The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-06-18

they needn't make any fuss over him.
He didn't care for church, bnt his wife
did. She had remained at home good
many years to please him, and now he
was attending church to please her lie
was hard case himself, but he wanted
his children to be like thoir mother,
and he guessed they would anyhow.
But he was going to help her now. And
then Tony would drop his voice
"Just think OF it She made nine
teen trips to get me ont Of that scrape,
and spent ninety-fve dollars, all of
which money she raked together her
self. BY inks, | get to thinking about
it sometimes when | am at work, and
pound n horseshoe all to flinders before
/ know what | am doing. She's n Won
derful woman, sir, and-and she's my
wife. She can run the boat to suit her
self now, sir.
Tony meant what he said. His wife's
individuality was the controlling one at
the Corners. In time there was carpet
on the floors, and then, wonder OF Won
ders to Tony common but pretty
pattern of paper on the walls. Tony
became Observation-Disclosures to his wife.
"Couldn't he make picture-fromes,
brackets, and other ornamental and USE
ful articles for the house, OF course
he could, and he took great delight in It,
He couldn't sit down and tell his wife,
in words, how much he was surprised
at her better self, nor how grateful he
felt, nor how much he loved her, but
he could work it ont, and all his spare
time has devoted to doing things that
he imagined she wanted done, He was
simple and awkward in springing his
surprises on her, or in discovering what
she desired but the very simplicity of
his action made his acts the moro pleas
ant and touching to his wife.
Tony became proud of his house. tie
would shoe horse with the old skill
and carefulness as to det lis, and would
talk as much while doing it, but now
all the talk was about his own home
and when the work was done he wOulC
maueuver to Ii We his customer 90 il
and look und as he expressed 1t
would take him in to show him new
flour. barrel he had made, or a new
rat-trap, when all the time he meant tt
show him the paper on the walls, the
carpet on tie floors, aud the genera
features of his coHy little home. H'
was always inviting people to Dime
now, too. He made Il childish parad
of his wife and her accomplishments
This became n habit with him, and
unconsciously, people encouraged bin
in it.
Tony was no longer a freebooter, an,
made no more raids on Sunday. ii
"hooked more roasting ears o
watprmeIous. He carried off no nor
rails, and was never accused of eh0otin
other peoples chickens or hogs.
As the improvements at the house as
sumed definite shape, mp ovement
were iraugurated at the shop. Th
rambling old building was straightene
mp and frightened up, the fences wcI
made new, the garden hourished
proper season, and an air OF comto
pervaded Tony's corners.
Tony went to church regularly an
always took the whole family; and
, church he made much Of little thing
He devoted more attention to keepl
his children quiet than to the sermon
-, The children always had their pennlt
, to put in the contribution box, and IL
day the baby accomplished the feat
. dropping a bright five cent CON il II
box without grabbing for the oth
=, coins already in was an hOur OF tfinml
i for Tony. There was something pathet
v about these little oddities that appeal'
), to all the tenderness tn, re was in pc
~ pies hearts.
. In time, Tony would have been indi
. nant had any one asserted that he W
Il not member of the church. |
~ wasn't clear in his mind as to when
"ioined," but new customs had ere
- into his home, new thoughts into b
,, mind, and new sentiments into
~ heart. People said there was a gre
=, :, change of heart, and, as Tony "
} proud of the evidences of such chanF
. the people were probably right. i
W W movement with Tony was steadily p
IL gressivc. He groped blindly at fir
V but in time the resolution of the m
y and his vcrs Utility OF talent showed
nf good works.
u He was now spoken of as Mr.. Ha
-, scrabble, and he neighborcd with all
~ people. He didn't get above his wo
W but he took his work up to higI
plane. Mothers never objected now
-, their sons lounging about Tony's sh
Nv Nv The boys liked to be with Tony, .
~ ~, even the men were rather glad wi
~, circumstances made it necessary to
W. W. to the shop.
e. The great change in Tony's life wa
-. first attributed to the reformatory
os ,v Auence of prison discipline. But
,,n "n good time, people saw with clearer ey
Wv ", He commenced living better life,
~ so much as n matter of conviction Il!
i,' II, please his wife. Under this inhue
w. his convictions were reached and
NC man was aroused. He liked the be
S5S life and clung to it. The people now
w derstand that the instrument used
"h vi, work the great change in Tony Hi
Bn scrabble was his wife, and they sp
hn b' tenderly of her, remembering what
M I;1 was and what she is.
NO. ----