Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-02-10
THE THREE HOMES,
THE MAGIC OF NEATNESS
BY FINLEY JOHNSON.

1t had been an uncommonly warm and
sultry day, and as the cool air of evening
swept onward and famed the brows Of the
heated laborers, they, one and all, thanked
heaven that the toll of day was over. But
to none among the homeward bound, did tie
evening breeze seem more refreshing than
TO three, whose baskets of tools borne over
their shoulders denoted them carpenters.-
At the entrance of the village where they
lived, Jones, Yates and Fields separated,
each 10 seek his own dwelling.
There was not cleaner or neater abode
in Bell Air, than that awaiting the recep-
tion of Jones. Not a speck OF dust dimmed
the brlliance of the windows, every article
Of furniture was polished til it shone like
mirror; fresh flowers breathed forth their
fragrance from the chimney-piece; spot
less cloth covered the little supper table,
and Mrs. Jones and the children were as
neat as it was possible TO be.
Far different the scene which awaited
Yates. His house was in disorder, his chill
dren untidy, 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 breathlessiy in dim and dirty
gown. 81 had no idea it was so late
Light the fire, that's good boy, and We'll
have SUPPER
81 am so tired, Mary, that I'd rather do
without supper" said Yates, throwing him
self upon seat.
care you? 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 i'm.
proper place.
"Where have you been?" inquired Yates
"Just next door TO see poor Mrs. Brown:
sick baby"
"Mother has been gone ever since two,
chimed in youngster.
"You abominable story teller-take that,
and here the mother boxed the ears of tn,
child.
Of, went the child in a crying 1T, and Of
went Mrs. Yates 10 prepare the SUPPER
The children became cross and sleepy, anc
when tea was at last ready, she had so VI
stairs and put them to bed; then returning
swallowed her own meal hastily, and put
ting aside the dirty plates, declared that nov
she must go and wash.
"Wash" exclaimed her husband, in as
tonishment, II thought you were 10 do tha
yesterday"
"Well, so | meant, but Mrs. Brown cam
in and prevented me. And now | mus
wash, for neither | nor the children have
clean thing to put on"
$50 it seems" said Yates sarcastcally.
80 it seems--indeed, !" she cried angrily
"I|suppose you expect me to be as clea,
) and neat as if kept twenty servants"
"No, Mary" said her husband gravely
? form no such extravagant notons-all
) ask is, that the hours am working to ear
+, our bread, may be spent by you in man
ner more profitable than gOssipping; and $
let me find quiet and orderly house on m
return, and a companion such as you used t
be in the earlier days of our welded life"
, But the afiectionate tone of the last word
exercised no softening influence on tn
i reused spirit of the indignant wife. /
n quarrel ensued, which ended in Yates TAX
ing his hat, and finding at the public hous
d the comfort he could not find in his own.
P Meanwhile, Jones passed through h
trim little garden, entered his pretty co