Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-25
MiseelIa,leous.
JOB POTSON'S EXPERIMENT.
BY sYLvANus coBB, Je.

r-r4s~
1t was disagreeably stormy dav out of
doors, and in the village store were col
'Iected a dozen, or more, of social spirits.
engaged in drinking cider and talking
politics. By and by they had talked the
political field dry, and one of their number
Sam Shute by nane-a red-nosed, blear-
eyed man. opened upon the subject of
domestic government. He ventilated
himself upon household affairs in general,
and finally approached one of hi= hobbip~
y, follows:
Il tell We. my boys, Il mans got to b..
master in his own honse if he ever expect
to he anybody. Just let your wife gain
IN inch aud she'll take an ell. Let her
once take the reins, and she'll be sure to
keep EN-. Lord. what II thing {. man
must be 10 let his wife rule him.
Iherenpon Mr.. sam shute finished h.
mug Of cider and their filled his mouth
with tobacco
That, fact, cried Tom Burnhaln, in
a thick. ioggy voice. .'Egad, I'd like to
see woman rulin' me. lnever had it in
my iamly. No, sirs. hold the reins my
self. Ny wife moves when tell her TO.
Shes got her lesson, and knows lust what
to depend on
Tom Burnham finished his mug Of cider
and lighted his old black pipe.
You're right" chimed Lot Quimby,
lifting his great dirty boots on the stove
hearth, rs he spoke. IF q man provides
a home for his family, he's got a right to
be boss. Thunder! I'd like to see q wo-
man pullin' me around by the nose" >"
THE fact is,n resumed Sam Shute,
emptying his mouth upon the floor, '.these
( @ t,.,y ,ay 1Nn Is.>sp
and when they can t pull by one, they try
the other. Ia the first place they want to
govern like masters.-that suits 'em best
but, if they can't do that, then they try to
fetch us round by frettin' and coaxin
But they don't come none of their non
sense over me. Lord. When a man once.
puts bis foot down. what can a woman
do 2'
That's 50" pronounced Burnham, dig
ging up the moist tobacco in his pipe with
his .lack-kniie. and then putting away for
dear life. That so, he repeated, after
his pipe was once more in smoking order
i've had 'xperience in that. When man
once puts his foot down. woman can't do
nothin'. \ woman'll pull and haul just
as long as there's a chance OF her havin
her own way but when she finds that she's
got master, why, Lord bless We, she'll be
like IA colt with the bit in--there may he
some kickin' an strugglin; but she's gol
to come round finally. Women have to
he broken jest like colts
Egg -zactly"' said Lot Qumby. lower
ing his boots to the floor, but leaving a
part oi the dirt on the stoye-hearth
You've hit the thing precisely Tom.
Egad, there's some comfort in mans
feein' that he's boss of the establishment
Ii I've ever got to be slave, l hope
shaDt be slave to n woman-thats all
I've got 10 say. As long as I've got
house, kalklate to rule in it. What's
your opinion, Job ?"
This last remark was addressed to Joi
Poison, :, small sized. quiet looking man.
who sat in the corner smoking a new pipe
II guess, said Sam Shute, with a laugh
Job is leetLe on the other track"
shouldn't WONDER" added Tom Burn
ham, with wink. He ran a broom straw
through the muddy stem of his old pipe,
and then continued, "Hs wife's got the
upper hand. rather guess
Not by IL burned sight.r exclaimed
Job. in high dudgeon. ''Sirs. - my wife
dontt rule me, and you are mighty mis-
taken if you think I'm henpecked."'
but Mrs. Poison does Just about. as
she's mind TO, take it," suggested
Shute.
And. added Burnllam, who had got his
pipe going once more, II rayther guess
job has To do jest about as she tells him
Ia do
That 50, fast enough said Lot Quinn
by.
But Job declared that it was not so and
he become very angry when his compan-
ions laughed at him and expressed their
pity for him.
But when Job Poison went out from the
store and started for home, he be-
gan to wonder if they had not told
the truth. job was not a large-minded
man. He was an honest. d-hearted
! man but he lacked energy and decision.
Still. he had some pride, as all small
men are apt to have; and the remarks OF
his companions had touched him in a ten
der spot. As he walked slowly homewar,i
he thought the matter over, and finally
came to the conclusion that his wife did
rule He called to mind all the domestic
arrangements and doings the past week.
and he was forced to admit that he was in
many respects, the governed. He stopped
square in the road and put his foot down.
This won't do he declared to himself.
must lUIIl over - new i0ai. ~ N''N
great Moses III be master IN my o"h
house. We II see who win govern -
Sarah Poison sat in her kitchen, en-
gagged in mending her husband 5 frock;
She was medium-sized, mild faced
woman. with clear hazel eyes and dark
brown hair,-a faithful. loving woman.
frugal and industrious, and possessing
good share of iirmness and decision. The
/ house was clean and in order; the shed
was pattern OF neatness; the barn was
well kept the cows and pigs We're fat
and sleek the orchard was trim; and the
farm was productive; and careful OBJ
server who had watched the doings of ilf-
teen years, would have said that Sarah
Poison was the genius who presided over
all this order and thrift.
Job Poison reached his home, and hung
his hat upon the back of a chair, and sat
down by the stove.
dob" said his wife, without stopping
her needle, Il guess you had better fx our