The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-20
OLD MANS CHRISTMAS.
Continued from Friday.l

-
and was dashing in dress and mannci
Her father had recently died, leaving he
q improperly. She had always covete,
Ben, and did not delay the nuptlals iron
from any sense Of delicacy, but rattle
fastened tho hour which should max,
him legally her own.
Tho old man was highly pleased at tn
turn affairs had taken. After all thes,
years Ben was united to tho woman h,
had chosen for him so long ago, and nov
surely Ben would settle down, and tax,
the care off his shoulders-shoulder
which were beginning to feel tho weigh
OF years OF labor. In truth, the old maj
was breaking down.
He fell i'll with II low fever soon ate
Ben's second marriage, and when he ros,
from his bed he seemed TO have growr
ten years older. 1Ie was more childish il
his ~iault-lnding, and more irritable. thar
ever before, and this new wife OF Benz
had little patience with him. She was moi
ut all like Edith. She bullied him, and
frightened him into silence when he be,
gan to find fault with ier extravaganza
For she was extravagant-therc was nc
denying that. sho cared only for show
and outward appearance. She neglected
her home duties, and often left tho old
mar to prepare his own food, while she
and Ben dashed over the country. OF
through the neighboring villages, behind
the blooded span she had insisted on hi.
purchasing soon after their marriage.
Poor old Arson English! lilo was
nearing his sixtieth year now, and
he looked and seemed much older
Ben was his only earthly tie, and
the hope and stay Of his old age. And he
was but n reed-a reed. His father saw
that ut last. Ben would ncvor develor
intoa practical business man. He was
unstable, lazy, and selfish. And this new
wife seemed to encourage him in every
e~xtravagant folly, instead Of restraining
him US the old man had hoped. And
someway Ben had never been the sam,
since Eth went away. He had beer
none too good or kind 10 his father before
that! but since then-well, when sh.
went, it seemed to Anton that she tool
with her whatever OF gentleness or kind.
ness lurked in Ben's nature, and left only
its brutality and eclfishnets.
And strive as he would to banisll-the
feeling, the old man missed the child.
All, no he was not happy in this new
state OF affairs, which he had so rejoiced
over ut the first. lie grew very old durin:
the next two years. Like all men who
worry the lives OF women in the domesti,
circle, he was cowardly at heart. And BEN
Observation-Disclosures him intosilcnt submis
sion by her masculine assumption OF au
thority ard her loud voice and well.de
fined muscle.
lie spoke little at home now, but h.
still paid frequent visits to his neighbors
and he remained firm in the Adam.lik,
idea that Elizabeth had been the root O
Nil evil in his life.
"ies, Ben's letting the place run dow
pretty bad" he confessed tot neighbo
who had broached the subject. "Ben'.
early trainin' wasn't right. 'Iiz'beth, sht
let him do bout rs he pleased. 'Liz'betl
never had no notions Of how u boy shoult
be trained. He'd a come out all right i
I'd n managed him from the start"
Strange TO say, he never was known II
speak one disparaging wordof Abby, Benz
second wife. Her harshneIs and neglec
were matters OF common discussion in thu
neighborhood, but tho old man, who hat
been SO bitter and unjust toward his owl
wife and Edith, seemed 10 feel q curiou!
respect for this Amazon who had 'subju
gated him. Or, perhaps, he remembered
how Eager he ihad been for the mar
rage, and his pride kept him silent. Ger
tain it is that he bore her neglect, and late,
her abuse, with no word OF complaint
and even spoke Of her sometimes witt
praise.
She's a brave ono, Abby H." he wouli
say. "She amt afraid Of nothin' or no
body. III she'd a been a man, she'd {
made q noise in the world.n
Ben drank moro and more, and ABBY
dressed and drove in like ratio. The farn
ran down and debts ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
which Abby refused to pay with be.
money, and the old man saw the saving
OF a long life Of labor squandered In folly
and vice.
People said it was turning his brain, fo
he talked constantly Of his poverty, Otter
walking the streets in animated converst
with himself. And ut length he fell Il
again, and al wildly delirious for weeks
1t was n high fever; and when 1t left him
he was totally blind, and quito helpless
He needed constant care and attention
IIe could not be left alone even for NJ
hour; Ben was seldom at home, ant
Abbyrebelled at tho confinement and re
straint it imposed upon her. Hired hel,
refused to take the burden OF the care o
the troublesome old man without in
creased wages, and Ben could not ant
Abby would not incur this added expense
Servants gave warning; Ben drank NOR,
deeply, and prolonged his absences from
home, and Abby finally carried out a re
solve which had first caused even he
hard heart some twinges.
She made m application to tho keepe
Of tho County Poor to admither husband
father to the department oithe incurabl,
insane, which was adjacent to the Poo
| House.
"He's crazy" she said, "just a crazy a
can be-. We can't do anything with him
Henceds q strong man 10 look after him
Ben's never at home, and he ha
everything to look after any way
and can't be broken Of his resi-
and : tho old man talks and erie
half the night. Pm not able to take car
Of him:-1 seem to be breaking down my
self, with all l have to endure, and be
sides it isn't safe to have him in the house
l think he's getting worse all tho time
He'd DO better of, and We all would, il b
was in the care Of the county,"
The:authorities looked into the matter
and found that Mt least n portion OF tn
lady's statements were true. 1t was quit
evident that tho old man would be bette
off in tho County House than he was il
the home Of his only son. So no wa
taken away, and Abby had her freedom
Mt lust.
1--WE arc going to take you where yo
will have medical treatment and care;
is your daughters request" they told hin
in answer to his trembling queries.
"Oh! yes, yes-Abby thinks I'll get m
sight back, ! suppose, II I'm doctored VI
Well, may DO SO, but I'm pooty o~ld-poot
old for the doctors to patch up. But Abb
has a powerful mind to plain things
powerful mind. Liz'beth never wout
a thought Of sending mo away-'Liz'be,
VAS so easy like. Abby ought to q been