The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1905-04-14

IuDiiSnlng Company
When TIobson married Abigail Hig-
gins, relict of Jim Higgins, ne'er-do-
we'll and miner, who had departed
from view after deserting his wife for
the joys Of the far West, all his friends
allowed 1t as bad mistake and chat
Hobson was jumping from a very mild
frying.pan into a very hot fire. But
Eobson was awfully tired of bachelor
dom, and the thought of home and
hreSide of his own made his time-worn
heart go pit-a-pat. Many years in cheap
boarding-houSeS tended to exalt the
charms Of home cookery. And there
Is no gainsaying that the Widow Hig-
gins was good cook and thrifty
housewife. BY the very same token
that made her a thrifty housewife,
however, she was consummate "man-
ager," which, applied to women, means
THAT she was boss nf the house all the
time and ruled with 4 rod Of iron.
1.-THE only way Higgins got along
with her." remarked Billson, was by
giving her good beating every other
day when home, and keeping pretty
busy doing odd jobs out Of town most
Of the time
But HobSon was not looking for ad-
vice frem Billson or any other neigh
borhood gossip. Indeed, is there re-
cord OF any man being saved from
matrimony? There is only one way
that is, to lock him up.
So, in due course OF time, Hobson
married the relict of Higgins. and set
tied down to the ecStatlc joys of a
home and tireside.
lf, after all, the realization Of these
joys did not quite come up to the rosy
ana brilliant hue Of the anticipation,
1t surely is not the first time in human
Affairs that fruit has not tasted Sugood
as 1t looked. To be sure, Hobson
could not have asked for better COM
Tort than he found, nor for more a.
bundaDt and toothsome table. For
BITS. Hobson. formerly Higgins, was
an ample provider and most whole
some housewife. But, alas. as the
faireSt rose has the sharpesr thorn.
Hobson soon found that he must pay
Tor his comfort and his fine eating by
an absolute surrender of his liberty, if
not his Identity. He did not notice il
SO much right at first, So pleased was
he with his new comforts, but as the
coils tightened he became more or
less restless.
His evening pipe went first, and it
went quick. 1t was not Extensively
done, but Abigail told him respectful
ly, but with unmistakablc tirmness,
that she would not have the house
p"'lut.------''ic tobacco smoke and
II lac must smoke he could go To une
wsodshed and enjoy himself. He pre-
Ierrcd at that time the delights OF the
fireside, and cheerfully knocked the
unburned tobacco from his pipe. An
evening or two later, after he had
slipped out and got pitcher of beer
and brought it home, intent on a
quiet social time with his new part
ner. Abigail calmly took the prof
fered pitcher and poured the contents
into the sink.
VI will have no guzzlng in this
house, Ihe said, sharply, land we
have no money to spend for beer.
Moreover, she said that she was bet
ter able TO dispense the finances than
he, and thereafter she carried the
household power and he brought
home his wages every Saturday night
and you may be sure every penny was
accounted for to the new treasurer.
She complained that he brought
mHd on her Scrupulously clean floors
and carpets, and he found his slippers
outside the door, where he found it
convenient to doff his boots. He de-
INJURED at some OF these changes, but
few we'll chosen remarks and a re-
duction OF the temperature in the
family atmosphere, together with
certain changes in diet, convinced him
inStanter in each case or rebellion
that he was wrong and she was right.
Then she decided To make his clothes.
This was severe blow, for Hobson
had always been fairly welldresSed
man for one OF his station, and was
rather proud OF his taste. His home
made clothes, while equally warm
and Serviceable, certainly were not
patterns OF the tailor'S art, and Hob
son found himself altogether too con.
spicuouS for comfort among his fel-
lowS-indeed, he became the butt of a
deal OF gOod.naturcd raille-y This
and her carrying OF the purse were his
severeSt crosses, but he bore them un-
mplainingly.
After time his hankering for his
pipe led him TO accept the woodshed
condition, and many an evening did
he spend perched on the Sawbuck
pouring volumes OF smoke from his
mouth and rumin9ting on the joys of
bachclorhood. Nor did the growing
bank account lin her name) resign
him TO the conditions which, think as
he would, he could find no plan to
amcliorate In his secret heart he be
gan to understand why Jim higgins
had struck out for the West without
giving his better.hoIf Or his frinnds q