Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-05

had some direct effect on its object, but
then to find fault with authorities was
little less than a sin, and for a wife tC
leave her husband, fearful scandal
In spite of the facts and all their wit
nesses, the sentiment of Bassatt went
with the deacon Conjugal subsection
was the fashion, or rather the princi
pie and custom, of the day, and was to
be upheld in spite of facts. However
Parson Roberts by this time had heard
of the matter, and called deacon Flint
to account, thinking it to be his duty
This is the hull sum and substance
ont, parson,' exclaimed the deacon
Miss Flint is miserable. hystericky
female, a dreadful weak vessel, and
noways inclined to foller Scripter in
the marriage relation, Eve given heI
the same livin' | had myself | hain't
denied her food an raiment, where.
with she had ought to be content, as
the 'Postle Poll says: but she is real
penickity, and given to th lusts Of
the flesh about her eatin, and feel il
my duty u be a faithful stooard OF
my substance, and not pomper up our
poor perishin' bodies, while there is
forty million more or less O. heather
creaturs lynn in wickedness in foreign
parts. Ye know, parsons. hain't
never stented my contributions to them
things; I've been constant to means OF
grace allus, and | may say pillar
mabbe a small and creaky one, but
still pillar in the temple, such as
it's don't know as | had ought to
be disturbed by this strife of tongues
Parson Roberts was little con-
founded He himself loved a bit of
good eating-a cantle of chicken pie,
a tender roast pig. young chicken
broiled on hickory Goals or succulent
shad from the Connecticut, washed
down with sparkling cider or foaming
fiip-and the consciousness of this
mild weakness gave undue exaltation
to Deacon Flint's boasted asceticism.
The parson was too honestly humble
to see that Deacon Flint loved money
with greed far surprising that of any
epicure that his own fault was but a
failing, while the other was passion
Besides, be considered that Mrs.
Flint had made light of the sacred Or
dinance of marriage, and set an awful
example to the wives OF the parish; SO
he went away from this interview con-
vinced that the deacon was a stern
saint, and his wife weak sinner.
Next day, however the deacon him.
self was surprised by another visit.
Pale and worn, clinging tight to Sam
Pratt's arm, and followed by Mabel
carrying a cushion, his wife entered
kitchen, where he sat devouring salt
pork and potatoes with the zest of a
dog who gnaws his bone unmoles,ed
i come back, Amasy, to see if we
couldn't agree to get along together
again. she said weakly and meekly.
Il hear there's been considerable talk
about my leavin' on We, and | don't
want to c st no reflections | was
tired all out, an | wanted to rest q
SPELL Sam an Nab have nursed me
up, soft | could get along now, L
guess
The man turned his cold green
grey eyes on her slowly. Il don't
know what you want to come back for
now he said.
why, | want for to do my duty so
far as can
You had oughter have considered
that afore you went off, was the dog
ged answer.
Tears ran down the poor woman's
face; she could not speak. Mable's
beautiful eyes blazed with wrath !; she
made step forward but Sam Pratt
gently put her back, and said:
Look here, Deacon Flint Mot er
left YOU because she hadn't food, nor
care, nor nothing she needed, nyther
when she was sick nor when she was
gettin' better. She thought spell o.
rest would do her good; she knowed
by that smart contrack you got out
of her that you owed her livim' any
how, and you hain't done thing
to'rds it sense she went to her own
house Now | don't call that con-
duct honest by no means, much less
Christian
Judge not, Samwall Pratt Scrip
ter no less'n statoot law commands
wife to be subject to her husband.
Sarepty had what had. done what
| edged best for her, and instead of
submittin to her head, she up and
went off to live by herself, aud left me
to git along as 1 could. | want no.
way bound by no law nor no contrack
to supply her with no means so long
as she went away from her dooties,
and made me an astonishment an a
hissn in Israel, SO to speak
Stop right there!' broke in Mable,
furious I've heard say the devil
could fetch Scripture to further his
oan purposes, and b'ieve it Didn't
you have no duties to your wife !?
Don't the bible say you've got to love
and chirish her? Don't tell me |
lived here long enough to see you
starve and browbeat and torment he" !;
| know your mean, hateful, grabbed
WAYS, and | don't know how she lived
with you so long She ought to have
run away years ago, and il folks do
hiss at you, it's more'n time they did.
Christian !-you Christian! You're
a dyed-in-the-wool hypocrite. If
you're pious, | hope | shall be a rep
rebate
Il ha'n't no doubt but what you will
be, young woman answered the dea
con, with cold fury You'd ought to
be put under the pump this minnit for
a common scold. Get out of my house
right Off
And with this he advanced upon
her. But Sam Pratt, lifting the old
lady in his arms, carried her away,
and gently showed Mable, glowing
with rage, before them till they reach
ed the wagon Then he himself went
back and tried to make terms with the
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