The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-23
Wis SECOND W00ING.

Although Farmer Tucker had Ion.
dreamed of a visit to C~hautauqua, whel
he actually found himself ut that Mecca o
devout e~xcursionists, early last Augut,
the brawny man was tempted to doubt
his ownidentity. The holiday surround.
ings were wholly unlike anything tc
which he was accustomed in his prosy
New England home; the rich, crowded
programme offered was in striking con-
trast to the dull monotony of farm life.
When this son of toll first entered the Audi
torium, and saw that rustic a~mphitheatre
rowde with thousands ofpeople listen
ing breathlesslY to the full, sweet tones
of the grant organ, his cramped, selfish
heart was strangely touched and cx-
banded. 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 a white haired
speaker arose and was introduced to the
audience as Mr.. John B. Cough.
at this announcement Samuel Tuck
er's satisfaction was too great to he kent
to himself, and he said half aloud to his
next neighbor: "Well, now, 1 am beat
to think that Pm 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 UNDECIDED
upon the unsophisticated speaker, whose
attention was already caught by the
orator.
Mr.. Cough commenced his brief lec-
ture with n of his inimitable descrip-
tons. The story was of a man who an
Piled for a 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 resortine
70 the measure he had proposed. It in
Guided also an account of a later visit
when the happy husband withdrew his
application, and, fairly dancing with
giee, assured the lawyer that his expert
ment had worked like a charm, that
sally had become rs amiable and
u WIG US u nun COulO ASK To
have"
Mr.. Coughs representation of the
scene drew forth prolonged applmse;
but Samuel fuckers interest was of too
seriou a nature to permit his joining in
the laughter. AS if unconscious for tho
moment, of, the multitude about him. he
aid in An undertone: 'Id be willing TO
AXE my oath that wouldn't work with
Jane. All I have to say is, that mans,
wife was different from mine; I'd as soon
think of feeding serrup to a mummy as
10 begin sparkling again with her..
1t would seem that this course of
reasoning 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
lecture, in the museum or by the model
Of the Holy Land, when listening to a
concert or gazing with throngs upon the
illuminated fleet, the far-away husband
was relentlessly followed by a
vision OF hard-worked Jane, look
Ing upon him with reproachful
eyes. At length he quieted his
conscience with the determination to
prove that his estimate of his wife was
correct. "When I go back" he said to
himself, 'TH 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
suppose l may as we'll make up my mind
to it."
On reaching home the resolution was
not easily carried out. When Mr..
Tucker planned some gallantry towards
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 i'm.
proved it.
The farm was nearly a mile from the
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 Sabbath 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 suspi-
cion that he had driven b ok to the
church for her did not cross I ,e oood