The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-02-10
RILLY,S WIFE.
Two Smart WOmec and Two
Smart Mcn.-.As sS1d by ono of
the Women.
tFrom the Overland Monthly J

tFrom the Overland Monthly)
Don't know Billy? Then allow me
to INTRODUCES to yon "an .rishman by
trade, and a mechanic by tho grace of
God;" perfect pet among the girls,
as handsome as the day is long, and
good as he is handsome. That is
Billy, or rather acos Billy when first
knew him. He was the youngest of
the squad of carpenters that worked
on our new building, and altognth2r
the most active and efficient of the
party. They sent him to all the ex-
posed positions, and he risked his
life gayly every day. "There is a
special Providence for fools and chill
dren," said he, :and l claim protec-
tion under the 6rst clause OF that
law"
was watching him one day at
work on top of the house, when his
feet slipped, and he started head
foremost for terra f'7aa. When
within ten feet of the bottom he
touched some scaHolding with his
hands, "swapped ends" and lighted
on his feet, like the tumbler in cir
Gus, made me an elaborate saldana,
aud climbed up again to his esrie,
full forty feet above my head.
Billy had not worked long for us
when it became apparent there was
something On his mind. The joliiest
fellow among the men, he yet strove
to get away from them in his leisure
hours, and passed the greater part of
Sunday out in the meadows, or un.
der the trees. Even in the house he
was addicted to reverie, and his
absent-minded replies to remarks
made to him gave rise to many a
laugh. The query wont round,
"What's the matter with Billy?" but
found no solution until guessed it.
He was in love. The neighboring
girls, laughing-eyed, dimple-cheeked
rustic beauties who came TO visit me,
could make no impression on his
faithful heart. Being myself a moth
erly individual Of that type which
Byron describes as sfair, fat, and
forty" Billy took me as naturally as
ducks to water, and before long he
told me all about it.
"The pre,tiest girl in all the world,
Mrs. Brown" he said; "but that
would be nothing if it wasn't for her
goodness. To be sure she is two
years older than ], but Why shoald ]
care? She is SO truthful and inno-
cent, you can look down her blue
eyes into her very soul. She is big
girl; she weighs hundred and fifty
pounds" Judged l it to be nearer
one hundred and eighty. "But then
you are big, you know, and the boss
certainly made tenstrikc when he
got you. like big girls myself. Ii
they are sweet and good, you cam,
have too much Of 'em. l am like a
Chinaman buying boots; / want the
biggest l can get for the money.
Then Alice is smart, l tell you; in
fact she is too smart to be tied to
such num- skull rs am, and | can't
tell what she sees in me 10 love; but
there is no accounting for taste. She
does love me, anyhow, in spite of my
ignorance and awkwardness. God
bless her! And am wholly grateful
to her for it. Yes, | am. The
thoughts Of it brings tears to my eyes
often, though you wouldn't take me
for such . granny
And away he went, singing in a
rich, clear voice, "I'm lonely tonight,
love, without you," and l passed out
of the moonlight to put Little Pickle
to bed, thinking all the time Of Billy,
and hoping his girl would be as good
aud true as he believed. But some
how, without any particular reason. |
have sort of old-fsshioned pity for
men, anyhow, thinking Of my own
good husband, and how he struggled
10 support me and the children, until
care and anxiety have furroweL his
dear face and blanched his hair,
while l have been SO sheltered and
protected that time has left me al
most untouched. "About as young
as when I married you, Liz, and a
heap better looking" he said, last
Sunday, when l had on my own new
blue and white calico for the first
time.
Before long Billy got leave of alb
sence, and went 10 Sacramento,
whence he soon. returned, bringing
his wife. She was willing-even
anxious--to help me with the house
work; and soon, with big-hearted
tyranny, she monopolized it all. OF
course l could not rest in my easy
chair, feeling all the time that was
imposing upon her kindness; and SO,
after conferring with my husband, it
was decided to pay her fair wages
for her work.
She was = remarkably handsome
woman; with "head-piece" on her.
Fifteen years Older than Billy at
least; too she called it, but he was
young in years and in the mschina-
tions Of our charming sex, and took
her word on all subjects. l never
saw = man so much in love in all my
life; and though he made no effort to
conceal it, there Was nothing maud
lin or sentimental in his exhibition Of
it. It was . love SO trusting, 90