Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-04-22

! wings obu w sHuTt tlfHe nd0 DIS
fire: She SLOWED herself to do jus
what her hus ba nd had been in The hal
OF doing, and no more. lie usually lef
The old coal and cinders for her to sif
and throw away, as well as the rem
nants Of wood and shavings to pick up
and she didn't feel inclined to limit hi
/ privileges at this time. The dining
table stood in the middle Of the room
also; covered with books, papers, writ
ing ma .erials, aud other articles uset
the evening before. These she did no
modest, and without pulling up III,
shades or putting back the chairs, abe
took newspaper and began to read.
The Squire had evidently comp,s,ei
his toilet soUner than common. but |,
was, neterthe.ess, nearly an hour before
ne made disappearance. IL was some
thing MOTEL TO see his wife reading be:
lore breakfast, and he could not help
smiling to witness ler perfec, sang
Goid
I've been up long time. and re.
newcd the fire twice. MIR. Crosby she
remarked. without looking up.
This was the Squire's saIuta:ion when
his wife happened 10 take an extra nan
OF five minutes. &
The gentleman made no re ply, Tor he
understood what the remark meant
wilhout the aid Of an interpreter. He
proceeded to business with great alacri.
~, plling the books and papers upon
chars, and nearly upsetling the inksland
in his haste. After spillng some oil !,
by carrying "a lamp the wrong way, and
allowing the kettle to boil over some
Eve minutes before he got ready 10 take
it out, he succeeded In getting the clotl
laid. though in Gather an awkward man
ner
81 think ! should relish piece o.!
beef-steak, MIR. Crosby" remarked the
lady in the rocking chair.
"Ah, then you shall have it" replied
The housekeeper of The day. patronizing-
ly, as he busted himself with napkins, !,
cups. saucers, plates, knives. forks, &c.
tie tried to rceollect how Mrs Crosby
arranged them. but ia spite of all his
attempts, he couldn't make the table
look as she did lie made no applica.
lion to that lady for advice, however,
and she. apparently, was absorbed in her
reading. sG
Adjourning to the Kitchen. the Squire
attended 10 the makirg ola delicious
cup Of coffee" and had a long struggle
with the beefsteak, which refused 10
broil TO his satisfaction. When re-
tarning to the dning-room, after long
absence. looking heated ard impatient,
Mrs Crosby remarked, consulting her
watch, "that he had been absent long
enough TO make beeisieak.
This observation the Squire remem
bered 10 have heard before, but did not
make it apparent. At length the cof.
fee and meat were brought in, and all
things were pronounced ready by the
officiating master Of ceremonies.
Mrs. Crosby seated herself and began
to carvei the Squire took his place at
the head OF The table and proceeded to
pour out the coffee.
"The bread, Mr.. Crosby" suggested
the lady.
''Bless me, forgo, it - he exclaim.
ed. dropping the coffee pot and jumping
up so hastily that he came near over
turning the table.
The, bread was soon produced. cut in
slices varying in thickness from 4 wafer
20 junk o! four inches.
"rhe butter. Mr.. Crosby" suggested
his companion, when he wa. again fair
ly seated. a7s
IL declare. what poor memory |
have got!"i AMI setting down the cup
which he had taken up Tor the second
time. he started for the missing article
Placiug il in triumph beside his wife s
plate. he rene ed his attempts at coffee
pouring. and this time was successful
bui il must be confessed that ae eyed
the dark looking beverage with some
uncertainty as he passed it across the
Ia BILE.
Muddy coffee again. Mr.. Cro.hy !"
abruptly said the lady.
The Squire hadn't 4 word. Of reply.
"Very smoky beefs.eak, my dear 81
What have you done to III" she con-
.inued. pushing large piece of the OBJ
noxious article on one side Of her plate
'.You must be extremely careless, or
such things couldn't happen SO often as
they do -
"Wbat a woman this is TO re me M Der, !
10 be sure! ANYBODY would suppose
that she had kept diary Of my unlucky
observat ions for year. Why, she has
them all at her tongues end" thought
the individual addressed, though he |
aid't see fl, TO make any immediate re
joinder. H
The Squire had but little appetite i
his wife remarked the fact, and hoped
.,ha, the simple exercise of get;ing
breakfast" had not taken il away, as
one person, w'.o should be nameless,
was in the habit of asserting.
The gentleman WINGED, aud prepared
himself generous slice of bread and
butter. which he proceeded to dispose
Of as though h. had lacked food for
weeks. ~ a
.. When the morning meal was con-
rluded, Mrs. Crosby donned her b nne,
aud shawl. and remarking ,ha, she woald
send home the dinner, left the house. |
Our hero was now alone, and could car
fy on operation without an eye witness.
which. he Observed was much pleas
,nter."
"Now we'll consult the list" ha sd
led. aloud. ''and have things 60 on in