The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-07-30

: work | pound horseshoe All to Hind
ers before ! know what am do IL.
She's wonderful woman, sir, AMI
she's my wife. She can run the l. i,
to suit her now. sir.
Tony meant what he said. Iii
wites s individuality was the controi
ING one at the corners. In time ther,
WAS carpet on the floor. and then
wonder of wonders To Tony. com
mon but pretty pattern OF paper d,
the walls. Tony became .Iacl, of-all
trades to his wife. "Couldn't h,
make picture frames. brackets, and
other ornamental and useful article,
Tor the house, Of course he conl,i
aud he took great delight in it, IA.
couldn't sit down and tell his wife. il.
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 il out, and all his
spare time was devoted to dong
things that he imagined she wanted
done. He was simple and awkward
in springing his surprises on her, or
discovering what she desired, but he
very simplicity of his action made his
acts more pleasing and touching to
his wife.
Tony became proud Of his house.
He would shoe horse with the same
skill and carefulness rs to details.
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 would maneuver to have his
customer go in and look around. rs
he expressed it; would take him in
and show him new -four barrel he
had made, or new rat-trap. when
all the time he meant to show him the
new paper on the walls, the carpet on
the floors, and the general features
of his cosy little home. He was al-
ways inviting people to dinner now.
too. He made a childish parade Of
his wife and her accomplishments
This became habit with him, and,
unconsciously people encouraged him
in it.
Tony was no longer freebooter,
and made no more raids on Sunday.
He "hooked" no more roasting ears
or watermelons. He carried off no
more rails, aud was never accused OF
shooting other peoples chickens or
hogs.
As the improvements at the house
assumed decided shape, improve
ments were inaugurated at the shop.
The rambling old building was strait
ened and frightened up, the fences
were made new, the garden flour
ished in the proper season. aud an air
Of comfort pervaded Tony's Corners.
Tony went to church regularly and
always took the whole family: and
ut church he made much of little
things. He devoted more attention
to keeping his children quiet than 10
the sermon. The children always
had their pennies 10 put in the uoh-
tribution box, and the day the baby
accomplished the feat OF dropping
bright iive-cent coin into the box
without grabbing for the other coins
already in was All hour Of triumph
for Tony. There was something pa
thetic about these little oddities that
appeal to all the tenderness hat is in
peoples hearts.
Ia time, Tony would have been in.
dignant had any one asserted that he
was not member OF the church,
He wasn't clear in mind as to when
he .'joined." but new customs crept
into his home, new thoughts into his
mind, and new sentiments into his
heart. People SAID there was great
change Of heart, and as Tony was
proud of the evidences of such
change, the people were probably
right. The movement with Tony was
steadily progressive. He CROPPED
blindly at first, but in time the reso-
luton Of the man and his versatility
of talent showed in good works.
He was now spoken Of as Mr.. Hard
scrabble, and he ncighbored with all
the people. He didn't get above his
work up TO higher plane. Mothers
never objected now to their son
lounging about Tony's shop. The
bows liked to be with Tony, and even
men were rather glad when circum-
stances made it necessary to 60 to the
shop,
The great change in Tony's life was
at first attributed to the reformatory
influence of prison discipline. But,
in good time, people saw with clearer
eyes. He commenced living bet
ter life, not so much as matter of
MS to please his wife. I'm
der this influence his convictions
were reached and the man was arous-
ed. He liked the better life and clung
to it. The people now understand
that the instrument used To work the
great change in Tony Hardscrabblc
was his wife, and they speak tenderly
Of her. remembering what she was
ana what she is.