The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-06-07
She can run the boat to suit herself

She can run the boat to suit herself
now, sir. ="
Tony meant what he said. His wife's
individuality was the controlling one at
the corners. In time there was a car
pet on the floors, and then, wonder of
wonders to Tony! a common but pretty
pattern of paper on the walls. Tony
became Observation-Disclosures to his wife.
Couldn't he make picture frames.
brackets and other ornamental and use-
full articles for the house?'' OF course
he could, and he took great delight in
it. He couldn't sit down and tell his
wife, in words, how much he was sur
prised at her better self, nor how CRATE
fuI he felt, nor how much he loved her,
but he could work it out, and all his
spare time was devoted to doing things
that he imagined she wanted done He
was simple and awkward in springing
his surprises on her, or in discovering
what she desired, bat the very simplicity
Of his action made his acts the more
pleasant and touching to his wife.
Tony became proud of his house He
would shoe horse with the old skill
and carefulness as to details, and would
talk as much while doing il, but now all
the talk was about his own home; and
when the work was done he would
maneuver to have his customer 90 in
and look round, as he expressed it;
would take him in to show him new
four-barrel he had made, or a new rat
trap, when all the time he meant to show
him the paper on the walls, the carpet
on the floors, and the general features
of his coy little home. He was always
inviting people to dinner now, too. He
made childish parade of his wife and
her accomplishments. This became a
habit with him, and, unconsciousIy,
people encouraged him in it.
Tony was no longer freebooter, and
made no more raids on Sunday He
'hOoked' no more roasting ears or
watermelOns. He carried off no more
rails, and was never accused of shoot
ing other peoples chickens or hogs.
As the improvements at the house as
sumed decided shape, improvements
were inaugurated at the shop. The
rambling old building was Strengthened
up and frightened up, the fences were
made new, the garden fourished in
proper season, and an air of comfort
pervaded TOny's corners.
Tony went to church regularly. and
always took the whole family; and at
).
He devoted more attention to keeping
his children quiet than to the sermon.
The children always had their pennies
to put into the contributions box; and
the day the baby accomplished the feat
of dropping five-cent coin in the box
without grabbing for the other coins al
ready in was an hour of triumph for
Tony. There was something pathetic
about these little oddities that appealed
to all the tenderness there was in peo-
pies hearts
In time Tony would have been in
dignant- had any one asserted that he
was not a member of the church. He
wasn't clear in his mind as to when he
. Joined but new customs had crept
INTO his home, new thoughts into his
mind, and new sentiments into his
heart. People said there was great
change of heart, and as Tony was
proud of the evidences of such a
change, the people were probably right.
The movement, with Tony, was steadi-
ly progressive. He CROPPED bIindly at
first, but in time the resolution of the
man and his versatility of talent
showed in good works.
He was now spoken of as Mr.. Hard
and he neighbored with all
the people. He didn't get above his /
work, but he took his work up to a
higher plane. Mothers never objected |
now to their sons Iounging about |
Tony's shop. The boys liked to be with |
Tony, and even the men were glad when |
made it necessary to 60 |
to the shop.
The great change in Tony's life was
at first attributed to the reformatory in
1uence of prison discipline. But in good !
time people saw with clearer eyes. He /
commenced living a better life not so |
much as matter of conviction as to /
please his wife. Under this influ-
3nce his convictions were reached |
and the man was aroused He liked /
-he better life and chung to it. The /
people now understand that the instru- |
nent used to work the great change in
Tony Hardscrabble was his wife, and
hey speak tenderly of her, remember
ngwhat she was and what she is.-Chi-
ago Inter Ocean.