American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-23
TONY HARDSCRABBLE's WIFE.
BY WIN. H. BUSBEY.


Tony HARDsCRABDLE was carpenter,
blacksmith, member of tubs and barrels,
and Jack of-all-trades for the rural neigh
borhood in which he lived. His little
shop in which he made hOrse-shOes, shod
the farmers horses, sharpened plowshares,
made tables, doors, desks, cupboards,
bureaus, and occasionally collins; 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 a point in the
woods where an old road crossed a 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 plaster
ing, 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 with
in a quarter or half mile range, and the
neighborhood was thickly settled. But
no one saw the advantage of corner lots
near Tony's shop, not even the spectators
and wise men of the village three miles
distant, and Tony was sole resilient at the
Corners, where he had a garden patch
that did not flourish and family that in
creased rapidly. Tony had fair skin
where it showed above his elbows and be-
low the collar-band of his shirt collar he
disdained to wear), but his face had a
dark, grimy look. He was strong with
out being stout and was fond of display
ing his strength and prowess. His face
was that of a daring, resolute man, and
his neighbors 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 shape
of corn or flour or pork, or money in good
time. The people who patrOnized 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, Iound-faced woman, who was
always busy indoors, 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 she was a comely woman. While
other women of her age in the neighbor-
hood were saliOw 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 simple 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
He had certain loose ways and indie
pendent notions that the people did not
like. He considered that there was no
harm in taking a mess of roasting ears
from vi hon ha
wanted them. He thought the carrying
off of fine watermelOns from some old
farmers carefully guarded truck patch
was good sport. He would take a fine
walnut rail from a fence whenever he
needed seasoned walnut for framework
in his shop. He shot game in season and
out OF season, on Sundays as well as work
days lie had been accused of shooting
lat young hogs and wringine the necks
of other peoples chickens, but only ac-
cused. He would take his boys and go
on nutting expeditions on Sundays, and
always had an abundant: supply of wild
grapes, berries, nuts, plums, etc. He was
the freebooter as well as the Jack-ofall-
trades of the neighborhood, and was con
sidered suspicious character.
So, when 1t was announced that Squire
Prim's house had been broken into and
over thousand dollars in money taken
and that the smoke house had been broken
open the same night, and that the hams
and shoulders 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 procure bail, and
was sent to the county Jail. His trial
came off in due time, he was convicted
and sent to the penitentiary 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