Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-04-16
ABNER'S WIFE.
BY MARY Z. MITCHELL

Well, said Abner MulleuS, sur
yey ing the interior of his kitchen
with evident distavOr, "a wife
would come in kind o conyenirnt
| just now!
1t did look as ifa wOman's hand
was needdd to briug order out OF
the chaos. Boots, clothing, dishes,
rags and fishing.tackle Uttered the
floor. A basket OF cleaned fish Oc
cupied the only chair, while the
table and sink were piled with au
accumulation of articles too Yirled
for description. AS for dirt dirt
was every where!
Folks say I'm untidy,' c'nllnued
| Abuer as he eyed the disorder.
'But | aint. 1t diut that | Ike art;
it's that don't like cleaning mp.
love to see things kept nice as
well as anybody. ] hate DIRT
worse than poison, but hate get
ting rid oft heap sight more,
aud he drew a long sigh as he sci
abon, his uncongenial task.
There ANT doubt about It,,
be went on aloud, habit which hls
solitary life had developed. 1T
takes more'n one to run schooner
land or sea. les been growing on
me ever sluce l was hauled up Ii
dry dock with rbeu mates that Ia
have to get a mate. SIecau boss
The galley and I'll man the ropes.
Ire there's foul weather, can take
TO the dOry till the storms OIo"eo
cut Here Abner attacked bis
breakfact dishes, "a task he partlc
ularlS detes.ed.
'There'll be a lot of things that
ainU pleasant about IT, he said, as
he thought of his lost freedom
,But III take care what kind OF a
one / get. don't want a master
hand at anything but cooking anC
scrubbing decks. I'm captain, an'
won't step down IN rank for any
body
The notion of getting married
had been presenting itself t.
Abner for some time. Not that b.
was lonely; he felt no need OF
COMPANION. His idea Of a wifi
was some one to keep his hous'
clean, mend his clothes, and cool
his meals. No more tenderemotlol
= stirred IN his breast.
He was getting along in years
and his rheumatism was increas
ing upon him. One of these day
u he would need some one to care fo
him. His wife must be young
strong, capable and amenable; tha
- was all be asked.
Abner Mullens had lived alOn
, fer many years. The Hermit
- Beachvllle, he was called by I'd
young people, who regarded hl'
with awe and suspicion. To the
, minds a my ystery hung over nl
ID rude dwelling. Did they not hei
Fl Abner talking busiIy TO some u
- seen hstnei7 The truth was, Abn'
'r taciturn to all fellow. beings, WI
). fairly garrulous with himself, al
OF bis conversations were prOlong'
, aud emphatic.
HIS little, unpainted, shingl'
cabin stood on the rocks Will
rose high above the beach, al
from the stone which seIYed him
ts step he had the range OF I
broad bav and of the open 2
beyond. 1t was far view, 0
Abner's eyes scanned the bl
rm m water more often to discover sig
erf of schools of fish than in the {
sss ioyment or appreclltlon OK
,es beauties; and the varying moo
its of the sky meant TO lin oil
iti phases of weather.
- Abner had not proceeded far
a. his domestic occupation when t
IlG cheap little clock on the sh
struck ten. He dropped his dil
cloth with evident relief.
al sMess or no mess, those fish ha
IN cot to be carried to the boat
said.
He took bis basket on his al
L, and went down the rocky lane
the village and through the Q
struggling street bordered
houses, white.painted, but W
81 green blinds aud gay little do
Yards bright With flowers.