Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-02
White Hands and Muddy Coffee.

Henry Thornton had been a married man
just two months. He was proud Of his
glossy ringlets, her brilliant eyes,
and last Of all, her small white hands. He
never once asked himself if these same
hands could iron a shirt, make bread or
mend a pair Of socks. Not be; it was
enough to know that they could make trills
on the piano, work worsted dogs and horses
on crickets and ottomans, and paint some
thing styled a landscape. She was not lit
erary either. Henry Thornton couldn't
tolerate that kind of absurdity. In his
opinion a woman had much better be asleep
than putting her thoughts upon paper
He thanked fortune, too, that she never
took to dry dispositions, tedious essays,
or egotistical books. Besides his Helen
didn't care about politics, being a regular
Know Nothing in regard to the item Of
who stood the chance of being the next
President. AS to the war in the East, she
could not tell positively whether Sebastopol
was up or down or whether it was in the
hands Of the allies or Russians. Reforma-
ton topics she never preached, either
Temperance was only fit for drunkard's
w 10 w CoAn Nv i VII OC DtICSlNcul
that Helen Thornton was not a strong
minded female; a fact upon which her
husband felicitated himselfnot a little.
We have said that two months comprised
the married life of the latter. It would be
gratifying to add that his happiness was
complete, that he had nothing to wish for =;
but candor compels me to say that he lad
discovered a little alloy in his gold. To
) be sure it would pass for pure metal, but
close examination disclosed the fact. In
a word his coffee had been exceedingly
, muddy for more than a week, and when
] he cautiously dropped a hint to the effect
Y that if her personal attention was given to
the matter the evil might be remedied, she
, rather tartly responded that coffee making
y was not her business moreover shutting
= herselfup in a chamber, in a milf, thus de-
!, priving him of her precious company fol
@ the rest of the day. A kiss and a new
Y scarf set the matterright the next morning
E however, Mr.. Thornton throwing in graci:
:? an apology for his ilI-timad suggestion
He remembered that all mankind (and w
) may as well include woman kind) seldom
attain to perfection; that rosesare alwaysir
a the Immediate vicinity of thorns, and tina
of rainbows and black clouds are often seel
together.
N It is a curious fact but no less true, tina
t. love scarcely ever o~utlives bad bread, smok
q tea, thick coffee, hard boiled eggs, discolore,
silver and soiled table linen. After al
r. the romance and rhapsody laid to bis charge
IS, the little gentleman deals in practicable
n; ties. He likes bread and butter and b
wants the bread light and the butter swee
- He is a little exacting, too; insisting tia
., CATERS look better neatly laced than Whe
to open and tapping at the side, with tt
- strings trailing on the ground. He WI
ar even known, once, to take an abrupt lea1
of a lady on the ostensible plea Of dissim
ng larity; but the shrewd people suspecte
.eu that the true reason was because she wo
~, dirty collars. Hemay be whimsical, figh
ly and extrava5 can't sometimes, but he
just as sure to leave his air castles and Sc
'ly, tie down quietly to the three meals a d.
and a cigar in the evening, as a feather
rd- to obey the laws of gravitaticn. lie writ
tender poetry, too; but generally inspil
laft ton seizes him after eating heartily of 70;
to beef the sly rogue knows that an emp
in stomach is not favorable to smooth rhyi
his or soft sentiment.
at The honey moon had just expired,
nad rather the months allotted to that intere
l IGt ing period for it has been ascertained Il
. that season can be protracted BY proE
ngh means, to an indefinite length Of time.
.eed The twain were seated at the breakfast
BILE. Mr.. Thornton looked obviously
-ery the burned and dried steak on the plat
nta- before him, and made wry faces at his c
Un,, of coffee, took one mouthful of the cIamn
rbns leathery toast. and then spoke:
the My dear Helen
rue 'Well Mr.. Thornton?
oul did you ever eat any of mothers brea
'No-why do you ask?
vent. because she makes the best biscui
the ever saw
His Undoubtedly! Aman's mother is
de- orally his wife's superior in everything
esI, l only wonder he is ever persuaded to lie
i Te her y responded Mrs. Thornton dryly.
owe 1t was the first time she had ever spo
70 sarcsstically, and Henry was puzzled.