The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-09
TOyY nARDsCRABBLE,s WIFE.
How She Earned the Right to Have Her
Own Way.

no" Sho EaFheu the Right to Have Her
Own Way.
Tony Hardserabble was carpenter.
blacksmith, member of tubs and barrels
and Jack of-all-trades for the r1ral
neighborhood in which he lived. His
little shop in which he made horse
shoes, shod the farmers horses. sbarn.
ened plowshares, made tables. doors
desks, cupboards, bureaus, and occa-.
sionally collins; In which he pounded
away at wonderful pork and vinegar
barrels, and frightened up dilapidafed
old tubs and casks; this little shop was
situated at point In the woods where
On old road crossed new one, and was
In itself queer. patched-up new and
Old building. Tony owned no corner
lots, but no one intruded upon him.
HIS little house, the gray hewn LOGS.
divided by seams of white plastering.
seemed cozy and comfortable: and
while the shop opened on the road. the
house stood back among the trees.
North, south, east and west We're NEIGH
DORIS Whhin . quarter or half-mile
range, and the neighborhood was thick
" settled. But no one saw the advan-
tage OF corner lots near Tony's shon.
MOI even tae spectators and wise men
o. The village three miles distant. and
Tony was sole resident at the corners.
where ne had garden-patch that did
nor flourish and family that increased
rapidly. Tony had a fair skin where It
showed above his elbows and below tbe
eollar-band of his shirt COLLAR he dis
gained to weary. but bis face had a
oaIE, grimy look. He was strong with
out beng stout, and was fond of dis
paying his strength and prowess. His
iacs was that of q daring, resolute man.
and his neighbors never took much
comfort in looking at it. Tony was a
naauy man. and as the country people
sala: was not afraid of work. He never
received much ready money, but he got
nls pay IA the shape of corn or flour
y PORK, or money in good time. Tie
j. poopie VINO patronized him did not
helghpor with him, however. They
anew little about the family, but thew
inferred that Mrs. Hardscrabble had q
nard tlme of it. She was a pood-na-
tared, ropnd-faced woman, Who was
always busy indoors, and who seemed |
y take great comfort with her chill
ogen, all OF which was a mercy. the |
sOoa old women of the neighborlYod |
shoulsht, as she had little comfort in her |
husband. '-- ~ iief
,.a Iso9y's wife, in those days, did not
lsKe much OF an impression In the |
anslgnhorhood. People caught only
suMpses OF her, but they knew she was
.cenely woman. While other women
IN nef age in the neighborhood were
saslow and broken down, Mrs. Hard
~ 9Ssaoole was fresh, plump and strong.
:. lug lace was attractive, but had utt7a
saAfaeter; and Tony's wife was classed
suong the supplemented dru,lges. and
@ss frequently referred to as . woman
s Sao thought the world and ali of her
sn;.;. en' out who had not an atom of
T TN. And Tony was good to her.
T Taas was al people could say about
aony had never been seen at church
na ~ aau certain loose ways and indie
r. notions that the people did NOT
bs.s. ne considered that there was no
fra ,.a IA Taking mess of roasting ears
wsn s any man $ cornfield whenever he
of - 1lem. Hethought the carving
ola & sumo nne watermelons from some
natal nj lhalnlers carefully guarded truck
a1 sCn was good sport. He would take
s. 1 ns walnut rail from afence Whenever
va- lseseec seasoned walnut for Frame
sa s.a N MS shop. He shot game in
ws vain ana out of season, on Sunday as
cu sa g !. work days. He had been 40
S 1;5a 9 q shooting fat young hogs and
eh;fslng the necks Of other ueonle,s
taI ss1 ems but only accused. BE wonld
ditioa als boys and go on nutting expe-
aba sais on Sunday, and always had an
nass .. AN supply of wild grapes, berries /
4 =. kaunis, etc He was the freehontarp
nel sssl g the Observation-Disclosures Of the
asssshia9oorhood, and was considered :
S wSas. Character.
prm,ss l L IL was announced that Souire
oss ss !, mouse SsI had been broken into and
Be Be-, s, 1870 in money taken. and that
Is ssaMoke-house had been broker ZEN , mo,
shoa line night, and that the hams and md
Il ~ s. taken had been found buried
rs =. sr woods near Tony's house M eTs
sprs1S,pi.I lsed Tony was arrested had
aenary examination, was bound