Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-06-19

his coat pocket, while Reuben, return
ing to the kitchen, which already wore
masculine air, tilted his chair against
the wall, and listened to the dirges Of
the frogs, Or gave expression to his
feelings by singing.
"As on some lonely buildings top,
The sparrow tells her moan,
Far from the tents of joy and hope,
sit and gricve alone"
GA dreadful poor hand | should be
to sit alone commented he, as he
shuflled about to fasten the windows.
Laviny is 4 master-woman for making
things lively. Somehow l can't bear
to lock her OUT and it is q fact
worthy of note that the faithful Reu-
ben, for the first time in his married
life, went to bed leaving the porch
door mbolted
If he had cherished vague hope
that his wife might steal home in the
early morning, he certainly saw no
traces of her ruling presence on ris-
ing. Instead, the abominatlon of des-
olation reigned,
"Seems as if I was inst Il frame
work with nothing inside said the
poor man, moving about the chaotic
kitchen in Il hnshcd manner, like a
person at a funeral; "the pith Is all
knocked out of me
But Notwithstanding this alarming
internal condition by dint of burning
three fingers he succeeded in making
a lumpy hasty pudding for breakfast,
and also cup Of coffee, which by rea
son Of the large amout of tish-skin
that settled it, bore an unpleasant re-
semblance to chowder. AS he was
sitting at his frugal repast his sister
Phebe fiounced in.
elias Layiny left you, Reuben? 1t
can't be"
Mr.. Hinkle nodded his head solemn
ly, his mouth being not available just
then as an organ Of speech.
"The worst is her own," stormed
Miss Phebe, raining a shower Of hair
pins from her falling chignon. Il
guess we shan't die on her account !"
This reflection seemed to convey no
consolation to Mr.. Hinkle.
"You never felt right toward Law
ny" said he, sorrowfully. 81 don't
lay this up agin her, her clearing out.
| blame it on to Miss Niddins. She
always had dreadful faculty for on
settling Laviny.'
Miss Phebe had a contemptuous
nose, turned upward at the end like a
sled runner. 1t curled higher at this
remark.
81 wish you had some of my spirit,
Reuben Hinkle," said she, coiing her
back hair with a rapid circular mo-
ton, as If she were winding herself
up; if you had you would't go nigh
Laviny for one while. She's contrary,
and depend upon it, she'll be great
deal more apt to come back if you
don't tease her I'll keep house for
you SO don't you be "a might concern
ed
Mr.. Hinkle groaned in answer. As
dough is without yeast so was he
without Laviny. "He needed her to
keep him up" he said pathetically,
and though tortures would not have
wrung from her the confession, it was
equally true that Laviny needed him
to keep her down. Some leaven is
safest hidden in its three measures of
meal. Certainly, in her husbands
presence, Mrs. Hinkle had been a pa
tient Griselda compared to what she
now was, freed from home restraints.
She frctted and fumed in an explosive
manner, rising in unwonted fermenta
ton in the Tripp household. She hat
ed his folks, she hated Reuben, for not
hating them, she hated herself for hay
ing borne their interference so long,
and declared she had not the temper of
a hy"-which, indeed was quite true.
But as the week wore on without
bringing the coveted vision of her
husband at her feet, effervescence of
her mood was fast subsiding, when the
rumor that Miss Phebe was welding
her domestic sceptre agitated it anew
Pretty work it was to be crowded out
of her own home by his folks! She
knew not why Reuben did not come.
What if he should never come? For
the first time this thought intrud-
itself, and in her anguish she sought
relief in the camphor bottle. What
right had Phebe in her kitchen sol
acing Reuben with delectable cook
cry, when he should have been hun
o.o,.,,.. -, z.1...1. "a -. l.. LEO Cla