Connecticut western news., 1880-06-23
MY OWN STORY.

ssWe've been married just twelve month come next Friday, haven't we, Jennie, my dear?"
 eJust twelve-month, John."
 He was standing in the doorway, my handsome young husband, with his din- ner-basket on his arm, his honest eyes all aglow with love and delight.
 "Just twelve month, and now I've got baby as well as wife. Oh, Jennie, girlie, Pm the happiest man alive. Come here and kiss me before go, and tell me what you would like me to give you on the anniversary of our wedding day. {" :" Whats the use, John," said, as I received h1s kiss "you know we haven't an extra shilling to spare.
 $ So I do; but we'll play at make be- ieve, as the children do What would you like to have provided you could have it? Speak out, grille"
 I laughed, and fell to thinking.
 "Let mesee. There's so many things I want, John, 'tis hard to decide; but I think I'll take that pattern of brown silk that we looked at down at Wilson's the 2 other day" sAIl right, and what for baby ?"
 "Oh, christening-robe, of course. 3 My husbands brown eyes danced.
 "Poor Jennie,' he said, "I'm afraid you'll not get 'em, unless we keep ur our game of make-believe. By-by; take good care of Blossom" And with an- other kiss for us both he was gone. got baby to sleep, and fell to work, cleaning my kitchen and baking tarts. We could not afford to keep servant, Johns wages being small, and had al the heusework on my hands; but I did not mind 1t at all I loved my husband, and he loved me, and happier couple did not live.
 In the midst of my busy work, in comes Miss Dorcas Dent, an old friend of my mothers. An old maid, too, was Miss Dorcas, great scoffer at matrimony anG at mankind in general.
 "So you're hard at it, Jennie," she said, sitting down and throwing back he1 bonnet-strings. "A drudging yourself to death, and that child on your hands too! Such trim, handsome lass as you used to be, and look at ye now 4 poor, Jagged slattern! What fool Vt waste marry, Jennie. Weren't ye, now ? No, indeed, Miss Dorcas I'd do tht same thing over again tomorrow"
 Pah Such simpletons as you lasse areI We'll, you'll open your eyes to th' truth soon enough. A-working you hands to the bone and spelling you good looks, as if any'man that ever hat breath was worth it. I say, why don John keep you hired girl?"
 "He can't afford it, Miss Dorcas.
 "Cant he? Maybenot. Has to squan der too much on his own pleasures, doe he ?" .-
 "No, indeed" answered, indignant ly. John never squanders penny.
 Miss Dorcas shook her ample side with sarcastic laughter.
 Never squanders penny y!'' she re peated; "and never stays out O night either, and goes gallivanting round tn town with other women, and ye a-sittin at home a-darning his stockings? Don tell me about lem, Jenpie-these goo husbands-I know lem. I haven't go these two eyes for nothing. Didn't see John, only night afore last, a-walB ing down town and another woman be side him ?'
 stJohn ?" gasped-"my John? Oh you must be mistaken"
 "I never mistake. Twas your John.
 'sAnd who was the woman?" "Can't tell. Did't see her face"
 When John came home to supper determined to ask him; but a feeling ( shame kept me silent while we were { table, and the minute he was done | arose and took down his hat.
 "Why, John," I asked, "are yo going out again? And it is raining, too.
 ''So it is; but I must go to-nigh Jennie.'
 What for, John?'
 His eyes fell, and he turned from n in evident confusion.
 NWell-you seedon't ask me, Jel