Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-07-15
miscellaneous.
ONLY TWO OF US.
ny MRs ROBINSON.

IVY out thfs week, observed squire NrOsDy, US
ms wife was placing dinner upon tho table.
"NaNe you? Pm sorry, for I fear ! shall be too
busy to fulfil it," she rcjoined, in a slight tone of
regret.
= Busy about whatH' testify exclaimed the
speaker. 81 would respectfully inquire, for some
what less than the hundrcdth time, what you can
possibly find to do. 1t seems to me that you must
really suffer from want Of exercise
IL do, undoubtedly" said Mrs. Crosby, dryly'
at can't be otherwise, continued the Squire,
decidedly. 1T is a comparatively idle life Tor a
woman to attend to a few household cares"
"A few household cares
Yes, my dear Mrs. Crosby, and the washing
put in into the bargain. What Il laborious bust.
nessl' Squire Crosby looked very wise, and spoke
with a slight degree Of irony.
You talk like one who is unacquaintcd with
his subject but at the same timo | am willing tc
allow that you know as much about it rs the gen
crafty of men; and that cant DO construed into q
compliment to the sex by any means"
But isn't the fact n sclf-cvilent onS, Mrs
Crosby? Haven't eyes, and can't | see-observe
look about m~e-comprchend p demanded the
Squire.
=" You might, without doubt; but whether you dc
is another thing" rejoinod his wife.
Be that as it may, however. | am satisfied that
can fad enough to do to keep me out of idle
ness"
"Wheu there's only two of usH"
"Only two of us" added Mrs. Crosby, quietly
"fcr it is Just as necessary that two of us should
eat MS four"
well, it certainly must be a great undertaking
to cook a little food, wash a few dishes and lay the
table three times a day! Why, | could accomplish
the whole in less time than two hours!'
Those duties you have named do not comprise
the whole of housekeeping, Mr.. Crosby
PERHAPS not; | shouldn't mind throwing in a
little busting and sweeping once in q while. But
it certainly appears Imaginable to hear a woman
complain Of the work when there is only two in
the family. Iverily believe it's nothing but habit, |"
uu0th the Squire with becoming gravity.
!" Suppose you try it for one day" proposed Mrs.
Crosby, with like seriousness. "Pl go to the
Office and do your work, and you can remain at
hamc and do miue."
cts rather a novel proposition, and l don't at
this time recall to mind any celebrated men who
have done housework. | haven't the least objcc-
ton to trying it, Notwithstanding, and presume it
will be- the easiest days work l shall have this
year. reiciued the husband,
Both being agreed, the next day was selected
for the exchange of employments. \ quiet smile
iurked upon Mrs. Crosby's mouth, and the Squire
evidently thought it a fine Joke one which would
afford him a large fund of merriment, and be the
mems of proving to his wife that housework was
nothiny moro than n pleasant amusement.
The deluded woman thought her time was fully
occupied in Ike ping a fullsized house tidy, and in
devising new means of gratifying the palate of
the Squire who, strange to say, liked good food,
AMI abundance of it. lie seemed to think that
this jumped upon the table ready cooked, and that
Mrs. Crosby iOr some other person) had but to
utter a few magical words, and everything wa,
done. But to hear these trifing duties termed
enormous, when there was 'only two of them" to
look after, seemed a great a%bsurdity 10 Squire
Crosby, and he inwardly resolved to write an ar.
ticlc on the subject, and let the sterner sex know
how much they were imposed upon.
While rejecting upon this .laudable determine
ton, Mrs. Crosby had occupied herself in jotting
doEn q list Of the duties which demanded attention
the next morning, This she folded, and quietly
handed to her husband, requesting him to make
out q similar paper, so that no mismanagemen
might ensue.
"The list is no longer than usual" said the
lady, smiling at the earnestness with which he
surveyed it. 81 60 through with the same per
forraances every day. 1t is necessary, for the,
cannot be omitted. But don't be frightened; yot
can take your time, she added, in q ~banterin:
tone.
Feigning the utmos st Indifference to the results
he remarked that he should probably make quic,
work of it" and placing the paper in his pocket
returned to the Office.
The licge lord of Mrs. Crosby p~raetised law in
suburban town, and had acquired considerabl
property by the same. His wife had independents
enough to do her own housework, but could NJ
help thinking she deserved some credit for SO doin
She had no particular desire to be praised "ju
tice where Justice is due" was her motto; and oil
readers will probably coincide with her in the b
lief that it was rather hard to work busily a who
morning, and then be told that "she had do
nothing comparatively" 1t was not cncouragir
TO say the least, and She awaited the experiment
the next day with much interest.
Morning came, and the Squire aroused his wi
and informed her in a significant tone that it v
quite time to dress and make a fire" Mrs. Cros
did not wait for a second bidding but remarked,
she left the chamber, that he might put him,
in readiness to see about breakfast"
Our heroine had taken the prccaution the nj
previous to prepare tho kindlings. and in a sh
time had . brisk fire. She had allowed herself
do just what her husband had been in the habit
doing, and no more. He usually left the coal-d
md cindcrs for her to sift and clear away, as "
rs the remnants of wood and shavings to pick |
and she didn't feel inclined to limit his privile
at this fine. The dining table stood in the mid
of the room, also covered with books, papt
writing materials and other articles used the ey
ing before. These she did not modest, and with
pniliag up the shades, or putting back the cha
sho took a newspaper and began to read.
The Squire had evidently completed his to
quicker than common, but it was neyerthe,
nearly an hour before he made his appearance.
was something novel to see his wife reading bel
breakfast, and he could not help smiling TO witr
her perfect sang .fOid,
"Ive been up n long time, and renewed the
twice, Mr.. Crosby" she remarked, without look
up.
This was the Squirrels flvourite salutation W
his wife happened to take an extra nap of
minutes.
Tho gentleman made no reply, for I've undersi
what the remark meant, without the aid Of
Interpreter. lie proceeded to business with 6
alacrity, piling the books and papers upon CHI
and nearly spilling some oil by carrying a !,
the wrong way, and. by allowing the kettle to
over some five minutes before he got ready to
it out, he succeeded in getting the cloth laid, tho
in rather On awkward manner.
81 think l should relish a piece Of beefstt
Mr.. Crosby" remarked the lady in the rock
chair.
"Ah, then you shall have it" replied the no,
keeper OF the day, patronizingly, as lie bus
himsett with napkins, cups, saucers, plates, kni,
forks, etc, He tried to recollect how Mrs, Gro
arranged them' but in spite of all his attempts
could make no application to that lady for adv
as she apparently was absorbed in her readinr
Adjoining to the kitchen, the Squire attende,
the making Of a delicious cup of coffee" and