Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-07-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
Samuel fuckers Second Woo.
ing.
Ho,o lie Courted HIS WIFE At5er They
Had Been Narrted for Years.

Hoso He COWrted HIS WIFE 1tJer They
Had Been Married for Years.
Although Farmer Tucker had long
dreamed of visit to Chautauqua,
when he actually found himself at
that Mecca of devout cxcurtionists,
early last August, the brawny man
was tempted to doubt his own identity
The holiday surroundings were wholly
unlike anything to which he was ac-
customed in his prosy New England
home; the rich crowded programme
offered vas in striking contrast to
the Gull monotony of farm life. When
this son of toll first entered the
auditorium, and saw that rustic am
phi-thcatre crowded with thousands
of people listening breathlessly to the
full, sweet tones of the grand organ,
his crampcd, selfish heartwas strange
ly touched and expanded. For an
instant the wish crcpt in that lie had
asked Jane If she would like to come
too. But there was not much time
for his own thoughts, for as the mu-
sic ceased white-haired speaker
arose and was introduced to the au-
dicncc rs Mr.. John 3. Cough.
AT this announcement Samuel
fuckers satisfaction was too great
to be kept to himself, and he said.
half aloud, to his next neighbor,
"Wcll, now, | am beat, to think I'm
going to hear the man I've wanted to
see for more'n twenty years. The
young lady gave an amused little
laugh, but it fell unhccdcd upon the
unsOphisticatcd speaker, whose at
tention was already canght by the
orator.
Mr.. Cough commenced his brief
lecture with one of his inimitabIe de-
scriptions. The story was of a man who
applied for a divorce, and was advised
by his eminent lawyer to try the effect
Of making love to his wife rs he had
done before marrying her, instead of
reSorting to the measure he had pro-
posed. 1t included also an account
of a later visit when the happy hus-
band withdrew his application, and
fairly danced with glce, assured the
lawyer that his experiment had work
ed like q charm, that ''Saliy had be-
come as an1iable and affectionate a
wife as man could ask to have"
Mr. Coughs representation Of the
scene drew forth prolonged applause;
but Samuel fuckers interest was Of
too serious nature to permit Of his
joining in the laughter. AS if un-
conciOus for the moment of the null
titudc about him, he said in an un-
dertone: "f'd be willing to take my
oath that wouldn't work with Jane.
All [ have to say is, that mans wife
is different from mine I'd as soon
think of feeding scrrup to mummy
as begin to sparkling again with her.
1t would seem that this course Of
reasoning did not wholly dismiss
from the farmers mind train of
thoughts and possibilities suggested
by the lecturers story. In every
treat of the following days-at sacred
service or popular lecturc-~in the mu-
SCUM or Ey the model of the Holy
Land, when listening to concert,
or gazing with throngs upon the iIIu-
minated fleet, the far-away husband
was rcientIessly followed by vision
of hard-worled Jane. looking upon
him with reproachful eyes. Atlength
he quieted his conscience with the
determination to prove that his csti-
mate of his wife was correct. s'When
u go back" he said to himself, 'I'u
just show the old woman some little
attentions, and I'll see they won't
have no more effect or her than they
would on the old bay marc. James
bound to be sullen and obstinate, and
1 suppose I may as well make up my
mind to it.
On reaching home the resolution
was not so easily carried out When
Tucker planned some gaIlantry to-
wards his wife the very thought made
him feel so unnatural and foolish that
postponement resulted; but the Sab
bath offered an opportunity so con-
venient that he improved it.
The farm was nearly mile from
church, yet Samuel Tucker had for
years been in the habit of driving
back alone after the forenoon service.
leaving his wife to attend the Sab
bath-school, and then walk home az
best she could, through mud or dust.
Great was Mrs. fuckers astonish-
ment, therefore, on the Sabbath after
her 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 NO.
mans mind; she supposed he had
business with some of the brethren.
and was hesitating to walk on as
usual or to suggest waiting for him.
when the farmer called out: sIt's
jest as cheap to ride as to walk
. Silently the wife took her seat in the
buggy and silently they drove home,