The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-06-17

the belief that it was rather hard to work
bu>ilv whole morning. and then be told that
"she had done nothing comparatively" 1t
was not encouraging. to say the least and she
awaited the experiment of the next day with
much interest
Morning came and the squire aroused his
wife, and informed her in a significant tone
"that it was quite time 10 lres, and make a
FIRE. Mrs. Crosby did not wait for second
bidding, but remarked, as she left the room.
that he might put himself in readiness 10 see
about breakfast"
Our heroine had taken the prccaution the
night previous TO prepare the kindiings. and
in a short time had brisk fire. She allowed
herscltto do inst what her husband had been
in the habit of don" and no more. He usu-
ally left the coal-duSt and cindcrS for her to
>itt and clear away, as well as the remnants
| Of wood and >Eavings to pick up: and she
didn't feel inclined to limit his privileges at
! this time. The dining table stood in the
middle of the room. also covered with books
papers writing material and other articles
used the cvcnin. before. These she did not
molcst and without pulling up the shades. or
! putting back the chairS,shc took a newspaper
and BEGAN TO read.
The squire had evidently completed his
toilet quicker than usual. but it was never
hclcSS nearly an hour before he made his ap-
pcarancc. 1t was something novel to see lis
wife rcadn" before breakfast and he could
not help smiling to witness her pclrct Sung
h'oIL
I've been upa long time, and renewed the
FIRE twice, Mr. Crosby. She remarked. with
"ut looking up.
This was the squirc'> tavoric >alut1.on
when his wife happened to take an extra nap
of fiyc minutes.
The gentleman made no reply. for he un-
,lcr>tool what the remark meant without t!,.
aid of an Interpreter. He proceeded to bus
mess with crra: alacriry, pillin- the books
and papers upon chairs. and nearly >;ullinr
some oil, hy carving a lamp the wrong way.
and, ~ allowing the lr;tlc to boi! over some
i've minutes before n" got ready 70 take il
vut, 1t .-occd,i IN letting the cloth lad.
though IL rather on aNNwarI manner.
Il think >hou.. relish piece of beef
steak Mr.. Crosby. remarked the lady in the
rocking chair
'Ah, ;hcn yon shall have IT, replied the
hou>ckccpcr of the day. patronizin.lv. As he
busted himself with NAPKINS, cups, >auccr,.
plates knives. forks. etc. He tired to rcco,-
lrct how Mr>. Crosby arranged them. lut in
spite O.. al! his attempt, he couil make no ap-
plication to that lady for advice: a, She a,,-
,arcntly was absorbed in her rcaplinr.
Adjournin- to the kitchen. the sllirc at
tended to the making OF a delicious cup OF
coffee and had long >.rurgc o. bca.>.cak
which refused to brol to his satisfaction.
When returning TO The dinine-roonn. after q
lone absence, looking hcatc! and inpatient
Mrs. Crosby remarked. cd.con>ultinr her watch
that he had been absent lonr enough to
make a bcct>,cak
This observation TIE squire remembered ,o
have heard before. but dit; not make it al
parent. At lcnyth the coffee and meat were
brought in. and all things were pronounced
ready Ly the officiating master of ceremonies
Mrs. Crosby seated herself and BEGAN to
carve the squire took lis Place at the head
Of the table, and rrocccdcdto to pour ont the
coffee
The brcarl,Mr. Crosby. Suggested the lady
Bless me, forgot it" he exclaimed drop
ping the cohee-pot, and jumping up so ha>ti-
lv that he came very near ovcrturning the
table.
The bread was soon procured cut in slice,
VARYING in thickness from wafer TO a Junk of
four inches.
The butter, Mr.. Cro>bv. suggested hi,
companion. when he was again fairly seated
4 declare what poor memory | have
got. And scttin" down the cup which he
had taken up for the second time. he started
for the missing article Placincit it in trii.rnl
beside his wi!c's plate. he renewed his at
tcmpts at coffee pouring, and this time was
successful but it must be confessed that he
eyed the dark looking beverage with some
uncertainty as he passed it across the table.
Muddy coffee again, Mr.. Crosby" abrupt
Iy said the lady.
The squire hadn't word of reply.
VERY smoky bcctStcak, my dear. what
have YOU done to it = she continued. push
ing large piece ofthc obnoxious article on
one side OF her plate. You must be extreme
ly careless, or such things couldn't happen so
often as they do
What woman this is to remember, to be
sure. Anybody would suppose that she had
kept diary of my unlucky observations for
year. Whv.sh has them all at her tongues
end. Thought thc individual though
he dln't see fit TO make any Immediate ,c-
joindcr
The squire had but little appetite: his wife
remarked the fact and hoped that the simple
exercise of getting breakfast had not taken
it away. as one person who should he name
less was in the habit of asserting.
The gentleman WINGED. and prepared HIM
Sclfa generous slice of bread and butter.
which he proceeded to dispose of as though