Year: 1868

/ once heard public man once re-
mark, "a very extensive officer" with
numerous duties never discharged.
Raymond used to sit in the chimney
corner late, very late, On winters
night, because he was too shiftless to
get ready for bed. But after a while
the fire burned low-the glow on the
embers faded, and it grew cold In the
chimney corner; then Raymond got
chilly, and he would sneak to rest,
where his wife perhaps had been sever
al hours, endeavoring to recover from
the severe fatigue of a days work, in
to which had been crowded the great
er portion of her husbands legitimate
duties. Raymond owned large farm
left him by his father. 1t was good
land, but the fences were not in repair,
and everybodys cattle roamed thro
the field, and Raymond's crops were
not sufficient to yield the family de-
cent support. The farm had once
been we'll stocked, but for want of
proper attention the cattle became
poor-the sheep were never folded,
even in the most rigorous weather,
and many of them died. The wool
was never properly sheared and wash
ed, and when taken to market, it wo'd
not bring the market price. Had it
not been for Raymond's wife, who
was a business woman, the family
must have suffered for the necessaries
Of life.


Raymond's chores were very rarely
attended to by himself; but was a
neighbor sick, no man was more will
ing to work in his place. He was re
lied upon as the man who always neg
lected his own interests to look after
those Of somebody else. He could
never set himself at his own farm
work, but he was considered an ex-
cellent hand, when to oblige a neigh
Dor, he took job in his field.


| IUwas bleak morning in mid win
ter. Raymond Warren's wife was in
the barnyard foddering the CATTLE
Raymond was in bed. The light of
a brisk fire which his wife had built
shone directly in his face. 1t Itawaken-
ed him; the room was warm, and Ray
mond was persuaded by its inviting
appearance. He sat down by the fire
Iplace in his shirt sleeves and waited
for his wife to come and get him some
breakfast. AS he warmed his feet he
felt that he had reason to congratu-
late himself on his happy situation,
and he said to himself:


"'Taint every mans got such a wife
as have. Here she's made good
fire, and I'll bet all the chores are
| done"


The chores were done, and Raymond
had scarcely finished his soliloquy,
when the useful wife haStened to the
fire place to warm her hands, which
had become thoroughly chilled by the
cold handle of the pitchfork, with
which she had been throwing hay
and straw to the cattle.


| 1t might have been supposed that
these occurrences took place in the
early morning; not so. It was ten
o'clock when Raymond Warren left
his bed. His wife had been sewing
for two hours before she prepared her
breakfast. Then she urged Raymond
for an hour longer to get up. He
made fair promises but left them all
unfulflled. She waited until 8 o'clock,
and then, knowing her husbands easy
habits, and ashamed to have the cattle
unfed at that time of day, she deter
mined to attend to their wants herself.
} Raymonds first salutation to her
as she stood by the fire, was:


" wish | had some tea, Sally-but
never mind, you've put the things
away-a little warm water, with a
little milk and sugar in it, will do just
as well, and while you're about it, you
, may get me little piece of bread
but just as you choose, no matter


about it, anyhow. 'Taint every mans


got such woman for a wife,"


She might have answered:
!, at is not every woman that has
e such husband"


But she knew such remarks would


only make bitter feelings, and though
fatigued with the violent exertion she
had taken, she went cheerfully and
prepared her easy, good natured hus,
band, cup Of tea, slice Of toast and


then asked if he would not cut some
wood.


"To be sure 1 WILL" was the re.
. sponse. r. al.
His breakfast over, he took up his


axe and mounted the wood pile and
cut half a dozen sticks, when along


came neighbor, who wanted Ray


mond to accompany him to a saw mill
about two miles distant, and assist in
loading upon a sled some boards which
: had been sawed for him-of course
: Raymond went, and his wife was com
e PEELED to cut wood to keep the house
|. warm until the following day.


Mrs. Warren was in appearance, a
feeble woman, but she had endured
l. hardships which would have destroyed
e The constitution of one more robust
Day after day her strength failed her


but she made no complaint. Ray


mond saw that she grew pale, and was


often disturbed with fears in regard
d to her, but he was too easy to men
r tion the subject, and the useful wife
8 8 became more and more feeble, until
;, she was seized with violent cough