The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-14
The [FG0l0alG
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The IP@aG@o


hce-holding by the women is the COM
phcations that sometimes occur in fami.
lies. While sojourning in the State of
Wyoming, l passed on the street an old
lady, upon whose cdf1ntenance time had
made many deep marks and the lines
around her mouth indicated a determined
will. In reply to my inquiries l learned
that she formerly occupied the exalted
position Of a dispenser of justice; that
her fellow citizens had conferred upon her
willing shoulders the honOrs and respon-
sibilities of justice Of the peace. Her
Spartan like qualities were recognized
and her constituents were not disap-
pointed in their belief that in her hands
the scales Of justice would be evenly
balanced-"that justice would be done
though the heavens fall"
The Squire did not wear all the
brooches in the family, though she wore
all the honors of the household. When
she arose like a dutiful wife, to make
the fire, while the blizzard sang its glad
refrain, the regular and musical snore
of her man" (as the husband is termed
in Kansas vernacular) kept time with the
patter Of her bare feet on the puncheon
floor. She complained not at having to
devote the fees Of her office to the pur-
chase Of coal with which she built the
| fire in the early morn, while the gentle
| zephyrs played hide and seek in the
| Abbreviated garment that adorned her
sylph like form. She was willing that
| her better half should drown the carp
/ ing cares of life in 'the flowing bowl"
| but when he came in conflict with her
official duties, like the Roman Judge who
sentenced his son to death, she wavered
| not in the discharge of her duty. The
| old man became too fond of liquor that
steals away the senses" he had none Of
the pure North Carolina mountain dew
| that had never been disgraced with one
of Uncle Sans stamps, such as abounds
in Hanging Dog" where "Hoola- Boom
vegetables and his tongue became too ac-
| tive and his legs correspondingly unre-
| liable. Some hungry constable, mot
| having the fear Of God before his eyes,
and being moved and seduced" by a de-
sire to secure the fees incident upon an
arrest, run in" the 'IOrd and MASTER
of the ledge" before that judicial Of
| ficer.
The judge adjusted her glasses with a
far-off collection-plate look in her eye,
and proceeded to try the defendant, who
had been drunk and disOrderly' against
the peace and dignity of the State" The
weaker vessel" before him had trem-
bled as he in his majesty commanded
her to yield obedience to his will, made
himself known, expecting that his wife
would at once remember the obligation
| ito obey" that she assumed to, these
many years ago. Great was his surprise
when the same, I-never-knew-yOu look
instead of fleeing as bird to the noun
tains," like a country cousin, took off its
bonnet and announced that it had come
to stay. The judge then, with the most
judicial air, heard the evidence, and fnd-
ing the defendant guilty, fined him $40,
which the defendant was unable TO pay,
as his wife held the purse strings. Upon
that fact being represented to the court,
the sentence was changed to three days
Imprisonment. This done, "the just
judge" returned to her home. and great
was her sorrOw upon finding that he
for whom she had left all others to ''cleave
to him until death did them part" was
conspicuous for his absence The sweet
aroma Of the pipe that usually permeated
the atmosphere, alas, was not there. The
manly form of the partner of her joys
and incidentally the fees of her Of
fice-was elsewhere deyOting his mind
to retrospective thought and meditation.
1ulIOugn the weary uOuTS UGLWGEu lDG
suns the sound of the saw mill' that
erstw-hile made night musical as a school
commencement, was still. The sweet in
cense of stale beer and tangle leg whiskey
assembled not to greet her nostrels. But
every cloud has a silver lining" 1T
is darkest just before dawn" Sorrow
endureth for a night, JOY cOmeth in the
morning"
At the expiration of the time that
Jonah is supposed to have been a cabin
passenger in the bosom Of the whale, the
imprisoned offender Of the law was emit
ted from the bastile, whose cruel bars
separated him from the fond embrace
Of his fond wife. He returned at last
to her who had occupied his thoughts
during all his waking hours since last
his eyes beheld her. Taking her fondly
around the waist he proceeded to forcibly
illustrate his great love for the old COM
mon law doctrine that man and wife
are one-and the husband that one. Suf-
fee it to say that the judge sat on a large,
soft cushion when next she donned the
judicial ermine, and change OF venue
readily granted whenever her 'lord and
master" relapses into inebriety.
G. @. DANIELS,
Salt Lake, Utah, Feb. 4, 1897.