Milford chronicle., 1883-02-02

The farm was nearly a mile from
church. yet Samuel Tucker had for
wears been in the habit Of driving back
alone after the afternoon service, leaving
his wife to attend the Sabbath school,
and then walk home as best she could
through mud or dust. Great was Mrs.
fuckers astonishment, therefore, on the
Sabbath after husbands return, to find
him waiting for her at the close of the
Bible service The faintest suspicion
that he had driven back to the church
for her did not cross the good woman's
mind; she supposed that he had busi-
ness with some of the brethren, and was
hesitating whether to walk on as usual
or to suggest waiting for him, when the
farmer called out:
'It's lest as cheap to ride as to walk. y
Silently the wife took her seat in the
buggy and silently they drove home,
much to the husbands satisfaction, for
it seemed to him a proof Of the woman's
dull. unappreciative nature. "She didn't
act pleased but was only dazed like, as L
knew she would be-" he mUmured, as
he went about his "chores." "
At the same time Mr.. Tucker was CON
scious Of having performed a most praise
worthy act, and felt so comfortable that
he resolved to repeat the experiment. So
on the following Sabbath Jane again
found her husband in waiting, and as she
mounted the high buggy ventured to ut
ter half-audible "Thank you, and to
ask Samuel if he had been waiting long.
To which Mr.. Tucker replied that he had
lust reached the church, and didn't know
but he might find she had started on
foot.
This reply seemed to Jane a positive
assurance that her husband had really
returned for the sole purpose of taking
her home and her chilled heart glowed
lyll,; i]; warmth unknown for years She
lonqed to tell her husband how much she
appreciated his trouble. but imagined it
would sound $50 foolish " that she kept
her pleasure to herself.
The third Sabbath was rainy, and as
she washed the breakfast dishes Mrs.
Tucker kept thinking, 4 wonder If
Samuel means to come for me this noon;
it would be such help in the rain; I'm
half mind to ask him." This resolu-
ton was soon stifed, however, with the
reasoning which had silenced many
similar resolves in the past ten years.
&" No. won't ask no favors; if he don't
think enough of me to come, why, he
needn't
Although proudly unwilling to seek
any attentions, Jane longed for some
of her husbands love
and care. She had walked home in the
rain too often greatly to dread such ex-
posure. but week before the wife had
tasted the Joy Of being considered, and
Longed for some new and further proof
Of her companions affection.
Mrs. fuckers heart leaped for Joy
when. at noon, she saw the old mares +
mead from the lecture room window. In
Iced her hungeling heart suddenly be-
,ame quite manageable, and entering s
he carriage poor, melted Jane sobbed
,ut: I'm sure it's very good of you Sam ,
iel, to come back for me this rainy day, .
md then the tears flowed so fast that {
urther words were impossible. /
Completely taken by surprise, Mr..
fucker exclaimed S
81 declare l hadn't no idee you'd a
are so much about it. =
81 wouldn't mind the walk, respond e
d the wife, "but, Samuel, I'm so happy
o have you-care enough about me to
.ome."
The strong man was brushing away
ear from his own cheek now; his ten
lerer, better nature was mastering the
lard, selfish spirit which had long pos
essed him, and with some coughing and !,
hoking, he said
"Jane, I see I've made an awful botch f
f our married life; if you've a
mind to forgive me, I'll see if 1 can't n
reat You from to-day as woman ought 4
o be treated. o
This confession was all too much for d
he weeping wife, and she answered, +
uickIy: You're not a bit more to o
lame than 1 am; I've been proud and
Estimate but tell you what it is, Wen
egin all over again.
The ice was now thoroughly broken,
nd that afternoon Farmer Tucker and q,
is wife had long talk over the past and 3,
lture. And in the evening, when they >,
ere about to start for the prayer meet h
ig to be held in neighboring school :,
ouse, the renewed husband stopped and =
ssed his wife, saying n
"Jane. I've been a-thinking that mar W
ed life amt so very different from farm n,
g or any other occupation. q
"Now. I amt such fool as to think al
cid will keep a-yielding if l only enrich a.
once and plant it once. 1 have to go O,
rer the same ground every season; and ce
sre l supposed you were a-going to do D,
you always did when we were a-court- D,
g, without my doing my part at all. af
s'If L hadn't changed any, maybe you al
onld always have been as tender as you ol
sed to be, " pleaded the happy wife. h,
"Perhaps so, and perhaps not; but I m
mt mean to leave you to try no such ia
nm I tel Won whnt It is. Inne. 1 feel h,