The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-31

she appreciated his trouble, but i'm
agined that it would sound so foolish "
that she kept her pleasure to herself.
The third Sabbath was rainy, and as
she washed the breakfast dishes Mrs.
Tucker kept thinking: 81 wonder if
Samuel means to come for me this
noon; it would be such help in the
rain; Pm half mind to ask himl"
This resolution was soon sthed with
the reasoning which had stihed many
similar resolves in the past ten years.
"No, | won't ask no favors; if he don't
think enough of me to come, why he
needn't" Although proudly unwilling
to seek any attentions, Jane longed for
some demonstration of her husbands
love and care. She had walked home
in the rain too often to greatly dread
such exposure. But a week before the
wife had tasted the JOY of being con-
sidered, and longed for further proof of
her companions affection.
Mrs. fuckers heart leaped for Joy
when at noon she saw the old mares
head from the lecture-room window.
Indeed, her hungering heart became
quite unmanageable, and, entering the
carriage door, melted, Jane sobbed out:
Pm sure it's very good of you,
Samuel, to come for me this rainy day."
and then the tears flowed so fast that
further words were impossible.
Completely taken by surprise, Mr..
Tucker exclaimed, 81 declare, l hadn't
no idea you'd care so much about it,"
co wouldn't mind the walk" re-
sponded the wife, but-Samuel-I'm
so happy to have you-come."
The strong man was brushing away a
tear from his own cheek; now his ten
derer, better nature was mastering the
hard, selfish spirit which had long pos
sessed him, and, with coughing and
choking, he said: Jane, / see I've
made an awful botch of our married life;
if you've a-mind to forgive me, I'll see if
/ can't treat you from day to day as a
woman ought to be treated"
This confession was all too much for
the weeping wife, and she answered,
quickly:
You're not bit more to blame
than l am; I've been proud and obsti
nate; but tell you what it is, we will
begin all over again"
The ice was now thoroughly broken,
and that afternoon Farmer Tucker and
his wife had long talk over the past
and future. And in the evening, when
they were about to start for the prayer
meeting to be held in the neighboring
school-house, the renewed husband
stopped and kissed his wife, saying:
Jane, I'VE been a-thinking that
married life amt so different from farm
ing or any other occupation. Now l amt
such fool as to think field will keep
a-yielding if only enrich it once and
plant it once; l have to go over the
same ground every season; and here l
suppose you was a-going to do as you
always did when we were a counting,
without my doing my part at all"
" If hadn't changed any maybe you
would always have been as tender as
you used to be-" pleaded his wife.
" Perhaps so and perhaps not; but 1
don't mean to leave you to try no such
plan. tell you what it is, Jane. / feel
as if we hadn't really never been mar
ried till to-day. 1t most seems as we
ought to take wedding tower"
Pm afraid we'll have to wait until
next summer for that" was the smiling
response.
g l suppose we shall; but We'll take
it then, certain; and I'll tell you where
We'll go, wife-that's to Chautauquay.
-EDchange.