Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-04
TONY HARDSCRABBLE'S WIFE.
BY VIM. H. BUSBEY.

Tony HARDsCRABBLE 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 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 a new
one and was in itself a 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 a 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 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
a hard time of it. She was a good
natured, round-faced woman, 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. People
caught only glimpses of her, but they
knew she was a comedy woman. While
other women of her age in the neighhor-
hood were saliow and broken down, Mrs
ndTuSC1dUUlt Was HUSH, pIUmD anu
strong. The face was attractive, but had
little character; and Tony's wife was
classed among the supplemented 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 any mans cornfeld whenever he
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 ano
out of season, on Sundays as well as work
days. He had been accused of shooting
fat young hogs and wringing the necks
of other peoples chickens, but only &C
cused. He would take his boys and &C
on nutting expeditions on Sundays, anC
always had an abundant supply OF WIG
grapes, berries, nuts, plums, etc. lie was
the freebooter as well as the Jack-of-aIl
uades OF the neighborhood, and was con
sluered suspicious character.