The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-25
MRS. HOSMER H.,


The first wife of Squire Hosmer file,
a large place in his heart for scan
honeymoon Of six weeks, and large
place in his domestic establishment 70
six-and-thirty years. Indeed it may
be said that She was absolute ruler o
every inch Of the trim and comfortabl,
brick house into which. the thrifty
squire installed her as his bride, exec 81
so much Of the first floor as was rented
to very respectable groceryman. And
over him She even exercised a mild
kind of tyranny, being such vigorous
critic Of all the products he displayed
that the mild-mannered man was
forced to keep the best, OF everything IN
pure self-defense.l.. ... lr... .-.-.-
Squire Hosmer IN the days OF his
.courtship had looked forward 20 Ione
years of domestic happiness. in which
he and Keziah would exercise JOINT
rule over the comfortable house which
his father left him, and in, his most
sanguine moments, the squire even
dared to hope that bis will would be
the most effective factor in the dual
control. in the first few. years after
marriage. when he felt his end of the
sceptre. gradually slipping from his
grasp, he. made frequent spasmodic
and violent efforts to recover his grin
but they always ended in a defeat. So
he learner the lesson of submission
and took more pleasure in exhorting az
revivals, attending town meetings. and
discussing immersion in the grocery.
than he did at he freside home. No
heir was ever born TO them, TO usurp
the throne and bring them together
again as common subjects Of the same
ruler. ~ p" ii'-'i'.'' I"
So they settled down to a life OF sc-
ceDting the inevitable, Mrs. Hosnier
tolerably happy. in her supremacy and
ruling well, although an autOcraf, the
squire receiving, without question. the
share Of the good things of this life
which his wife allotted 10 hfu. AS
years went by he gradually became ac-
eustomed to having some one elseido
his thinking and make up his mind for
him be rather enjoyed the freedom
from responsibility Besides being re-
leased from anxiety about temporal
things. he had more leisure to devote to
the affairs of the church. Init be be-
came ore of its most substantial pillars.
a sonorous shouter, an elegant exh9rter
and mighty IN prayer; ana an indig-
nant member in good and regular stand
ing once said under his breath that
while Squire Hosmer. grew. in grace
that woman grew in cussedness. +"
That was q very severe thing for a staid
brother to say, but number Of pious
listeners grsvely assented TO the .asser-
tlon. i'l ~
After the good man had been thus
growing iugrsce for thirty SIX wears n I
that one day the household /
iyrant swept and garnished her Cfou1fnL |
on for the last time, and suddenly laid ]
,side her. sceptre without a farewell /
message to her own sdutiful subjects: 1
md the good people who carried ner 10 /
Ter sepulchre only obscurelv said that |
she had gone to her reward - thouRbait /
Fas never limited what q suitable reward /
The squire's rusty beaver. was decor
'usiy adorned With an Appropriate
sidth OF oomoazine, and the green
nutters above the grocery were bowed
Elth black tape, and the old man for 4
,eriod satin the back ward In the twi-
lght hours otter tea, instead OF in his
place on the 'front.' steps
IN eEIersetic- and vigorous housekseper
Ssnmed the regency and managed 70
.eep up some semblance OF the old 4
rder inrthe hnguom. she once said,
yer the back yard fence TO a aeighoor's
ervant, chat the old man seemed de-
ected like, and often called her Keziab.
= 81 aesent-mlnded way. she really
elieyed be. missed being n-peeked.h
Before many months, however, the 4:
ON 5szine bend began TO consract and
he bowed shutters were opened \ Little (