South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-09-09

into the holes. and he heard Ridge ex.
postulating with her in the kitchen
about some supplies she needed. He
sat through Monday in the COSY sit
tlng-room, where he could hear her
toiling at the wash-tub, and hurrying
to get M thu uea's, while she attended 10
The neglected baby when she could catch
a moments time. His indignation was
at wbite heat by night. and he felt that
lie could have caned "that graceless
scamp" his nephew. with pleasure. for
permitting such a state OF affairs.
They walked out after tea and looked
at the growing crops, Ridgway feeling
unusually well satisfied with himself and
all his doings.
Uncle Alexis first remark hardly
chimed in with this sentiment.
Didn't it ever seem TO you, Ridge, "a
n rather one.sided arrangement that you
have a stout man to help you ont Of
doors, and your wife no help at all in
doors /? Turn about is fair play
Suppose now that you try the business
for three years alone, AID let her have
the help"
'Ob. UNCLE expostulsted Ridge. there
is steady work for two men on this farm
the year round
And steady work III the house for two
women; and yet you have let young.
delicate wife carry it on single handed,
and, as far as | know, have never re-
monstrated with her on the slow suicide
she was committing. Such havoc as
three short years have made 1t ought
to make o man ashamed. If his feelings
are not ironclad. TO so overwork wo-
man he has vowed to love and cherish"
Ridgway redeemed at his uncle's plain
dealing. but Le was not disposed to adj
init that he was the one so much 10
blame.
Il tell you, uncle, Phebe has no, the
faculty OF getting along with her work
that some women have. 1t takes her
longer than it needs 20 get every meal
| am sometimes almost surprised
1T certainly does take her longer than
it need to. have plainly seen that,
AMI now, Young man, I'll teach you a
lesson. You are 10 rake hay to- morrow,
| believe. FL fix you a rake, and I'll
see you use it. And the irate old man
smashed all but three teeth out of = good
rake and handed it over to his nephew.
There's your implement, and I'll come
out and see how you get on with it,
There'll he no Striking either. Every
thing have seen OF vonr indoor convs
niences Lave been just Of that order
Your wife works with n thrce-toothed
rake from morning till night. II is good
to be saving tnd lay up money, but not
il yon must grind it out of the life blood
/ 81, ia. IA I've nd
est to YOU NJ more new rakes for you
until see diff rent order Of things
IN The house Let Phebe make out n
list of all she needs "a We are together
this evening all then do you draw a
check anil foot the bll.'
'Why, uncle, you never kept house.
You know nothing OF woman's de-
mands. IL would sweep. every cent ]
have
Let it sweep then. Money gotten
dishonesty rs that was had better GO
to the place it was stolen from. Iou
have been robbing your wife of her life
power. her health anil her happiness
these three yesrs. II is time you began
TO make reparation. | have preached
economy to you it is trGe, but | never
preached dishonesty. II you can't keep
house in decent way, break up and let
Phebe 20 back to the good home she
came from. You can 90 into q store in
! the city and make your own living
What desolate picture il was Leave
his pleasant home. his wife and boy. and
take up with the old solitary lodgings
in boarding house lle fcl. lonesome
at the bare suggestion. Uncle Aleck
went on:
Il should like to give your wife this
| piece Of advice: The next time you even
| bint about what is needed in the house
| keeping. and what is not. and suggest
! retrenchment here and cutting off there
want her to walk out and give orders
/ to your hired man; tell him how much
/ grain he must gise 90 the horses, how
much salt to the sheep how he must
scrimp the wheat when he sows il, and
tue corn when he plants il. She may tell
| him how to tie up the broken harrow
with string, and not go TO tho expense
| OF getting IL mended. and SHALL insist on
| going ahead il The plow handle Is brok
On 1T is too ,rifiing thing TO stop the
work for that All the fault inl with
/ Phebe is that she did not 90 this long
ogo. IL she had given you a good set
/ ting down on the start, and taught you
to mind your business, it would have
! been blessing oil around.
IL was pretty plain dealing, but it was
a great eye-opener to the Young man.
lie sat upon the piazza for IN hour in
the moonlight and thought and thought
Whatever his moditations we're, one
thought was uppormost - be must gain
ground with Aleck or his chances were
slim. That little talk had, as Mark
Twain would say, knocked more con-
ceit out Of him than a &c Of soasickness
Humble pie may not be very palatable
but IT IS sometimes Just the Diet TO bring
one around right. Slowly and soberly
the young man came to himself and