Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-02-08
HIS SECOND WOOING.
How Samuel Tucker COurted His
Wife After They Had Been
Married.

Although Farmer Tucker had long
dreamed of a visit to ChautauQua, when
he actually found himself at that Mecca
of devOut eXcurSionistS, early last Au
gust, the brawny man was tempted to
doubt his own identity. The holiday
surroundings were wholly unlike any
thing to which he was accustomed in
his prosy New England home; the rich
crowded program offered was in striking
contrast to the dull mOnotOny of farm
life. When this son of toll first entered
the auditorium, and saw that rustic anu
phitheatre crowded with thousands of
people listening breathlessly to the full
sweet tones of the grand organ, his
cramped, selfish heart was strangely
touched and expanded. For an instant
the wish crept in that he had asked
Jane if she would like to come, too. But
there was not much time for his own
thoughts, for as the music ceased d
white haired speaker arose and was in
troduced to the audience as Mr.. John B.
Cough.
At this announcement Samuel Tuck.
er's satisfaction was too great to be
kept to himself, and he said, half aloud
to his next neighbor, "Well, now, am
beat, to think l am going to hear the
man I've wanted to see for mure'n
twenty years" The young lady gave an
amused little laugh, but it fell unhee,led
upon the unsophisticateds speaker, whose
attention was already caught by the
orator.
Mr.. Cough commenced his brief lee
81 e l. l. l.
tiOns. The story was of a man who ap-
piled for divorce, and was advised by
his eminent lawyer to try the effect of
making love to his wife as he had done
before marrying her, instead of resort
ing to the measure he had proposed. 1t
included also an account of later visit
when the happy husband withdrew his
application, and, fairly dancing with
glee, assured the lawyer that his expert
ment had worked like a charm, that
sally had become us amiable and affec-
tiOnate 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 his joining in
the laughter. AS if unconscious for the
moment of the multitude aboat him, he
said in an undertone; I'd be willing to
take my oath that wouldn't work with
Jane. All l have to say is, that mans
wife was different from mine: I'd as soon
think of feeding serrup to a mummy as
to begin sparkling again with her."
1t would seem that this course of rea-
soning did not wholly dismiss from the
farmers mind a train of thoughts and
possibilities suggested by the lecturers
story. In every treat of the following
dayS-at sacred service or popular lee
ture, in the museum or by the model of
the Holy Land, when listening to a con-
cert, or gazing with thrOngs lupen the
illuminated fleet the far away husband
was relentlessly followed by vision of
hard-worked Jane, looking upon him
with reproachful eyes At length he
quieted his conscience with the determi-
nation to prove that his estimate of his
wife was correct. when L go back, 2"
he said to himself, "I'll just show the
woman some little attentions, and I'll
see they won't have no more
effect on her than they would on
the old bay mare. James bound to be
sullen and obstinate, and l suppose l
may as we'll make up my mind to it,"
On reaching home the resolution was
not easily carried out. When Mr.. Tuck
er planned some gallantry toward his
wife, the very thought made him feel so
unnatural and foolish that postpone
ment resulted; but the Sabbath offered
an opportunity so convenient that he
improved it.
The farm was nearly a 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 Sabbbth school, and
then walk home as best she could
through mud or dust Great was Mrs.
fuckers astonishment therefore, on the
Sabbath after her husbands return, to
find him waiting for her at the close of
the Bible service. The faintest sus-
picion that he had driven back to the
church for her did not cross the good
woman's mind; she supposed he had
business 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: Its jest
us cheap to ride as to walk Silently
the wife took her seat in the buggy, and
silently they drove home, much to the
husbands satisfaction, for it seemed to
him proof of the woman's dull. un
appreciative nature. She didn't act
pleased, but was only dazed like, as
knew she would be-" he muttered as he
went about his chores
At the same time Mr.. Tucker was
conscious of havInG performed most
praiseworthy act. and felt SO comfOrta
BILE that he resolved to repeat the exper-