Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-03-26

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them, and they disappeared from each
other.
The two came 10 one conclusion,
each conceving that ST, Mark had
marked tho other TO himself With
this comfortable knowledge, the wid'
ow and widower-elect hlcd home again
by the roads they come aud as their
custom was to slt apart after n qaurrel
they repaired to separate chambers,
each ignorant Of the Others cSeur'
sion.
BY aud by, being called TO supper
instead of su,king rs aioretime, they
came together, each being secretly in
the best humor, thought mutually sus'
pecled Of the worst. Amongst other
things on the table there was calls
sweet. bread, being one OF those very
daiutieS that had often set them to-
gether by the cara, The dame Look
ed aud longed but she RETAINED
from its appropriation, thinking with
in herself that she could give up sweet
breads for one year. And the farm er
made q similar reflection. After push
ing the dish to and fro several times,
by n common impulse they divided
the treat and then having supped,
they retired amcably to rest, whereas,
until then they had seldom gone to
bed without falling out. The truth
was each looked upon the other as be-
ing already in the churchyard,
On the morrow which happ1ened to
be the DANES birthday,the farmer was
the first to wake, and knowing what he
knew, and having, beside but Just
reused himself out of q dream strictly
confrma,ory Of the late vigil,he didn't
scruple to salute his wife and wish her
many happy returns Of the day. The
wife who knew as much as he, very
readily wished him the same, having,
IN truth just rubbed out of her eyes
the pattern OF a widows bonnet that
had been submitted to her IN her sleep
She took care however at dinner TO
give the fowls liver to the doomed
man, considering when he was dead
and gone she could have them, if she
pleased, seven days in the week and
the farmer on his part took care
to help her to many tid-blts. Their
feelings toward each other was that
of an impatient host with regard to
an upwelcome guest showing scarcely
bare civility while in expectation of
y,but overlooking hlm with hospital
ty when made certain of his departure.
In this manner they went on for
some six months, without any addition
of love between them and as much
selfsbness as ever yet living in sub
servience to the comforts and inclina-
ton of each other, is sometimes not
be found even amongst couples of
sincerer affections. There were rs
many causes for the quarrels as ever
but every day it became less worth
while to quarrel. So letting bygones
be bygones, they were indifferent to
the present, and thought only Of The
future, considering each other to adopt
a common phrase, "as good as dead
Ten months wore away and the
farmers birthday arrived in its
turn. The dame having passed an
uncomfortable night, having dreamed,
in truth, that she did not like herself
in mourning, saluted him as soon as
day dawned, aud with a sigh wished
him many years to come. The farmer
repaid her in kind, the sigh included,
his own vision having been of the pain
full sort for he had dreamed of hav.
ing headache from wearing a black |
hat-band, and the malady still clung to
him while awake. The whole morn.
ing was spent in silent meditation and
melancholy, en- both sides and when
dinner came, although the most favor
lite dishes were upon the table, they
could not eat. The farmer resting
his elbows upon the board, with his
face between his hands, gazing wish
fully on his vile. lne Dame leaning
back in her high armchair, regarding
the yeoman quite as ruefully. There
minds travelled in the same direction,
and at an equal rate, arriving together
at the same reflection but the farm
er was the first to give it utterance.
"Tbee'd be missed, dame, it thee
were to die |"
The dame started. Although she
had nothing but death at that moment
before her eyes, she was far from
dreaming OF her own exit. Recovering
however, from the shock, her thoughts
flowed into their old channel, aud she
.,.;,oI a., tho ann. on.,tt