STORY OF A TRUNK

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 502, 6 May 1881, Page 2

STORY OF A TRUNK

We heard a touching story of a wife's influence and a husband's example this morning. A gentleman in this city whose better half is considerably younger than himself—in fact he is old enough to be her father—became quite jealous of her on account of a disposition he had discovered in her to flirt with the men. He could charge her with no absolute wrong, but her continued coquetry exasperated him to such an extent that, in a fit of wrath, he came home one day and declared they must separate. They were boarding, and he said sh<3 might stay there, but he would pack up his things and get out. Her conduct was unbearable, he said, and he wouldn't be tortured any more. So he flew around and gathered up his effects with a view to pack them in his trunk. The work of packing up began, when his wife, who had been weeping, fell upon his neclc with choking sobs and lamentations, begging that he would reconsider his vote on reconstruction and not take the desperate step he meditated. The husband faltered a little at this. He became confused, and instead of packing his best breeches in his trunk he tried to stuff them inside of his vest. Then he laid his handerchief carefull away in the trunk, and blew his nose in a box of paper-collars. His wife's tears at length conquered, and he relented. He discontinued packing up to pack off, ami they embraced and mado up. It was not long after the reconciliation however, before he caught his mi'e .chattering and laughing most volubly with a Fourth street dry goods clerk, a yoiinuf nnd handsome fellow, and his jealous wrath returned with greater force thin ever. This time he certainly would be off. He hurried home, nud when shortly after his wife followed him, she found him with his trunk packed and he in the act of locking it. Then the previous scene was re. enacted, only it was of longer duration, It required a greater quantity of tearsmore and more earnest entreaties, ami sighs ol much grcator pj'hp to melt him this time. He melted, though, and the trunk was again unpacked. But there came yet another and more aggravating cause for the old fellow's jealousy, lfc really looked this time as though it would be three times and out, jor rather off. He had been away from the city, and he learned on his retnrn that every night during his absence his wife had been seen at the theatre with the good-looking clerk aforesaid. Tears and protestations of innocence were of no avail then. While they were going on he continued packing his trunk in the most deliberate and artistic manner. The experience he had had in packing that trunk was made available. He economised space so well there was room left, and he asked her sarcastically if there was any little thing of hers she would like to pack away there to keep things from shucking around. TheD be shut the trunk, and the spring came together with a vicious snap. He buckled all the straps with a provoking coolness, while his wife was tremulating on the verge of hysterics. He buckled a great leather strap around it, and finally tied it up with a piece of bedcord.

During all this time the wife was grieving as though her heart would break. At last, finding that tears could not melt him, she resorted to a wonan's last expedient- —she swooned. This was just as her cruel and hard-hearted husband was going out of the door to get an express wagon. He hesitated, looked at the prostrate and senseless form on the floor, fumbled the door knob, took a step or two in the hall, turned back, stopped again, and finally came to the rescue. The lesult may be guessed. The trunk was unpacked again, and all was serene. The next day he was surprised on going to his dinner to find his wife absent. He found in her stead, however, a little note lying on the bureau, which ran as follows :— " Djsak Old Hussy :—Moved by your exaaiple in packing up, I have been trying my hand in packing up, also, as you will find by examining the drawers and closet. I think you will acknowledge I have succeeded very well for a first attempt. As the lock to my trunk was not in first-rate condition, I borrowed your strap, but wilt return it the first opportunity. You mil perceive that I have taken nothing pf yours. I had enough of my own (principally bought by myself before my liwrriage) to fill the trunk, and so didn't \tiave to

take any little thing of yours 'to keep things from shucking around.' " You are now at liberty to pack your trunk and pack off as soon as you please, as I intend to do. Thanking you for the valuable lessons you gave me in packing, 1 do not remain " Yours, " Julia." She had eloped with the good-looking dry-goods clerk.