
their own way better than any thing else r
"You don't know anything about woman,
cried, " any moro than you did then. 70
thought l wanted silks and furoelows NOR
than than"
Than you did me, said John; and .rigt
NAulh in