Year: 1865

NOOheI 10, not my OltteTeSt enemy, can
accuse me Of pleasure seeking I dsfy
them. The FIVE and twenty years have
lived dutiful wife and thrifty mistress Al
Slowmansleigh. like any snail in q she'll
five and twenty years come black kberryine
Il have never had day out with my
husband but once . year or so, at mos
and then never till the Iambing is over,
and the hay saved, and he shearing done,
and the corn carried, and one is worn out
With work, and all the fine weather gone
by.


I So that when we make up our minds
for days enjoyment, think have as
much reason to expect it as if l had
bought and paid for it in lawful money
down and | ask any sensible human be-
ing whether I am not right3


Now to reflect upon all went through
last Thursday, the very recollection maxi es
my blood boil as we'll it may, when ]
think Of the infamous conduct of some
parties.


But I will proceed as calmly as my
singing nerves will let me, and will show
some people that mothers temper, when
she Is up,' is no worse than the lions
roaring iu the play We went to see last
winter at Arrowbridge theatre, when the
actor declared he would 'aggravate his
voice to roar as sweet as any sucking pig.
Ny goodness Didn't we laugh? | never
shall forget In ell my born days when the
man came in again with a real donkey 8
head on his shoulders-(what was his
name? It had something to do with iO-
and that bold young woman with nothing
but frill Of gauze round her waist! Oh,
it was shameful!


l wonder the police don't put down
those Shakspeare's plays; but they never
do what they ought. When there is a
row they merely rap the heads Of the little
boys outside the crowd, and encourage
the fighting.


Well, l and nv husband, Anthony
Sowman, "a better fellow never breathed
the air Of heaven before marriage and
Odd Fellow,) with our daughter Ktziuh,
fixed on going to the grand West of Eng.
land Agricultural Show, that took place,
as everybody knows, at Xeter, on Thurs
day last:


Not that cared bit about it; never
did. Whats the use, as remarked to
Squire Jilly, Of Brimblebog, but the other
day-'what on earth is the use Of fatten.
ing pig till it cannot see out Of the eyes
which were given it by good Providence
to see with? No, mark my words, there
is sin and wickedness enough in the world
without that. Give me one Of your home
bred porkers with legs that it can stand
upon. and streak Of lean in the fat, anG
not 60 flying in the face of Nature with
Thorley's food to produce an animal a!
full Of oil as an olive.


They told US the train would leave Ar
rowbridge station at eight o'clock; and q
those impudent young railway clerks al
ways try TO annoy people by putting thei
clocks ever so much before the proper
time, | insisted on breakfast at five, anC
trap ready to drive in at six to the min
ute; though we need not have done so as
1t happened, for Keziah and myself had
to set like monuments in the cathedral fol
three quarters of an hour outside the sta.
ton, before they came to open the doors,
while Slowman kept kicking his heels
and whistling, till he wor ked me into q
lever with his fidgets.


Some folks are always so ready with
their Didn't say so = and, Il knew how
il would be. as though they were wiser
than King Solomon. But men are SC
provoking!


At length there was qnite crowd as.
sembled, and Others tomh,g in parties cv.
cry minute, so suppose they thought il
was time for the play to begin, for they
rung the telegraph bell, and up went the
little door where they give o+lt-all the
tickets.


Now, then, Mrs. S. says Slowman
which class shall it be, bare boards OIL
cushions, or shall we run behind Y


So ] alked straight up to the counter
and spoke as loud as could, for there
were plenty to hear me-


Three tirst.claSS carriage tickets and
no bad halfcrowns in the change. please,
and then went on and left SlOwman tC
pay the damage. AS if we were going in
common second class, with all the trades.
people and scruff of the town! Kezlah
and myself were not dressed for nothing
| can assure you.


Out upon the platform, it was worse
than May fair. Hundreds upon hundreds
| should say; | thought we should never
get to the waiting room. French pianos
going, and men selling ginger beer and
cherries reminded me of my little basket
and shawl that had put down by the
doorside, and which, need not add,
.nyor cot ,,,u auoc ,,O0n cipco


For more than two hours remained
tanning myself with my handkerchief.
was ready to faint with the heat and vex-
alton, for my best gloves were lost in the
basket, and Slowman bad left the, as he
said. to see about when the trains return.
ed in the evening (such mockery, when
there was not even sign Of one starting!)
and Keziah kept whispering with some
one at the half open door; till, at last,
lost all patience, ard burst wildly out on
the platform, resolved to find what Slow
man was up to, or perish in the attempt.


'Keziab, l cried hyste-ically, as pass
ed the bold girl, who pretended that she
had not been talking TO young Bullock,
who farms the next estate to ours, as If
had no eyes, and did not see him turning
away from the door as came out 'ke'
Eziah!' said, and seizing her by the arm
dragged her forward like Samson to
the edge Of the platform, when whirr
went by steam engine with carriage af-
ter carriage,


screamed out with all my might, for
it was mercy and a miracle we escaped
destruction; and as it was, rough fel-
low, seizing me by the gown, tore my
fiounce to a rag, in his endeavors to save
US.
While was putting myself straight and
scolding Keziah right and left for what
had happened, up came SOwman with his
mouth SO full he could scarcely speak,
thouOh he was irving to hide it by wiping