IF Ide a knode that Ide a had to went through what Ive went through since I last writ, I would have been a old maid longin for some one to love, and some one to love me in return, instid of bein the tormented wife of Jobe Gaskins, Esquire, as I am to-day. From the time Jobe come in from the barn, the next mornin arter nearly dyin over the _Advercate’s_ change of abuse, to this hour, the two old parties has been on the outs; and instid of gittin better, things are gittin wuss. The Lord only knows what it will lead to. I dont. That mornin, about breakfast time, he come a bouncin into the house all of a suddent, while I was a puttin some corn cakes in the skillet, and, shakin his fist in my face, says, says he: “Betsy Gaskins, you’ve got to take it back. Take it back or Ile—Ile smash you,” makin a motion towards me, and, with his hair all mussed up and full of hay-seed, he looked dangerful. I jist drawed back the dipper what I was puttin batter in the skillet with, sayin: “Jobe Gaskins, you make another move towards me, or attempt to strike me, and Ile knock you so cold youle never vote for another Republican office-seeker.” I was a lookin at him all the time with the dipper drawed. He seen I meant jist what I said; so he walked over and sot down on the edge of the wood-box. Continerin, says I: [Illustration: “‘JOBE GASKINS, YOU MAKE ANOTHER MOVE!’”] “You are a purty-lookin feller, haint you? Thats as much sense as you and your likes has got. You would strike down the pardner of your life rather than listen to the truth about the rascality of the men who run your party.” I had the dipper drawed all the time, and had stepped nearer to him. “Betsy,” says he, pleadin like, “tell jist one dishonest thing a Republican officer ever done.” Says I: “Now, Jobe, you are actin with sense. Where do you want me to begin, at the top among the big ones, or at the bottom among the little ones?” “Begin at the bottom, Betsy, at the bottom,” says he. “Well, Jobe,” says I, “you listen, and I will keep at the cakes or they will burn.” Thinkin a minit, says I: “Fust, there is the county commissioners.” “Hold!” says Jobe, jumpin to his feet, “dont lets go into that commissioner bizness——” I turned right square in front of him, and drawin the dipper, says I: “Now, sir, you set down, and set there till I tell you to git up.” Jobe sot down. Says I agin: “Fust, there is the county commissioners and the bridges——” “Betsy——” says Jobe, conquered like. “Jobe!” says I, and I looked a look at him that made him drop his head. Then proceedin agin, says I: “Fust, there is the county commissioners, the bridges and iron tubes.” Jobe flipped his thumb and fingers, and held up his hand like they do in school. Says I: “Whats you want?” cross like. “Betsy, if you are a goin into that bridge bizness, with them iron tubes and all, I would like to have my say as well as you,” says he.