A SILENT HOUSEHOLD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1068, 8 February 1883, Page 3

A SILENT HOUSEHOLD.

There die<i in Delaware County, Pa. t a few weeks ago, a prosperous and generally esteemed farmer nearly 100 years of age, who for 40 years had never spoken a word to his wife, nor had she to him, nor had any of their five children, of whom three, with their mother, are still living, spoken a word to any other member of the family. And yet they lived peaceably under one roof, and were in full possession of their faeu'ties. Forty years ago it is said the wife was bequeathed a small sum of money by a relative, which her husband desired to use in purchasing farming implements and otherwise improving the property. She said no. He vowed that unless he was given the money he would never spea c another 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, but 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 in the household, save to visitors. Hie death cf the husband and father has made no difference in the situation,

and the survivors move about the house as if utterly® oblivious of each other’s presence.