Year: 1875

i


son, and inquired if the 'Squire's crop!


had sustained much damage thereby


The Squire was about to reply by saying


in his loftiest manner that, although the


season had not been as rropitious as II


might have been, yet by judicious sys


tenn of cultivation he had prevented the


failure of any one crop and had brought


all up to an average"


| But the words froze on his lips when
his wife spoke and informed the Judge
"that the drought had ruined the hay
crop, cut down the corn to half crop,
and that the bugs had eaten their pota
toes all up, and the last wind-storm had
blown all the apples off, and they
wouldn't have hardly anything to sell at
ALL


The Squire looked aghast, for he rec
| ognized his own words, and couldn't tell
| what object his wife had in view by
quoting his identical language. He re-
covered himself sufficiently to take the
proffered cup of coffee and commenced
his supper. He was horror-struck on
tasting the coffee to find it made of bran
and molasses. and when he tasted the
pumpkin-pie that looked so inviting he
found it hadn't particle of sugar in it
and the apple-pie was evidently made
from the sourest apples in the whole
orchard. The old 'Squire's brow took on
perplexed look and his tongue lost its
accustomed glibness. The supper came
to an end, however, and much to his re-


lief his guests took their departure.


He stood at the gate some time in a
profound fit of meditation and then
turned around and went into the kitchen
to demand an explanation. He found
his wife busily engaged in washing the sup
per dishes and putting things to rights for
the morrow. He looked at her sternly
for moment and then inquired in an in
dignant tone why she had given those
strangers such poor supper. Mrs. Hall
looked up in well-feigned surprise at
the question and informed her husband
that she had given them the best she
had, and that if it were a poor meal it
was not her fault, for she couldn't make
pies sweet without sugar, nor make very
goed coffee out of bran and molasses


"ff you had told me you were out of
sugar and coffee l would have got them
for you and saved myself all this morti.
tication," angrily retorted the irate
Squire.


"You acknowledge being mortified, do
your" calmly replied Mrs. Hall. eff
fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind
perhaps you will be more careful in the
future of mortifying the feelings of 9TH
ers. have never asked you to supply
any household wants in the whole of our
married life without having my feelings
mortified. You have always grumbled
at such requests as if was personally
responsible for the consumption of
every article that was brought into
the house. For fifteen years l have
worked here through heat and cold, fair
weather and foul, and when father died
and received my share of his estate
you spent it in enlarging and improving





all this time my wishes have never been
consulted in any way, and no part of the
revenue derived from our joint labors
have / ever spent. But forbearance has
ceased to be virtue with me, and my
self.respect will not allow me to ask for
favors at your hand with the air of
culprit any longer. Surely the laborer
is worthy of his hire. This should be
given without grumbling and l will
never again beg for what is mine by
right and what should be freely given
without a murmur."


This was quite long and pointed
speech for quiet little Mrs. Hall to make,
and the Squire paused in his rapid walk
up and down the kitchen as much sur
prised as if a bomb-shell had exploded
at his feet. He turned white and red by
turns, and when his wife ceased speaking
he slowly resumed his walk across the
floor, glancing furtively at her impassive
but that worthy woman
having had her say kept steadily on with
her work as if nothin had happened.


The Squire took his hat at last and
went to the barn, and when he came
back to the house the subject was not re-
sumed, and all the next day, which was
Sunday, he seemed subdued and said
but little; and Mrs. Hall began to think
that she had seriously offended him.
Monday morning he harnessed the horses
to the spring wagon and told his wife
he was ready to drive her down to the
Corners to lay in any supply she might
be in need of. He laid crisp bank
note on the table, and bidding her hurry
and get ready he fastened out of the
room.


Mrs. Hall never had her feelings hurt
again by her husbands grumbling, for
he dropped that disagreeable habit alto
gether and let his wife do the market
ing, and was astonished to think that he
had never found out before that she
possessed such a capacity for business.


And it was his wife's fault that he was
not cured sooner, for he was just man
as well as self-opinionated one. and all
he needed was to find out how it was
Times.