Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-05-10
THE THREE HOMES:
OR, THE MAGIC OF NEATNEss.
BY FINLEY JOHNSON.

the toll OF the day was over. But to no one
among the homeward bound did the evening
breeze seem more refreshing than to three,
whose basket of tools borne on their shoulders
denoted three carpenters. At the entrance of
the village where they lived, Jones, Yates, and
Fields separated, each to seek his own dwelling.
There was not a cleaner or neatet abode in
Bell Air than that waiting the reception of
Jones. Not speck of dust dimmed the bril-
lance of the windows; every article of furni-
ture was polished till it shone like mirror :;
fresh flowers breathed forth their fragrance from
the chimney piece; spotless cloth covered the
little supper table, and Mrs. Jones and the chill
dren were as neat as it was possible to be.
Far different the scene that awaited Yates {:
his house was in disorder, his children 11ntidy.
and his wife absent. The last named evil was,
however, soon remedied, for one of the children
despatched in quest of his mother soon returned
with her.
you here already, Bill?' she exclaimed,
rushing in breathlessly in a dim and dirty gown.
i had no idea it was SO late. Light the fire.
that's good boy, and will soon have supper
i am so tired, Mary, that I'd rather do with
out supper said Yates, throwing himself upon
seat
Are you3 Well, then, I'll make it, and
as she hurried to light the fire more than one
piece of crockery was broken, which had, for
the time, been put in an improper place.
Where have you beenp inquired Yates.
'JustneXt door osee Mrs. Browns sick baby
Mother has been gone ever since two,' Chin
ed in youngster.
1ou abominable -teller-take that and
here the mother boxed the ears of the child.
OF went the child in a crying fit, and off
went Mrs. Yates to prepare supper-the chill
dren became cross and sleepy, and when tea was
at last ready, she had to 90 up stairs and put
them to bed; then returning, swallowed her
own meal hastily, and putting aside the dirty
plates, declared that now she must 90 and wash.
Washp exclaimed her husband in astonish-
ment. Il thought you were to do that yester-
day.
We'll, SO meant, but Mrs Brown came in
and prevented me. And now must wash. for
neither | nor the children have a clean thing
to put on.
So it seems said Yates, sarcastically.
so it seems-indeed,' she cried angrily.
suppose You expect me to be as clean and neat
as If had twenty servants
No, Nary said her husband gravelv. Il
form no such eXtravagant notions; all | ask is
that the hours am working to earn our bread
may be spent by you in a manner more profita-
bic than gOssiping; and so let me find a quiet
and orderly house OH my return, and COM
panion such as you used to be in the earlier davs
of our welded life.'
But the atfectionate tone of his last words cx-
erciscd no softening influence on the reused
spirit of his indignant wife, and quarrel en-
sued, which ended in Yates taking his hat and
finding at the public house the comfort he could
not find in his own.
Meanwhile Jones passed through his trim
little garden, and entered his pretty cottage.
and setting down his basket, seated himself by
the window.
sOh, Jones, you never wiped your shoes when
yon came in was his wifc's salutation as she
entered the room.
swell, my dear, and if did not, there could
be no mud on them,' said he
'NO=S-but Flf be bound there's plenty of
dust on them,' she retOrted Grossly, and YOU
know how hate dust. And hereford bless
me; # your dirty basket amt set down on the
clean wax cloth What is the use of me being
slave if this is the way you act3
But Nell, I'm so tiredi'
Tired, forsootf, and don't yott think that
get tired, working about all day as do.'
You arc indeed a very industrious wife,
Nell, yet even as he spoke he sighed for his
home; though it was pleasant to look at, it
was very uncomfortable.
Mrs. Jones was Il conscientious and an in
dustrious woman, and she esteemed it her duty
to work hard for her husband and children.-
But she perceived not how her spirit of house
worship interfered with her duties as a wife and
mother. The former demanded her house shod
be n home, the latter that it should be an IDOL
and she bowed unrcsistingly down to the image
she had herself set up, without once suspccting
that the magic word home" was in her keep
ing an empty sound Her husband, when his
hours of labor were over, felt as though he had
fairly earned happy evening, but he was ever
offending against her rules Of propricty, and
therefore betook himself to the public house,
where he was IN object of consideration, which
he never was at home. And thus though Mrs.
Jones was considered a better wife than Mrs.
Yates, they both, by very different means, ac-
complished one cnd-of driving from their
homes domcsticatcd husbands.
Fields, too, had gained his home-a neat
little home, like those of his felow-workmen
Within all was neat and clean, and orderly as
the gambols of the children would permit, and
the wife who advanced to meet him was as neat
Il person rs the eye would wish to rest upon.
We'll, Carrie cried Fields, gaily, here
am tired and hungry, wanting my SUPPER do
you mean to give me any?'
'Why, if you behave yourself, WILL she re-
piled in the same tone; and as it is all ready,
you might as we'll have it now; l think you
need it after so hot day.
AZ length the comfortable, though frugal
meal was ended, and the children put to bed,
and then the little wife came gaiy down stairs.
Fields was weary, and had placed his feet upon
a chair, but no frown darEened Carries brow
at the sight.
On the contrary, she advanced good humor-
edly to his side, and inquired if she should go
ON with the book she had been reading the pre-
vious evening, or if he would rather chat while
she worked. But the pleasure of listening 10
an interesting book, was far greater for the weary
man, than of hearing the village gossip, and so
Carrie read ON till bed time.