The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-29
TONY HARDSCRABBLE'S WIFE.
M Nm II. BusHKr


Tony Hardscrlbble was carpenter
blacksmith. mender OF tubs and barrels
and Observation-Disclosures for the rural neigh
bOrhOod in which he lived. His little shoy
in which he made horse-shoes, shod In,
farmers horses. sharpened plowShareS
made tables. doors. desks. cupb0ards. bu
reaus, and occasionally collins i'm which
he POUNDED away az wonderful pork anc
vinegar barrels. and tightened up dilapidar
ed Old tubs and casks: this little shop wa.
situated at a point in the woods where an
old road crossed new one. and was in
itself a queer. patched-up, new and old
building. Tony owned no corner lots.
but no one intrnded upon him. His little
house. the grey hewn log. divided By
seams OF white plastering. seemed cosy
and comfortable; and while the shop
opened on the road. the house stood back
among the tres. North. south. east. and
West were neighborS within a quarter or
half mile range. and the ncighborhood was
rhickly settled. But no one saw the adj
vantage II corner lots near TOny's shop.
not even the spectators and wise men Of
the village three miles distant. ard Tony
was sole resident at the corners where he
had a garden patch that did not flourish
and family thai increased rapidly. Tony
had fair skin where il showed above his
elbows AMI below the collar band of hi~
shirt collar he di>dAinel to wear). but his
face had a dark. grimy look. He was
strong without being stout. and was fond
Of displaying his strength and proves
His face WAS that Of a daring. reSoluie
man. and his neighb0r- never took much
comfort in looking at il. Tony was a
handy man, and. a. the country people
said. was not afraid OF work He never
IL ~. H. E..~
his pay Ina the shape of corn or flour or
pork. or money in good time. The peo-
pie who patronized him did not neighbOr
with him. however. They knew little
about the family. but they inferred that
Mrs. Harlscrabble had hard time of il.
She was good-natured. round-faced wo-
man. who was always busy indoors. and
who seemed to take great comfort with
her children. all Of which was a 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 in the neighbour
hood. People caught only elimpses OF
her. but they knew she was a comely
woman While other women of her age
in the neghborhood We're sallow and
broken down Mrs. Hard-crabble was
-.
attractive but had little character: and
Tony's wife was classed among the simple
minded drudges. and was frequently refer
red TO a. a woman who thought the world
and all of her children. but who had not an
atom Of spirit. And Tony was good 20 her.
That was all people could say about Tony's
wife.
Tony had never been seen at church. He
had certain loose WAYS and independent
notions that the people did not like. He
considered that there was no harm In TAX
ing mess Of roasting ears from any mans
corniield whenever he wanted them. He
thought the carrying Off Of fine wafer
melons from some OLD farmers carefully
guarded trick-pafcii was good sport. lie
would take fine walnut rail from fence
whenever he needed seasoned walnut for
framework in his shop. He shot game in
session. and out Of season. on SUNDAY as
well as work days. He had been accused
OF shooting Eat young hogs and wringing |
the necks Of other peoples chickens. but
only accused. lie would take his boys and 1
go on nutting expeditions on SUNDAY. and |
always had an abundant supply OF Wild I
grapes. berries, nuts. plums. etc He was
the freebooter a well as the Jack-of-all- |
trades Of the neighborhood. and was con.
sidercd A suspicious character.
10 when Il was announced that Squire
Prim's house had been broken into and
over thousand dollars in money taken.
and that the s'noke-house had been broken
open the same night. and that the hams
ard shoulders taken hal been found buried
In the woods near Tony's house. no one
was surprised. Tony was arrested. had a
examination, was bound over
20 court. could not procure bail. and was
sent to the county jail. His trial came OF
n due time. he was convicted. and sent 10
he penitentiary for live years. People
we're agreed that he got what he deserved.
luf they were sorry for his wife. She was
eft with six children. and il was too ,
,ad. Many of the goud women Of /
he neighborhoOd could not find il /,
y their hearts Ia help her. as she
persisted In asserting her husbands /
innocence She clung To the man with I
What these practical women considered /
Bon -rnsical, romantic affection. and they Z
lai no patience with her. Others honortI !
ier for her faith in her husband and for /
ser aiiection. although they doubted not \
or moment that Tony HarvlScrabhle \
vas guilty a. charged. The Wife and her d