The Van Buren press., 1874-06-23
MISCELLANY.
Tony Hardscrabble's Wife.
By WIN II. BUSBLy.

d. Al "a oCSb"a'
Tony Hardscrabble was carpenter
! black smith, mendcr Of tubs and barrels
and Jack-of all trades for the rural neigh
borhood In which he lived His littlC
shop in which he made horse shoes, shoe
the farmers horses, sharpened plow
shares. made tables, doors, desks. cup
boards, bureaus, and occasionally collins
in which he pounded away at wonderful
pork and vinegar barrels, and tightened
mp dilapidated old tubs and casks; this
little shop was situated at a point in the
woods where an old road crossed a ne"
one, and was in itselfa queer, patched
up, new and old building. Tony owned
no corner lots, but no one intruded upon
him. His little house, the grey hewn
logs, divided by seams of white plaster
ing, seemed cosy and comfortable and
while the shop opened 90 the road, the
house stood back among the trees.
North, south, east and west were neigh
bors within quarter or half mile range,
and the neighbOrhood was thickly set
tied. But no one saw tile advantage OF
corner lots near Tony's shop, not even
the spectators and wise men Of the vii
la2e three miles distant, and Tony was
sole resident at the corners. where be
had garden patch that did not flourish
and family that increased rapidly. To-
ny had a falr Skin where * SHOWED above
his elbows and below the collar band OF
his shirt (colar he disdained to wear
but his face had a dark, grimy look lie
was strong without being stout. and was
fond Of displaying his strength and PROV
ess His face was that Of a daring, reso'
lutte man, and his neghbsrs never took
much comfort in looking at it, Tony
was a handy man, and, as the country
people said, was not afraid Of work, He
never received much ready money, but
he got his pay in the shape Of corn OF
-four or pork, or money in good time
The people who patronized him did not
neighhor with him, however. They knew
little about the family but they inferred
that Mrs. Harlscrabbc 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
neishborhood thought, as she had little
comfort in her husband.
Tony's wife, in those days, did not
make much OF an impression in the neigh
borhood. People caught only glmpses
of her, but they knew she was comely
woman While other women OF her age
in the neighborhood were sallow and
broken down, Mrs. Hardscrabble was
fresh, plump, and strong. The face was
attractive but had little character; and
Tony's wife was classed among the sim
pie. minded drudges, and was frequently
referred to as a 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 people
could say about Tony's wife.
Tony had never been seen at church
lie had certain loose ways and independ
ent notions that the people did not like
He considered that there was no harm in
taking mess of roasting ears from any
mans cornfeld wheSever he wanted
them He thought the carrying off OF
fine watermelons from some Old farmers s
carefully guarded truck. patch was good
sport. He would take a tiue walnut raj
from fence whenever he needed sea
soned walnut for frame. work in his shop
He shot game in season and out Of sea
son, on Sunday as well as work days Ht
had been accused of shooting fat young
hogs and wrlnging the necks OF Other
peoples chickens, but only accused. HI
would take his boys and go on nuttina
expeditions on Sunday, and always hat
an abundant supply OF Wild grapes, ber
ries. nuts, plums etc. lie was the free
boo,er as well as the J,ck- of. all-trade,
of the neighborhood, and was considered
a suspicious character.
So when it was announced that Squire
Prim's house had been broken into ant
over thousand dollars IN money taken
and that the smoke.hoise had beer
broken open the same nigat, and that The
hams and shoulders takenhad been found
hurled in the woods near'Tony's house
no one was surprised. Tony was arrested
had preliminary examination, wa
hound over to court, codd not procure
bail, and was sent to the Ounty jail. Hi
trial came off in due tine, he was con
yicted, aud sent TO the penltentlary 10
five years. People were agreed that h'
rot what he deserved, but they were sor
ry for his wife. She was left with ST!
children, and it was too Ind. Many o
the good women of the seighborhoo'
could not find it in thei hearts to hel
her, as she persisted in asserting her hus
band innocence. She slusg to the maj
with what these practica women consid
cred a uopsensical, rona,tic affection