Year: 1872

esquire Meadows, your wife's dead. y
! Such was the abrupt manner in which
the tidings of the decease of that worthy
| gentleman's partner was conveyed to
him, one fine morning as he was busy
thrashing in the barn, some little dis
tance from his farmhouse He looked
earnestly into the face of the messenger
for a moment, as if he read there conir-
nation of the truth of his report, and
apparently satisfied with the scrutiny.
quietly went on with his thrashing, and
said to man-seryant


''Joe, go down to Jack Slowman's, the
carpenters, and tell him to come and
measure missis for coffin. Well put
her under ground, please God, to-mor-
row, if we've got all the hay in. and can
spare the horses


''It's a happy release" observed all
the male population of Dannyville, when
they heard the news of Mrs. Meadow S
decease. They meant-though they did
not say as much--a happy release for
the squire, and some of them even en-
We'd him the loss he had gained.


Now Mrs. Meadows had been one of
the veriest viragoes and shrews with
which any poor man had ever been
cursed Her husband had long since
ceased to consider his soul his own, but
without grumbling submitted to all her
caprice and ill-temper. When they were
first married they quarreled terribly,
but the wife always contrived to have
the last word. On one occasion, Mr..
Meadows made desperate effort to come
off victorious, and actually told his
spouse that if she uttered another ''crook-
ed word she should repent it.


"Well, then" screamed the inveterate
vixen, ''ram's horns, you dog, if | die
for it %


That was the last effort at being mas
ter in his own house which was ever
made by Squire Meadows. Always after
he submitted tamely to her will in all
matters and was mere cypher in his
own domestic circle


The day of the funeral came-the day
after death /; but people did not wonder
much at the squire's evident desire to
get his late spouse out of sight as soon
as possible. Some old folks. indeed,
grumbled because they said as Mrs.
Meadows had died suddenly while in
paroxysm of rage, she ought to be kept
longer to make sure that she was dead.
But at the time appointed the coffin was
put into the hearse aud away moved the
funeral procession.


When the coffin was taken from the
vehicle and placed upon the shoulders of
some men to be carried into the burying
ground, the procession moved slowly to-
wards the grave. Just before they
over the stump of an an old tree, and % Il feerf,! II,
The coffin in consequence was thrown
violently to the ground and burst open.
What was the horror and astonishment
of the lockers on to observe the eyes of
the supposed corpse to open, and Mrs.
Meadows herself to sit up, apparently
very much surprised to find herself where
she was? The fact is she had only been
in trance, from which the shock of the
fall had aroused her. The mourners of
course returned, and Squire Meadow S
face was observed to be a great deal
longer than it was when he was riding
to it.


But not long afterwards she died in
reality, and glad enough was the squire,
when, after keeping her week in his
house she showed no symptoms of again
returning to plague him. Once more
the squire followed his wife to the last
home but he was determined no acci-
dent should occur this time, for when
the bearers of the coffin approached the
old stump, he ran forward and whispered
to them, Careful, my friends be care
full; this way-a leetle more to the
right. There-God be praised, we've
cleared the stump


That time Squire Meadows went
homeward with an expression of pious
resignation on his face that was really
delightful to contemplate. But he was
not left quite alone. There remained tt
him fine little boy, now some twelve
months old, not at all like his mother il
person or temper The good squire
life was bound up in that of his child
and he at once determined to devote hi
existence to the promotion of his boy
welfare. For his own part, he fully re
solved never to risk matrimony again


and knowing as he did from sore expert
ence what perilous state it was, he de
termined also that his son should be pre-


vented from plunging into it.


In order fully to bring about this de
: sirable end, he sold his farm, which wa
situated in one of the best agriculture
counties in England, took large hous
in secluded part of Wales, and retire
; thither with his son, who soon began
, give evidence of considerable naturs


ability. Having duly installed a poe
/ relation of his own as the head Of hi


house, he secured the services of two tt


tors, who, for the sake of handsome sals


ries, agreed to immure themselves wit
the lad in the mansion, who was nevt


on any account, to be allowed to see
i female


IF had never seen one" exclaime
q the squire. ''who would have been hal


pier than myself? I'll take warning
p however by my own experience, so tn;


little Harry shall not fall into simils
: trouble and trial.


y Having made all the necessary a
:. rangements, and seen his son secure
:, domiciled, the squire once more al
i. finally impressed the necessity of kee
$ ing the boy perfectly secluded from "
; men. or even little girls. No one b
" males were to come near him; in shol
J he was to be brought up in perfect ign
is rance of the sex Any Infringement
h the rules he had laid down were to
e punished by forfeiture of the head tuto


salary, and as out of that he was to p


the wages of those under him, you m


be sure his own interest kept him fait


ful to the diScharpa of his Strange a