Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-01

Ine COunLy-Seat, entertained Lne audience
by telling stale jokes and denouncing
the opposing candidates as a set of
thieves, liars and cut-throats, and declar-
ing that the ship of State would surely
founder among the breakers with such
men as they at the helm, all Of which
was eagerly swallowed by the worthy
Chairman, who, when the meeting ad-
journed, invited the speakers home with
him to supper. The Squire secretly
prided himself on his Widespread table
and his wife's skillful housekeeping,
and his motive in inviting the Judge and
lawyer home with him was to SHOW
them town chaps" how a well-to-do
farmer lived at home He found sup
per on the table awaiting his coming,
and without more ado conducted his Wis
itors into the spacious kitchen and seated
them at the supper table.
Mrs. Hall smilingly took her seat at
the head of the table, and while she was
engaged in pouring out the coffee, and
the Squire cutting meat and passing the
bread, Judge Brown opened conversation
by remarking on the dryness of the sea-
son, and inquired if the 'Squire's crops
had sustained much damage thereby
The Squire was about to reply by saying
in his Hottest manner that, "although the
season had not been as propitious as 1t
might have been, yet by judicious sys-
tenn of cultivation he had prevented the
failure of any one crop and had brought
all up to an average"
But the words froze on his lips when
his wife spoke and informed the Judge
that the drought had ruined the hay
crop, cut down the corn to half crop,
and that the bugs had eaten their pota,
toes all up, and the last wind-storm had
blown all the apples off, and they
wouldn't have hardly anything to sell at
ALL"
The Squire looked aghast, for he rec
ogniZed his own words, and couldn't tell
what object his wife had In view by
quoting his identical language. He re-
covered himself sufficiently to take the
profered cup of coffee and commenced
his supper. He was horror-struck on
tasting the coffee to find it made of bran
and molasses, and when he tasted the
pumpkin-pie that looked so inviting he
found it hadn't particle of sugar in it
and the apple-pie was evidently made
from the sourest apples in the whole
orchard. The old 'Squire's brow took on
a perplexed look and his tongue lost it's
accustomed glibness. The supper came
to an end, however, and much to his re-
lief his guests took their departure.
He stood at the gate some time in a
profound fit of meditation and then
turned around and went into the kitchen
to demand an explanation. He found
his wife busily engaged in washing the sup
per dishes and putting things to rights for
the morrow. He looked at her sternly
for a moment and then inquired in an in
dignant tone why she had given those
strangers such poor supper. Mrs. Hall
looked up in well-feigned surprise at
the question and informed her husband
that she had given them the best she
had, and that if it were poor meal it
was not her fault, for she couldn't make
pies sweet without sugar, nor make very
good coffee out of bran and molasses.
eff you had told me you were out of
sugar and coffee would have got them
for you and saved myself all this morti-
| fication," angrily retorted the irate
Squire.
"You acknowledge being mortified, do
your" calmly replied Mrs. Hall. eff
fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind
perhaps you will be more careful in the
future of Notifying the feelings of 9TH
ers. / have never asked you to supply
any household wants in the whole of our
married life without having my feelings
mortified. You have always grumbled
at such requests as if I was personally
responsible for the consumption of
every article that was brought into
the house. For fifteen years | have
worked here through heat and cold, fair
weather and foul, and when father died
and received my share of his estate
you spent it in charging and improving
your farm as your taste dictated, and in
all this time my wishes have never been
consulted IN any way, and no part OF the
revenue derived from our joint labors
have | ever spent. But forbearance has
| ceased to be virtue with me, and my
| elf-respect will not allow me to ask for
favors at your hand with the air of a
culprit any longer. Surely the laborer
is worthy of his hire. This should be
| given without grumbling and [ will
| never again beg for what is mine by
right and what should be freely given
without murmur."
This was quite a long and pointed
speech for quiet little Mrs. Hall to make,
and the Squire paused in his rapid walk
up and down the kitchen as much sur
prised as if bomb-shell had exploded
at his feet. He turned white and red by
turns, and when his wife ceased speaking
he slowly resumed his walk across the
floor, glancing furtively at her impassive
| cOuntenanCe, but that worthy woman