The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-04-20
Husband Tanning.

In pleasant little village In Con
necticut there lived fifty years since,
a lawyer who was Familiarity known
among his fellow townsmen as
Norwood MunsoD, a sobriquet
which sufficiently epitomises his
character. He lived in a large, old
fashioned house, before which dismal
Lombardy poplars stood like woe
begone sentinels, while behind, be-
You'd The garden, lay private bury
ing ground, in which were deposited
the. mortal remains Of the three
wives whom the lawyer had worried
from this world to the next, by abuse
and i'll temper.
When Munson brought to his
dom!cile fourth bride, the tongues
OF the village gossips wagged right
merrily rehearsing the scandals, the
tlttle-tattle, and the veracious history
OF the lawyers relations to the de-
parted spouses. Nor did they neg,
lect their duty in the matter of pour
ing into the ears OF the bride all this
choice assortment ot scandal. Mrs.
Munson, the fourth, was brisk, de.
lermined little body, Tor whom the
lawyer had been obliged to go all
the way TO Boston, his name and
lame being somewhat too unsavory
TO allow his securing a wife nearer
home. She received all the COM
munications of her otficlous nelghbors
with httle remark, but with a certain
firm closing OF the lips, and a deter
mined snap OF the eyes, which BODIED
little good to the man who should
attempt to impose upon her.
She had not long to wait. One
morning, not three weeks after mar.
riage, Norwood, who believed in
taking time by the torelock, at
tempted to correct his spouse with a
pretty little willow switch. TO his
great astonishment-tor he had been
in the habit OF marrying meek wo-
men-Mrs. Munson refused TO be
logged. She stated that nothing in
the marriage articles gave her hus-
band the right to Use force, and after
wordy quarrel the newly married
pair agreed to sepai ate off hand.
The belongings OF Mrs. Munson
had come from Boston in one OF
those enormous trunks i'll use at that
time, and in this she began TO replace
them.
Norwood stood by regarding
with suspicious eyes every article
that went in. fearful lest some tritle
of his own might be carried away 10y
his departing bride, from time to
time examining the trunk to assure
himself that everything was right.
His wife was plucky, brisk and
strong. He was tail, lean and slow.
AS he stopped over the great chest,
she tripped his heels, and in he went
mead first, the lid being closed over
him before he knew what was the
matter: In vain he swore and raved
in vain he implorcd and threatened
his wife only begged him not to
over excite himself, and merrily trip
ped away to the kitchen and the
pantry.
Never had the house OF the mlser
known such brewing and baking.
The wizened spiders in the corners
actually swelled visibly, fattened by
the toolhsome odors pervading the
air Flaky pastry, puffy cakes, spicy
dishes-the eyes OF the hall starved
kitchen maid started from her head
until she seemed to be in danger OF
loosing them altogether; and when
she was sent to invite the village
gossip TO tea she ran from house to
house delivering incoherent mes
sages in which her errand and raptur'
Gus descriptions of the riands pre-
pairing were about equally mixed.
Much might be told OF the teasts
that followed, but what concerns US
mainly is the fact that instead q be;
ing served upon the table 1t was lald
Ia.