A Silent Household.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 34, 5 January 1883, Page 2

A Silent Household.

There died m Delaware country, Paj a few we ks ago, a prosperous ancl generally esteemed farmer nearly 100 ye*rs of age, who for forty years had never spoken a word to his wife, nor had she to him, nor had any one oi their five children, ot whom three, with their mother, are still living, spoken a word to any other member of the family. And yet they lived peacefully under on roof, and were m full possession of their faculties. Forty years ago it is said the wife was bequeathed a small sum ot money by a relative, which her husband desired to use m purchasing farming implements and otherwise improving the property. She said no. He vowed that unless he was given the money he would never speak another word to her. This vow he steadfastly kept to the end of his life. The three daughters, then quite young, at first tried to reconcile their parents, bnt failed. Then one sided with the father, another with the mother and the third became disheartened with the whole job. So they quarrelled, the two sons died, and never again a word was spoken m the household, save to visitors. The death of the hnsband and father has made no change m the situation, and the survivors move about the house as if utterly oblivious of each other's presence.