The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-08-14
LYSANDER'S WELL.
A Bone Of Contention That Became
Bond OF Union.


TO a small property and little ready
money very unexpectedly, made up his
mind to leave the sea, which he had
followed" to use his own expression,
ever since he ran away from home al
fourteen years of age, it also occurred
to him that it was incumbent upon
him to choose wife for himself-one
who should cook his dinners, iron his
shirt bosoms, keep his house in goo6
order, darn his stockings, and go tt
church with him on Sunday. 1t was
very well, as he said to himself, for &
sailor to have a sweetheart in every
pert, but q landsman with property
should cultivate the domestic virtues.
Accordingly he proposed to Esmeralda
Archer and was accepted.
1t was not a love match. Esmeralda
had given up the idea of matrimony
years before, and had settled down as
the village tailoress. She could, how
ever, turn her hand to any thing, and
coming to Mrs. Connover's one MORN
ing, had helped her to get breakfast.
iysander Whiting boarded at Mrs.
Connovers, and as he sat at table he
watched Esmeralda going to and fro
with her light, true step and bright
smile. Her face. flushed from the
warmth OF the kitchen, out of its usual
paleness, and that satisfaction in serv-
ing meal to hungry folk that is as
natural to some women as their love
for babies, gave her pleasant, home
like look.
Shed make q good wife," he said
TO himself. And the proposal was the
result of the conviction.
The tailoress said TO herself that the
az-sailor had good face, and
would be kind to her. He had also a
home 10 offer her. which she could
make comfortable for him. The domes-
tic affections seemed very beautiful to
the lonely, middle-aged girl, who had
no relatives; and if there was no
romance in either heart, there was no
fear of the future.
However, the Widow Bedott was
right when she declared that we "kant
kalculate on nothin' airtlly." Before
ayear had passed over their heads the
newly-wedded pair began to find them
selves unhappy. What happened ex-
actly it is hard to tell. The mans
code of morals and manners was not
that of the woman. She, a Puritan of
the Puritans, brought up in a village,
could not understand the sea-faring
man, with his nightly glasses of grog.
his desire to throw the parlor windows
vide and let the sun in, his unconven-
tional disregard of neighbors and his
horrible habit of kissing pretty girls.
She tried in vain to force him to be
"genteel" and proper. He strove,
With disastrous results, to induce her
to be Jolly" or at least to allow him
to be SO. AT last he secretly wished
that ne had never left the sea, and she
That she were still q tailoress.
1t was just about this time that the
Old well gave out. 1t had not been
sweet for long while, and there
could be no doubt that there should
nave been a new one long before.
Esmeralda was anxious to send for GER
tain men whose mission it was to dig
wells. and have all done in good and
workmanlike manner, but Lysander
was resolved that he would dig it
himself. The two argued over this,
as they argued over every thing, and
could not gree as to the site of the
Well, or whether it should have one or
The other of certain improvements of
The pump-sort attached. And at last
Lysander began his work in utter ig-
norance OF all precautions taken by
well-diggers, in the very worst spot
possible.
de dug a great deal, and accom-
plished very little; and Esmeralda, in
algnant at his want of consideration
lot hef comfort, and his carelessness
d her approval, never went to inspect
MS work. In fact, that we'll seemed IN
De the straw that broke the camel,s
back; the fern reed too much.
Pm going to get up early and finish
the we'll" said Lysander, one morning
at five o'clock, as he pulled on his
shoes. I'll expect breakfast at seven. "
very well, said Esmeralda. Grossly;
III be up in time to get it; but l shall
take another nap now"
She turned on her side and drew the
counterpane over her face. Afterward
sne remembered that he drew down
We shade. and went out of the room
allly, as with a kindly wish not to
asarb her.
odea little kindness comforts a
,eaan. Esmeralda began to think |
!. .aas her husband might have banged |
!. ,ue ooor, or been cross about her TAX
- another nap, and she resolved to
~ MN very good breakfast; and
n,. ing what it should be, fell into a
Wh aae sleep, and forgot all about it.
o. aea she was Weakened with start,
tns SUI was high, and a tall clock on
me ilantelp;ece MONTE, % a. -.
len '9'a'eo 70 inc aouF OF