Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-10-27
An INsUBORDrNATE WIFE


'Done at lsst,' said Mrs. Giles, speaking
to herself, habit in which she frequently
indulged. Now, II dinner was ont Of the
way, might have time to finish Leonard's
suit this afternoon; Pve had il around 40
long. If / only had sewing machine.
how mnoh could accomplish: and picking
mp her basket. she went into the house.
The prospect within was not very cheering:
the wash tub to clear away and the dinner
to place upon tho table. Just asshe began
to lay the table, Mr. Giles appeared at the
door and said:
Put on m extra plate, that man vii!
take dinner with u.s.
Dinner was soon roady, and rs soon dis-
patched. for ceremony was one of the I'M
known things in the Giles family. and Mr.
Giles and the stran ger retired to the sitting
room to discuss tho merits OF new reaper
and mower, while Mrs. Giles remained and
cleared away the dinner table. When she
had finished and made herself ready for the
stterncor ahn went info th" eitt,ro rccnn
Mr.Giles was saving: III Won have ANYTHING
now, ant! better. anything TINT will make
work easier, and do more Of it, I'm yonr
mani I'm in favor Of all machinery that
will tighten work Tor man. Why, bless
you. just look around my farm; it's run
mostly by machinery.
'Proiitably? Certainly replied he. 10 an
Interrogation from the stranger. Money
in the bank, he added, never omitting an
occasion Of mentioning small deposit he
had in the city bank.
The stranger was gone at last, and Mrs.
| Giles sat down with weary limbs and ach-
| inG shoulders to finish suit Of clothes .he
was making for her oldest son, a lad Of iif.
| teen. Slowly and wcariy the needle went
in and ont; stitch after Glitch was taken,
but to little purpose; it did seem as if she
| would never como to the last. Bnt il
| stitches progressed slowly, her thoughts
| flew fast enough. The last words Of her
husband fingered in her mind, and again
| they REQUIRED to her.
AYES, men can have their burdens light
| ened. hnt poor women may drudge. Every
year Giles has added something new to his
farm implements, while have to plod
| along with hardly sufficient utensils to cook
| decent dinner; an old stove without a
boiler or whole griadle, and cracked door.
No wonder can't bake Loaf Of bread de-
| Gently. Then herc have to sit and stitch
| a machine would complete it :
1t Ia needless to record all Of Mrs. Giles
thoughts and words as sic sat stitching the
honrs away. A dim consciousness Of her
wrongs, and faint determination hereafter
to assert her rights, was entering her mind.
She had 90 long given up her opinions, set
! aside her needs and fostercd the selfishncsa
Of her husband, that 1t was hard to break
through the meshes OF habit which his stern
will had woven around her. The afternoon
wore away, and Mrs. Giles laid aside the
unfinished garment to prepare the evening
meal.
The next morning at breakfast she re.
marked to her husband that an agent for a
sewing machine had called the day previ.
'us, and wished her to try one Of his
machines
ri told him, she said, 'she might leave
one when he came next week.
Mr.. Giles laid down his knife and fork
and sat with utter ama5ement depicted or
his countenance. "a sowing machine =
ne gaaped when he had recovered himself
''He needn't leave any Of his new tangled
humhugs here; hare no nae for them"
"Bu. have"
'Youl" interrupted he; Il dent see what
zee you have cramschine Yon couldn't
never learn to use it; o, II you did, wha,
have you I, sew Only my clothes aud th,
boys. Women, now.ada,s are gettine
mighty Independent, wanting machines K
10 thoir work too lazy to do 1t themselves
Suppose they want to gad abont and GOSSIP
ah'nt their noighbors."
'Why Philiir-'
'Woman's work 10 nothing continnei
Mr.. Giles, not needing tho interruption
My mother had not as many convenience
for doing her work NJ you have. yet she al
ways had her meals regular and well cook,
cd, and that is moro than can say for yon
No, don't want any sowing machine abou
my honse. God made as good a sowing
machine rs want when hc malc woman. i.
| With this nltimatnm he left the table
and taking his hat, mounted his horse ant
rode away to look at the new reaper whicl
he contemplated buying.
One by one the members Of the famil,
finished their breakfast and passed ont
leaving Mrs. Giles alone. She sat with he
head roasting upon her hand her thought
wandering back TO tho days when, in tn
freshness Of her youth, she gave her heart
deepest and best affections to Phillip Giles
Blinded by her great love for him she say
not tho extreme sclfishncss nor coarscncs
Of his nature. She implicitly believed al
his promises. and hooded not tbs warning o
her friends.
| 1t seemed a long time since then, s
many shadows had darkepcd their path
way, darker yet seemed to grow lifc's rng
ged journey. Shc saw her Six sons CROWN
up aronnd her, amidst rough and evil mia
onces, without tho ability 10 connterac
them. airs. Giles remained long tim
bowed over that breakfast table prayin
: with q sense Of helplcssncss and feeling Q
| need, such "a she had never before expert
, cnced. A loud rap at the door startled hel
On opening u shc found Mr.. Harris ha
called to pay off note which had long bee
due; a note Mr.. Giles had often declaEed