The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-26
ONLY Fwe OF US:
BY MRS. ROBINSON:

We made an engagement FOR you TO
spend day ont this week. observed Squire
Crosby, as his wife was placing dinner upon
/ the table.
I" Have youl I'm sorry, for fear I
shall be loo busy 10 fulfil IL, ''she tejOined; in
a slight tone Of regret
[" Busy about WHAT, testify exclaimed the
speaker. al would respectfully inquire,
for somewhat less than the huhhred,h time,
what YOU can possibly find 10 dot II seems
to me that you must really suIfer frcm want
oi eNeTcise.V
al lo, undoubtedly" said Mrs. Crosby
dryly.
squire, decidedly Z" is a comparatively
lille life lor n woman TO attend to few
household cares,n
IA few household cares"
! uYes, my dear Mrs. Crosby, and the
washing put in into the bargain, What n
laborious businessln Squire Crosby looked
very wise, aud spoke with slight degree
OF irony,
"You talk like one who is unacquain,ed
with his subject; but at the same time am
willing To allow iha, you know as much
about il rs the generality Of men; and thai
eau, be construed into compliment, 10 the
sex by any means"
"But isn't the fact n selfevident one,
Mrs. Crosby! Haven't eyes, and can't |
! see - observe look about me - compre-
hend, demanded the squire.
"Yon might, without doubt; bu; wheih-
ct you 10, is another thing" rejoined his
wife.
/" Be iha, as it may, however, am salts.
fed that can find enough 10 do 10 keep me
Oui OF idleners."
"When there's only ,wo Of us!'
honiy two Of u.s." added Mrs. Crosby.
quietly; -lor IL is just as necessary that iuo
should eat as iourn
Well, il certainly musi be great un-
deriakiug 10 cook a little food. wash few
dishes aud lay the table three times day!
! Why, could accomplish lhe whole in less
time than two hOursn
"ThOse duties you have named DO not
comprise the whole oi housekeeping, Mr,
Crosby"
{" Perhaps not shouldn't mind throw.
ING in a lulle dusliug aud sweeping, once
in while But IT certainly appeats laugh.
able ~ hear woman complain 0f The work
. when there is only two in the family.
verify believe lis nolhiag but habn,p qao,h
the squire, with becoming grayity.
- Suppose you uy ii Tor one day" pro-
posed MIS-. COSBY, with like SERIOUSNESS.
I" u 30 10 the office and do your woIk,
aud YOU can remain al bone and 10 niue"
" LIS rather novel proposition, and |
don't al this time recall ~ miud any ceie-
braled men who have done houSewoIk.
haven't the least objection TO trying il, not
wilhslaadiug, and presume il will be The
easiest days work shall have this year."
EejOiped the husband,
! Both beng agreed, the next day was Sc.
leeled for the exchange of empleymenis.-
a quie, smile lurked ppon Mrs. Crosby's
month and the squire evidently thought il
j fne joke; one which would afford hun .
large fund Of merriment and be The means
OF proving 10 bis wife that housework was
nothing more iban pleasan, am lsemeni.
The deluded woman though, her lips
was iully occupied in keeping good-sized
house tidy, aud IN deyising new means oi
gratifying the palate of the squire; who,
strange 10 cay, liked good food, and abund
ance Of il. He seemed 70 think tina, Ibis
Jumped upon the table ready cooked, and
thai Mrs. Crosby Tor some other peIsop) bad
bui 20 utter a few magical words, and every
thing was done. Blu, 10 hear these rihing
dulles termed enormous, when there WAS
'sonly two OF them 10 look after, seemed Q
ereai absurdiiy ,o Sguire Crosby, and he
inwardly resolved 10 writ IN aIiicle on he
subject, and lei the sterner sex know how
much they were imposed upon.
While rejecting upon tins la3dable de.
; termination, Mrs. Crosby had occupied her.
sci in joiling down lisi OF the duties which
demanded attention The neal morning This
she folded, and quietly banded 10 her hDs.
baud requesting him 10 make ont simi.
lar paper SO thai no mismanagemen, might
enSpc.
."The list is no longer than psual,n said
The lady, smiling al The earnesiness with
which he surveyed il. e | 80 through with
The same performances every day. il is
necessary, for :hey capnoi be omitted. Bni
don'i be iIisbieDed; you can lake your WI
iime,n she addeJ, in a banieripg ioue.
FeiSning The utmost Indifference 10 lhe
results, be remarked ihaih he should proba,
| bly, "make quick work Of IT, and placing
The paper in his pocket, reipIuea 10 ihe Of
, fIce. $50 ... 90. ''''l' '~'...'-- - 80 '..
The liege lord Of Mrs. Crosby praciisel
law in suburban town, and had acquired
considerable properly BY lhe same. Iii.
wife had Independence enough 10 do hel
own housewoIk, bul could mol help think
ing that she deserved some credit Tor so DO
ing. She had no particular desiIe 10 rs
praised Justice where Justice is Due
was her motto and our readers will per
iaps coincide wilh her in The belief Thai !
was INher had 10 work bpSiiy a whole
morning, aud lhen' be told ihal 'she hac
done nothing eomparalively.n u was no
encouraging, 70 say The ieas, and she awai,
! edthe experiment, oflhe hexrday with mael
Interest. ~ I've 'i'''' U'i We" '''''-
Morning came, and the squire aroused
his wife and informed her III a significan
,cf sthat il was quite time 70 dress amt
make Hre.m Mis- Crosby ,lil not wait 70,
|, asccond bidding, butremarked, rs She lef
the chamber, s.tha, he mish, pu, himsel
, inIeadlness 10 see her about brsakhst.are.
Our heroine had taken the pfecaution The
, night previous TO prepare The kindlincs, and
IN as hort time had a'brRk fire c.ia She ALLOW.
ed herself to do.justwha, her husband had
been In The habit OF Ioidy, and no more 70
He usually len The coaIIius, aud elders fol
her 10 sin and clear away. as well as the
remnants Of wood aud shavings to pick up
and she didn't feel inclined To- limit hi.
privileges al this lime The dining liable
slood ii 'ihe middle Of the room, also cov
cred with books, papers, writing materials
and Other articles nsed the evening before,
These she did not molesi, and wilhon,
pnlling up the shales, or putting back The