The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-07-30
TONY HARD0CRABBLE'S
WIPE.
BY WIN. II. BRURBEY.

WIPE.
BY WIN. II. BRURBEY.
Tony Hardscrabble was carpen-
ter, blacksmith, mender Of tubs and
barrels, and Jack -of-all trades for the
rural neighborhood in which he lived.
His little shop in which he made
horseshoes, shod the farmers horses,
sharpened plowshares, made tables,
doors, desks, cupboards, bureaus, and
occasionally coffins; in which he
pounded away at wonderful pork
and vinegar barrels, and frightened up
dilapidated old tubs and casks-this
little shop was situated at point in
the woods where an old road crossed
q new one, and was in itself queer,
patched-up, new and old building.
Tony owned no corner lots, but no
one intruded upon him. His little
house. the gray hewn logs divided by
seams Of white plastering, seemed
cosy and comfortable; and while the
shop opened ON the road the house
stood back among the trees. North,
south, east and west were neighbors
within quarter or half mile range,
and the neighborhood was thickly
settled. But no one saw the advan-
tagVof corner lots near Tony's shop
not even the spectators aud wise
| men of the village three miles dis
tant, and Tony was the sole resident
at the Corners, where he had a gar
den patch that did not flourish aud
family that increased rapidly. Tony
had fair skin where it showed
above the elbows and below the col
lar-ba of his shirt-collar he dis.
dained to wear but his face had 4
dark, grimy look. He was strong
without being stout. and was fond OF
displaying his strength and prowess.
His face was that of daring, resolute
man, and his neighbors never took
much comfort in looking ut it. He
never received much ready money,
but he got his pay in the shape OF
corn, or -four, or pork, or money in
good time. The people who patron
ized him did not neighbor with him
however. They knew little about the
family, but they inferred that Mrs.
Hardscrabble had hard time Of it.
She was . good-natured. round-faced
woman, who was always busy in
doors, and who seemed to take great
comfort with her children, all Of which
was mercy, the good old women of
the neighborhood thought as she had
little comfort in her husband.
Tony's wife in those days did not
make much of an impression. People
caught only glimpses of her, but they
knew that she was comely woman.
While other women Of her age in the
neighborhood were salloW and bror
ken down, Mrs. Hardscrabble was
fresh, plump and strong. The face
was attractive, hut had little charac-
ter; and Tony's wife was classed
among the simple-minded drudges,
and was frequently neferred to as q
woman who thought the world and
all Of her children, but who had not
an atom Of spirit. And Tony was
good to her. That was all the peo-
pie could say Of Tony's wife.
Tony had never been seen at
church. He had certain loose ways
and independent notions that the peo-
pie did not like. He considered that
there was no harm in taking mess
Of roasting ears from any mans corn
field whenever he wanted them. He
thought carrying off of fine water
melons from some old farmers care
fully guarded truck patch was good
sport. He would take fine walnut
rail from fence whenever he needed
seasoned walnut for frame work in his
shop. He shot game in season and
out of season, on Sundays MS we'll as
work days. He had been accused of
shooting fat young hogs and wiring
ing tho necks of other peoples 8 chick
ems, but only accused. He would
take his boys and 60 on nutting ex-
petitions on Sunday, and always had
an abundant supply Of wild grapes,
berries, nuts, plums, etc. He WAS the
freebooter rs well as the ..Jack-of-all-
trades of the neighborhood, and was
considered suspicious character.
So, when it was announced that
Squire Brim's house had been bro.
ken into and over a thousand dollars
in money taken, and that the smoke-
house had been broken into the same
night, and that the hams and shoul-
ders taken had been found buried in
the woods near Tony's house no one
was surprised. Tony was arrested,
had preliminary examination, was
bound over to court, could not pro-
cure bail and was sent to the county
Jail.
His trial came off in due time, he
was convicted and sent to the peni
tentiary for five years. People were
agreed that he got what he deserved.
but they were sorry for his wife.
She was left with six children, and it
was too bad. Many OF the good wo.
men Of the neighborhood could not
find it in their hearts to help her, as
she persisted in asserting her hus-
bands innocence. She clung to the
man with what these practical wo.
men considered romantic affection,
and they had no patience with her.
Others honored her for her faith to
her husband and for her affection, al
though they doubted not for mo-
ment that Tony Hardscrabble was
guilty as sharged. The wife and her
boys and girls kept close to their
home, grieving as for husband and
and father dead. After few weeks
Mrs. Hardscrabble was seen abroad,
then 1t the county seat, and then,
wonder Of wonders! this woman who
had never been . mile from her home
since her marriage, went to the State
capital. Few Of the men would un-
dertake such . journey. Tony's wife
received the compliment OF being q
plucky woman.
In due time notice appeared in the