Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-02-07
Tie Leisure Hour.
How the HinI.Ies settled their Matrt-
mOniaI hi ffic ulties.

81 can't stand it, aud what's more, /
wont, said little Mrs. Hinkle, clu tching
at the bars of her uncomfortable old cage
of rocking chair.
Mr.. Hinkle pIacidly hung up bis alman-
az. and went out to SOW his early peas. He
could stand almost anything. and yet re-
main as serene as Il cabbage e-head-which,
indeed, his wife often said he resembled.
Lavinys tantrums troubled him about as
much as a musketo's buzzing would troub-
le an elephant; but he thought they were
kind of wearingto her, and that she "came
to quicker alone. So he left her swinging
herself seasck in the rocker, aud shuffied
off to the garden with hoe and pint dip
per of peas. At the gate he met Miss Md
dlins
"And how's your poor wife ?" said she
snutling. She suffered with chronic cold
in the head, which gave her an extremely
sympathetic manner.
cable to be stirring" replied Mr.. Hink-
lie, shutlllng on in his brown leather moe
casins. Even cabbage-head may be, az it
usually is, ruflled inside; and deep in his
SLOW beating heart Mr.. Hinkle was annoy
ed at the sight of Miss Md ddlins and the
embroidered bed-ticking bag which betok-
ened a weeks visit.
"Laviny's putchiky enough without be-
ing set on" said he, leaning on his hoe in
the favorite attitude adopted by scare crows.
"Yes, really think she is" he went on
weighing the proposition deliberately. mot
that | mind her being spry-tempered and
splitting out 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 resent
ful poke, as if ii personated the spinster
aforesaid. Like many men not gifted in
| public speaking, he was much given to
talking aloud when alone. Indoors, his
wife claimed exclusive right of speech.
"And here I've stuck, like dab of put
| tv, from the day | married with Reuben" )"
| she was saying to Miss Niddins. "I've
had to walk on eggs or his folks would be
in my hair. They've had their remarks to
make about all my dongs, and, you may
depend upon il, it grnds."
Mrs. Hnkle must have been ground
very slarp indeed, judging by her cutting
| tongue.
| "Poor thing!" groaned Miss Niddlins
using her handkerchief Just then because
il would produce the effect of pity.
''See how ! was put upon this morning
by his sister Phebe," said Mrs. Hnkle
moving the end of her nose rapidly bach
and forth with her fore-finger, as if sh,
were playing on Jew's-harp. "That wo
man had the impudence to twit me of neg
Letting Reuben, because leave him to ge
his own supper sewing circle nights T.
"Don't tell me so, shifted Miss Niddins
"Did Mr.. Hinkle complain to herr"
"Catch him complainingr cried Mrs
Hinkle; she hasn't got spunk enough
Why he's no more grit than hay-stack
and he's a sot. couldn't make him breal
with his folks If was to uffer. Wish wa
single; then | wouldn't be nosed round b,
'em. Now here you are, free to go wher
you pease!"
Miss Niddlns sighed an affirmative. l
was her peculiar trial that her relatives nev
er opposed her going.
"lf you were to separate, | suppose yol
nave Bol eHoupn 10 i've on, SHe suggested
cautiously.
Mrs. Hinkle's rocker jerked itself into
full stop. She had often said hat "Reubel
must choose betwixt his folks and her >
that "sh0 would take herself off," and tn,
like; but to have third person hint at
separation startled her.
"Well-yes," said she hesitatingly. "Iv
got the property | brought with me wbel
l was married. ] won't deny but wha
Reuben has done the fair thing there; bu
then, If he'd been some men, he Nigh
have doubled it by this time. The long an
short of 1t Is, he's half asleep. have I
keep stirring him up, and, after all, h
don't appreciate me-
81 believe it would wake him prett
thoroughly If you should leave him." re
turned Miss Niddllns. "He'd begin to re
alize what smart wife he'd lost"
"IIe'd clutter the kitchen with his greas
harnesses, and camp down on the loung
In bis boots-that's what he'd do-the min
! ute was orr snapped Mrs. Hlnkle.