Year: 1863

: H'S A Sesss~A ~fe. s1o uc'
< road.


/, At length the dinner horn sounded
, and job vent in aud took bis seat al th
!. table. The old smile. that had. "a
2 fifteen years cheered him morning
, noon and night, had faded from hi
} wife's face. and she gased upon bic
, meekly and submissively.


'Will my master have some Of thi
; ssuce?' she asked. Thers was D,


irony in the tone-no malevelence; bu


she spoke quietly and politely.
Yes said job, i should like som,


of it, --. q
4 But bis dinner did not taste good tc


him. He did not feel at home. HI
lelt to use one form Of bis owl
though. like cat in q strsuge garrett


After dinner be went out and smoked
in the shed; and then be wen in and
fixed the door step. This was flashed
about the middle Of the afternoon. and
from then until supper time he wor ked
at his wood pile. At the supper-tsble
he felt more nervous and uneasy thar
at dinner. Once or twice be ventured
to raise his eyes'to his Wife's face but
! there was no smile for hia-none oil
the old happy look. r.-7al0 sra-


This was more than Job Poison was
prepared for. He hsd--or sup
posed he had--screwed his courage up
to the point of meeting his wife's
show Of temper. In fact, be had q
store of harsh. commanding words,
already arranged, to hurl back at her
when she should dare to question his
authority, or offer to treat him with
contempt Bot be had not planned for
meeting such an emergency as this
He bad announced his Intention of
governing bis vile, and she bad tsken
him at his word. What sbonld be do?
How should he commence? What
sort Of a task had he before him? As
be sat in the chimney corner. after
evening chores had all been done. smo-
king his eipe, be felt very much like a
man who has attempted to speak in
meeting and has forgotten bis speech.
His wife bad been 10 the habit, every
evening, when she was well. of singing
and chatting over her knitting; but her
voice was now hushed.


At nine O'Clock he arose to attend
to his cattle. He looked for his lam
tern but could not find it.


Where is my lsntern?'


i guess it is where you left il, said
Sarah. She laid down her knitting,
and went out into the porch where she
found it sitting on bench. She light
ed and handed it to her husband.


Shall do anything more for you,
Job?' -a.- --..


She was calm and passive; he was
choking with perpleIity.


That's all he gasped. And then he
went away and fed the cattle, and got
in his wood for morning.


What a cherries evening it had
beenl


On the following morning Job found
the same sedate face at the breakfast
table--no smiles no cheer-no social
chatting. After breakfast he went out
and fixed the beam at the tie-up; and
then he was at his wits end. What
would he have given at that moment
for a suggestion from his wife. BY
and by lucky thought struck him.
He could break the ice without lower
ing his own dignity He went into
the house with this purpose.


Sarah he said with his hands work
ing nervously in his pockets, what
do you think abont having the loom
put in orderl'


Il don't think anything about il.
Job. You can do as you tb ink best


But you know whether you want to
use it or not. don't you?' Mr.. Poison
exhibeted little feeling.


The wool is at your disposal, Job.
II you please to have some cloth made.
l will spin and weave it. You have
but to issue your ORDERS Her voice
was very low and calm, and her bear
ing was respectful. .lt


But said Job. petulantly. and al
most losing his temper. You know
whether the loom wants 6xing.'


If it Is your wish, my husband, 1
will 60 and examine it and report to
you. l will do any thing you say. Only
be kind to me, and don't expect me to
anticipate your wants. Shall / 90 up
with you now?' asU .-H


"Yes."


The loom was in the shed chamber,
and thither Job led the way. His wife
pointed out to him what was necessary
TO be done. and then left him at his
work.


Dinner and supper-cheerless and
dark


Job Poison had gone the length Of
his line. What in the world to do with
himself he did not know. How could
he work to advantage without the sug-
geslions Of his wife? Where were the |
helps and hints and encouragements
which. for SO many years had been his
guides and assistants? And when he
came to think of it seriously what sort
Of piece Of work should he make of
it in attempting to rule and govern
person who knew more than he did,
and who understood better what should
be done? And furthermore. how was
he to call back the light Of those smiles.
and keep up the warmth Of the old
love?--What would his home be with