The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-01-03
TONY HARDSCRABBLE's WIFE.

How She Earned the Right to Have Her
Own Way.
Tony Hardscrabble was carpenter,
blacksmith, member of tubs and barrels
and Jack of-all-trades for the rural
neighborhood in which he lived His
little shop in which he made horse
shoes, shod the farmers horses, sharp
ened plowshares, made tables, doors,
desks, cupboards, bureaus, and coca
sionally collins; in which he pounded
away at wonderful pork and vinegar
barrels, and frightened up di1apidsted
old tubs and casks; this little shop was
situated Mt a point In the woods where
IN old road crossed new one, and was
itself queer, patched-up new and
nld 5u lding. Tony owned no corner
lets 3ut no one intruded upon him.
his little house, the gray hewn logs,
divided BY seams of white plastering,
seemed coy and comfortable; and
h'e lha shop opened on the road, the
stood back among the trees.
south. east and west were neigh
within quarter or half-mile
ige, ana ths neighborhood was thick
s8bhle8 3ut no one saw the advan-
pge Of nA lots near Tony's shop,
not eve. speculators and wise men
err o three miles distant, and
sole resident at the corners,
bad a garden-patch that did
and family that increased
fny had fair skin where it
Saeaea 4oove his elbows and below the
eagy..nd of his shirt COLLAR he dis
4a0ed to wear), but his face had q
dark, gri'ny look. He was strong with
out bt NC stout, and was fond of dis
playing bis strength and proves. His
faee W that of . daring, resolute man,
ana lis neighbors never took much
con .ort in looking at it. Tony was q
handy man. and as the country people
said, was not afraid of work. He never
received much ready money, but he got
his pay in the shape of corn or flour
or pork, or money in good time. The
people who patronized him did not
neighbor with him, however. They
knew little about the family, but they
inferred that Mrs. Hardscrabble had q
hard time of it. She was a good-na-
tured. round-faced woman, who was
always busy indoors, and who seemed
TO take great comfort with her chill
aren, all Of which was q mercy, the
good old women of the neighborfpod
thought, as she had little comfort in her
husband.
Tony's wife, in those days, did not
make much Of an impression in the
neighborhood. People caught only
giImpses Of her. but they knew she was
8 cornely woman. While other women
It her age in the neighborhood were
sallow and broken down, Mrs Hard
scrabble was fresh. plump and strong.
The face was attractive, but had little
character; and Tony's wife was elassed
smong the simple-minded drudges, and
was frequently referred to as a woman
who thought the world and all of her
children, but who had not an atom of
spirit And Tony was good to her.
Thst was all people could say about
TonY's wife.
Tony had never been seen at church.
Sc had certain loose ways and indie.
pendent notions that the people did not
ike, BE considered that there was no
harm in taking mess of roasting ears
from any mans cornfield whenever he
wanted them. He thought the carrying
off of some fine watermelons from some
old farmers carefully guarded truck
patCh was good sport. He would take
3 fine walnut rail from afenoe whenever
he needed seasoned walnut for frame
work In his shop. He shot game in
season and out of season, on Sunday as
well as work days. He had been &C
eussd Of shooting fat young hogs and
wringing the necks of other peoples
chickens, but only accused He would
take his boys and 60 ca nutting expe-
ditions on Sunday, sAd always had an
abundant supply Of wild grapes, berries,
nutss rlums. etc. He was the freebooter
IS wall a. the Jack-of-all-trades of the
neEghboghood, and was considered 9
suspicious character.
So when II was announced that Squire
PTirn's house had bean broken into and
over 81. 900 in monsy takar, and that
tie smoke house had been broken open
SAe same night, aud thst the hams and
shoulders taken had been found buried
h the woods near Tony's house, no one
wss surprised. Tony was arrested. had
3 pgsllnainsyv exegairasion, was bound