THE STORY-TELLER COURTING HIS WIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 21, 27 October 1883, Page 4

THE STORY-TELLER COURTING HIS WIFE.

Although Farmer Tucker had long dreamed of a visit to Chautaupuy, when he actually found himself at that Mecca of devout excursionists early last August i the brawny man was tempted to doubt his own identity. The holiday surroundings were wholly unlike anything to which he was accu^. tomed in his prosy New England home ; the rich crowded programme oiYeied was in striking contrast to the m-motony of farm life. When this son of toil first entered the auditorium, and saw that rustic amphitheatre crowded with thousands of people listening breathlessh to the full, sweet tones of the grand organ, his cramped, selfish heart was strangely touched and expanded. For an instant the wish eiept in that he had asked Jane if sl.e would like to come too. But there was not much time for his own thoughts, for as the mu^ie ceased a white-haired speaker aro.^e and was in_ trodueed to the audience as Mr John O. Gough. At this announcement Samuel TuekerV Satisfaction was too great to be kept to himself, and he sai 1, dalf aloud to his next nJghbor — 'Well, no»v I am beal, to think I'm going to hear the man i'w wanted to see for more'n twenty war-.' The young lady gave an amusing little laugh, but it fell unheeded on the unsophisticated speaker, whose attention >\as already caught, by the orator. Mr Gough commenced his brief lecture with one of his inimitable desreiptions. The story was of a man who applied for a divorce, and was advise I by his eminent lawyer to try the efr\ct of making love to his wife as he had done before mam ing her, instead of reporting to the measure he had proposed. It included aUo an account of a iatei visit, when the happy husband withdrew his application, and fairly dancing with glee, assured the lawyer that his expeunient had worked like a charm, that 4 Sally had become as amiable anu affectionate a wife as a man coul I wish to have,' Mr Goughs representation of the scene drew foith prolonged app'suse: but Samuel Tucker's inteiest was too serious a natuie to permit of his |oining in the laughter. As if uncoii-cious lor the moment of the muUitu le about him, he said in an undertone — 'I'd be willing to take my oath that wouldn't woifc with Jane. All I have to sty i«% tiiat man's wife wa* different from mine. I'd as soon think of feeding sci.iip to a mummy a.s to begin sparking ;i -am with her.' It would seem that thi* course of reasoning did not wholly di-'iu-s from the iarmei's mind a tram ot tnoujus and possibilities suggested bv the lecturer's story. In every tient of the following days at racred >eiv.cu of popular lecture, in the museum or by Pie model of the Holy Land when listening to a concert", or gazing with throng- upon the illuminated fleet — the far aw.ty husband was relentlessly followed by a vision of hard-worked Jane, looking upon him with reproachful eyes. At length he quieted his conscience uifch the determination to prove that hi-, estimate of his wife was correct. ' When I got back/ he said to him?elf, < I'll just viou the woman some little attention, and I'll see they won't have no moic effect on her than they would on the old bay mare Jane's bound to be obstinate, and' 1 suppose I may as well make up my mind to it.' On reaching home the resolution way not easily carried out. When Mr. Tucker planned some gallantry towards hi" wife, the very thought made him feel unnatural and foolish that postponement resulted ; but the Sabbath offered an oppoitun'fy so convenient that he improved it. "—"" — " The farm n^ nearly a mile from chuich^'yet Samuel Tucker had for years be'en in the habit of driving back alone after the forenoon .sen ice, lea\iiuf hi> wife to attend the Sabnath school, ;ind then walk home as be<t she could. through inn lor du^t. Great w,is MiTuckerV astonishment, therefore, on the Sabb.ith rJie>- hor lm-band's return, to find |mt,, \\,i[|)mi; for J M . r fl t the close of the Bill' serviic, T.ie f.ij i t e->fc suspicion that he had <!men bad; to the church J'or iier dvl not cross the good woman's ii.md ; she supposed he had business with some of the brethren and was hesitating whether to walk on as usual or to suggest waiting for him. when the farmer called out < It's jest as cheap to ride as to walk.' Silently the wife took her seat in the buggy and silently they drove home, much to the husband's satisfaction, for it seemed to him a proof of the woman's dull, unappreeiative nature. ' She didn't act pleased, but was only dazed like, as J knew she would be,' he muttered, as he went about !u> 'chores.' At the same time Mr Tucker was confecious of having performed a most praiseworthy act, and felt so comfortable that he resolved to repeat the experiment. So on the following Sabbath .Jane again found her husband in wititinu, and as she mounted the high lu^t'V untured (o ufhr a half-audible 4 Thank mi,' and to ask Samuel if he

