Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-07-29
THE THREE HOMES,
OR, THE MAGIC OF NEATNEss

| sultry day, and as the cool air of evening
swept onward, and famed the brow of the
heated laborers, they one and all thanked
Heaven that the toll of the day was over.
But to none among the homeward bound did
the evening breeze seem more refreshing than
to three whose baskets. of tools denoted them
carpenters. At the entrance of the village
where they lived, Jones, Yates and Fields Sc
parated, each to seek his own dwelling.
| There was not a cleaner or neater abode
in Bell Air than that awaiting the reception
of Jones. Not speck of dust dimmed the
brlliancy of the windows; every article of
furniture was polished till it shone like a mir
ror, fresh flowers breathed forth their fra
gance from the chimney piece; a spotless
cloth covered the little supper table, and Mrs.
Jones and children were as neat as it was pos
sible to be.
Far different was the scene that awaited
Yates his house was in disorder, his child
rem untidy, and his wife absent.-The last
named evil was, however, soon remedied, for
one of the Children dispatched in quest of his
mother, soon returnd with her.
"You. here already, Bill" she exclaimed,
rushing in breathessly, in a dim and dir
ty gown. 81 had no idea it was so late
Light the fire, that is agood boy, and we will
have supper"
81 am so tired, Mary, that | would rather
do without supper" remarked Mr.. Yates,
throwing himself upon ascat.
| "Arc Well, then, I'll make it." and as she
hurried to light the fire, more than one piece
Of crockery was broken, having been put in
an improper place.
"Where have you been!" asked her hus-
band.
"Just next door, to see Mrs. Browns sick
baby"
"Mother has been gone ever since O."
chmed in a youngster.
you abominable story teller, take that"
and here the mother boxed his ears.
Off went the child in a crying fit, and off
went Mrs. Yates to prepare the supper; the
children became cross and sleepy, and when
tea was at last ready, she had to 90 up stairs
and put them to bed, then returning, swallow
ing her own meal, and putting aside the dir
lty dishes, declared she must 90 and wash.
"WaSh!' exclaimed her husband in aston
ishment. thought YOU washed yesterday"
"Well SO | meant but Mrs, Brown came in
and prevented me. And now we must wash,
for neither nor children have a clean thing
to put on"
80 it seems" said Yates sarcastically.
$50 it seems indeed" she cried angrily.
Il suppose YOU expect me to be as clean
and nea! as if kept twenty servants"
mo Mary" said the husband gravely.
81 form no such extrayagant notion; all | ask
is, that the hours [ am working to earn
our bread, may be spent by you I'M manner
more profitable than gossiping, and SO let me
| find quiet and orderly house on my return,
and a companion such as you used to be i'll
the earlier days of our welded life,
But the affectionate tones ofthe last words
exercised no softcning influence upon the
reused spirit of the indignant wife, and quar-
rel ensued which ended in Yates taking his
hat, and finding at the pXblic house the COM
| fort he could not find at his own.
Meanwhile Jones passed through his trim
little garden, entered his pretty cottage home
and sitting down his basket seated himself at
the window.
"Oh, Jones, you didn't wipe your feet when
you came ill.," was his witcs salutation as soon
as she entered the room.
well, my dear, and if l did not, there
could be no mud on them,' said he
"No, but I'll be bound there's plenty dust
on thcm," she retorted GROSSLY, land You
know how hate dust. And here, Lord bless
me, if your dusty basket isn't set down on
the clean wax cloth. What's the use of my
being a slave if this is the way You act.
But, Nell, I'm so tired"
Tired, forsooth; and don't YOU think that
get tired, working about all day as | do.
You are, indeed, a very industrious wife,
Nell,"-yet even as he spoke, he sighed, for
his home, though twas very pleasant to look
at, was also very uncomfortable.
"Mrs. Jones was a conscientious and an
industrious woman, and she esteemed it her
duty to work hard for her husband and chill
dren. But she perceived not how her spirit
of house-worship interfered with her duties
as a wife and mother.
The latter demanded her house should be
a home, the former that it should be an idol
and she bowed down INTERESTINGLY to the inn
age she had herself set up, without once sus-
pecting that the magic word home, was in her
keeping but an empty sound. Her husband
when his hours of labor were over, felt as if
he had earned happy evening; but he was
ever offending against her rules of propriety,
and he therefore took himself off to the pub
lie house, where he was an object of conside-
ration. which he never was at home. And
thus, though Mrs.Jones was con>dereda better
wife than Mrs. Yates, they both, by very diff,
terent means, accomplished one end-dri-
wing from their homes domesticated hus-
bands.
Fields, too has gained his home-a neat,
little cottage like those of his fellow work
men. Within all was clean and neat as the
gambols of the children would permit and
his wife who advanced to meet him, was as
neat person as the eve could wish to rest
upon.
"WelL Carrie" cried Fields, gaily, here l
am, tired and hungry, wanting my supper;
do YOU mean to give me any:"
"Why, il You behave yourself, l will" she