A citizen of Pittsburg, aged sixty, had, by tireless industry and the
exercise of rigid economy, accumulated a hoard of frugal dollars, the
sight and feel whereof were to his soul a pure delight. Imagine his
sorrow and the heaviness of his aged heart when he learned that the
good wife had bestowed thereof upon her brother bountiful largess
exceeding his merit. Sadly and prayerfully while she slept lifted he
the retributive mallet and beat in her brittle pate. Then with the
quiet dignity of one who has redressed a grievous wrong, surrendered
himself unto the law this worthy old man. Let him who has never known
the great grief of slaughtering a wife judge him harshly. He that is
without sin among you, let him cast the first stone—and let it be a
large heavy stone that shall grind that wicked old man into a powder of
exceeding impalpability.
The Faithful Wife.
“A man was sentenced to twenty years’ confinement for a deed of
violence. In the excitement of the moment his wife sought and obtained
a divorce. Thirteen years afterward he was pardoned. The wife brought
the pardon to the gate; the couple left the spot arm in arm; and in
less than an hour they were again united in the bonds of wedlock.”
Such is the touching tale narrated by a newspaper correspondent. It is
in every respect true; I knew the parties well, and during that long
bitter period of thirteen years it was commonly asked concerning the
woman: “Hasn’t that hag trapped anybody yet? She’ll have to take back
old Jabe when he gets out.” And she did. For nearly thirteen weary
years she struggled nobly against fate: she went after every unmarried
man in her part of the country; but “No,” said they, “we cannot—indeed
we cannot—marry you, after the way you went back on Jabe. It is likely
that under the same circumstances you would play us the same scurvy
trick. G’way, woman!” And so the poor old heartbroken creature had to
go to the Governor and get the old man pardoned out. Bless her for her
steadfast fidelity!