Year: 1871

never undertook but once to set at naught
the authority of my wife. You know her way
cool, quiet, but determined as ever grew.
Just after we were married and all was going
nice and coy, she got me IN the habit of doing
all the churning. She never asked me to do it,
you know, but then she-why it was done lust
this way. She finished breakfast before me
one morning, and slipping away from the table.
she filled the churn with cream and set it lust
where | couldn't help seeing what was wanted.
So | took hold regular enough, till the butter
came. She didn't thank me, but looked so
nice and sweet about it, that felt well paid


Well, when the next churning day came along
she did the same thing, and followed suit.
and fetched the butter. Again and again 1t
was done just so, and i was regularly in for it
every time. Not word said, you know, of
course. Well, by-and-by, this became rather
irksOme. | wanted her to ask me, but she
never did, and | couldn't say anything about it
to save my life, and so on we went. At last /
made resolve that I'd not churn another time
unless she asked me. Churping day came, and
when my breakfast t-she always got nice break
fasts-when that was swallowed there stood
the churn. | got up, and standing few min
utes, just to give her chance. put on my hat
and walked out doors. l stopped in the yard
to give her tine to cali me, but not word
said she, and so, with palpitating heart, l
moved on. | went down town, up town, and
all over town, and my feet were as restless as
Noah's doves felt as if I had done wrong.
didn't exactly know how-but there was an
indescribable sensation OF guilt resting upon
me all the forenoon. 1t seemed as if dinner
time would never come, and as for going home
one minute before dinner, | would as soon have
my ears off. So | went fretting and moping
around town till dinner time came. Home /
went, feeling very much like criminal must
when the jury is out, having In their hands bis
destiny-lfe or death. / couldn't make up my
mind how she would meet me, but some kind
of storm | expected. Will you believe it?
she never greeted me with a sweeter smile,
never had had better dinner for me than on
that day: but there stood the churn just where
| had left it! Not word was said. felt
confoundly cut, and every mouthful of that din
ner seemed as if it would choke me. She
didn't pay any regard to it, however, but went
on just as if nothing had happened. Before
dinner was over | had again resolved, and
made up my mind. and showing back my chair,
went at it IN the old way. Splash. drip, rattle,
splash, splash, drip, ratte-I kept it up. As
it in spite the butter never was SO long CON-
ing. / supposed the cream, standing so long,
had got warm, so / redoubed my efforts. OBJ
stinate matter-the afternoon wore away while
was churning | paused at last, from real
exhaustion, when she spoke for the first time.
" Come, Tom, my dear, you have ratified that
juttumiK quite long enough, if it is only Tor
fun you are doing it," / knew how it was in
a flash. She had brought the butter in tho
forenoon. and left the churn standing with tho
buttermilk in, for me to exercise with. never
set up for myself in household matters after
that. .'''