Year: 1869

Aminidab Skinfilnt was not0rl0usiy Stngy man.
He was represented as having in childhood refused
to eat butter on his bread, and demanded pennies
in return for this act of selfdenia and this spirit
was carried out through all his after life At the
age of twenty-five he married, for he reasoned that
it was cheaper to support wife than to hire help,
and at thirty, found himself the prosperous owner
of fine farm, as well as the happy (?) father Of
two healthy olive branches.


my dear" said he to his wife about this time,
'raising children is very uncertain as well las ex-
pensive employment It might pay he contin-
ued, reaectvely, ''ifone was only sure they would
be contented to settle down at home five or ten
years after they become Of age, but until they re
twenty-one, they don't more than pay the interest
of the amount it takes to keep them that long.
Then there is the chance Of their being taken of
with scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, or
something of the kind, or even if they do go
through 'em ALL there's monstrous doctors bill
to pay, and more time spent in nursing them well
again, than it would take to work moderate sized
farm. On the whole, I think that raising stock is
much surer undertaking, therefore, Mrs. Skin


flint, you will see that our family does not increase,
and take care that those two sick lambs which
were brought in this morning receive the best at
tention."


Mrs. Skinfint who was a weak, timid little wo-
man, never thought of differing with her husband
on any point meekly promised obedience to both
commands and thus from year to year Aminidab' 8
possessions increased, his lands grew in length and
breadth, his stock was Of the very best, and al
ways brought the highest prices but it is to be
feared that the cultivation of his farm was consid
cred Of more importance than the mental culture
of his son and daughter.


At length, sin the course of human events, -
poor Mrs. Skinaint was prostrated with fever,
brought on by exposure in inclement weather du-
ring her ministrations to an aiing calf and brood
of late chickens that were too tender to be left to
the mercies of the storm, and from which she did
not rally, for the fever was succeeded by violent
cough, at which the doctor looked grave, and shook
his head when questioned.


"Aminidab," said his wife, one day, I'm afraid
am going to die


"Die! Nonsense" returned he. ''Why, what
would the stock do without you? I'm confident
that the back-faced sheep would not have died last
week if you had been able to attend to it, and there
are two of the little Berkshires sick now, that never
thought of such thing while you were about
You must not think Of dying!'


But for once, Mrs. Skinfint transgressed her
husband orders, inasmuch as she not only thought
of it, but actually died, which proceeding Amini-
dab regarded with the utmost astonishment, but
bore with unprecedented resignation, though the
two little Berkshires lost their lives for want OF
proper treatment A halfyard Of Grape for his
hat, and mourning outfit for his son and daughter
were purchased, and then things dropped back in
the old way, except that one form less moved about
the farm house, and the care of the sick animals
now devolved upon Aminidab himself


Exactly one year from the day that his wife had
shufled off this mortal coil, Mr.. Skinhnt removed
the Grape from his hat, brushed and donned the
suit that for dozen years had been his Sunday 8
best, and betook himself to the residence Of Miss
Sally Sprague, a rosy-cheeked, merry faced spin
ster who bore the reputation of being the neatest
of housekeepers, and was favorite with all, both
old and young. When Aminidab emerged from
that lady's doorway, he wore the expression Of a
man who is well satisfied with himself, and MUIR
INJURED sotto rooe-"A good odexperiment-a success
full enterprise! Yes, yes, I'm lucky man !"
And one week later he repaired, in his rusty bug
gy, to Miss Spragues dwelling, was Joined by the
lady, together drove to the clergymans s, and from
there home, where he presented to his astonishcd
children, the second Mrs. Skinaint. Of course
this remarkable courtship was freely discussed by
Mrs. Grundy, who declared that for her part, she
couldn't see why Sally Sprague, who had always
appeared so contented with her single lot, should,
at her time of life, take notion to marry, and
above all should tie herself to that miserly Skin
fint-she'd regret the step soon enough.


But all the whispers of this kind that reached
Mrs. Sally's ears, met with no response, except a
mischievous smile, which at such times lurked in
the corners Of her rosy mouth, or chased dimple
in and out of her plump cheeks, or perhaps called
forth brighter flash from her sparkling eyes, but
when it became known that, by some means famil-
lar only to herself, shehad upon assuming her new
title, also possessed herself of deed made in her
name, giving her unrestricted possession of the
Skinfint farm, even Mrs. Grundy was forced to
admit that, as Sally had heretofore displayed an
ability to manage her own affairs, she supposed
she would still insist upon doing so, and turned
her attention to other matters.


my DEAR" said Mr.. SkinAint to his wife, few
DAYS after her instalment as mistress Of his domi-
cile, "we've spent about as much time in billing
and cooling as such old folks as We can afford, and
its time now that we settle down to our duties
You will take charge of household affairs, and see
that daughter Julia is not idle; If there's not