iuul boon waiting long. To which Mr Tucker replied that ho had just reached t'to church, ami did not know but he might, liml sue had started on foot. This V[A\ seemed to Jane a positive assurance that her husband hud really returned Tor the sole purpose of taking her home ; and her chilled heart glowed with a warmth unknown for years. She longed to toll her husband how much s'io appreciated his trouble, bat imagined it would sound 'so foolish' that she kept her pleasure to herself. The third Sabbath was rainy, and as she washed the bioakfast dishes Mrs Tucker kept thinking, ' I wonder if Samuel means* to come for me thisnoon ; it would be such a help in the rain ; I'm half a mind to ask him ' This lesolution was soon stilled, however, with the reasoning which had silenced many similar resolves in the past ten years. ' No, I wont ask no favors if he don't think enough of me to come, why, ho needn't.' Although proudly unwilling to seek any attentions, Jane longed for some demonstration of her husband's love and care. ti\m ii.i-1 walked home in the rain too often gieath (o dread such exposure, bnt a wtvk before the wife had tasted the joy of hem ■ considered, and longed for -ome new and further proof of her companion's a five t ion. Mrs Tucker-? heart leaped for joy when, ;it noon, she saw the old mare's head from the lecture room win low Indeed, her hungering heart suddenly hoe vme quite unmanageable, and, entering the carnage, poor melted Jane soU ed out — ' I'm sure it is very good of you, Samuel, to come back for me this rainy day.' And then fie (oars flowed so fast that fm (her words wore impossible. Comp'oti'ly taken by sui prise, Mr Tucker exclaimed — ' 1 declare I hadn't no idea you'd eaie so much about it.' ' I wouldn't mind the walk/ ros- ; ponded the wife, l but Samuel, I'm so happy to have you care enough about me to come ' Tiie s'ror.i; man \\a>- brushing away a tear fio'ii hh own cneek now. If is tondeier, bi'tt.M- nature was ma^teiing the hard, solfis'i spirit which had long [ po^o-sod him, and with some coughing and eiiokino he said — 'Jin", I see I've made an awful botch of our m irned life ; if you're a mind to foigi\e me, I'll si'e if I can't treat you fiom to-day as <i woman otiyht to bo treated.' Tiiis eonfe^ion was all too much for the w toping wife, and she answered i quickh — ' You're nor a bit moo to blame than I am. l\e been proud and obstinate, bnt I tell mi what it is, we'll begin all o\or again.' Tin 1 ice va-j now thoroughly broken and that afternoon Fanner Tucker and his who had a lono- la lk ovor the past and t,\c future An 1 in the evening, when tiiov w-mo about to start for the piayei-niectinu to be held in a neighboring school-hot]s>\ the renewed huslan 1 stooped and kissed his wife, saying— ' J.'ne, I'\o been a-tiiinking that marih',l iilV mn't m> very different from farming or any other occupation. Now, I ain't -ncM p J'm.>l as to think a field will keep i-yifldmg if I only eniicii it once and plant it <>nc\ I have to go o\er the same ground every season ; and nova I supposed you was a-Lrotng to do as you always did when we were a-oonrling, without my doing my part at all.' 1 I? L hadn't changed any maybe you would alna\s have been as tender as you used to be/ pleaded the happy w ife. 1 Perhap- and porhaps not ; but I don't ni^an <o leave yon to try no pin-h t)lan ; I toil urn what it is-, J.mo, I feel as li wo hadn't never been really ma.iried till to-day. It 'most seems as if we oni^ht to tike a wedding tower. 'I'm afraid we'll have to wait till next summer for that,' was the stnil n ; response. ' [ suppose we shall, but we'll take it then, certain ; and I'll toll you wlierjiwe'll gw <o, wilVj-th.if'sto Ciuintaupuy.'