The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-05-07
A Lazy Man, and how he was Reformed.

Lazy Man, and how he was Reformed.
Mr.. Easy was one Of the most good -natured,
idle, happy, don't care sort Of men, that the sun
ever shone upon. 1t didn't trouble him iota,
whether there were a war in the kitchen or in
the Crimea, if lie had but a newspaper, cigar
and lounge as tall as himself, whereupon he
could recline at full length and see the blue
smoke curl up and watt away-he didn't care
where-if Mrs. Easy wasn'tin the mood oftalk-
ing. The whole family Of little Easys might
dance around, spin tops, play ball, overturn the
coal hods, and take his best hat for an ottoman,
without ever turning his eyes in that direction.
But very different kind Of person was
Mrs. Easy; she cherished the idea that nature
intended her to be somebody, and the only OBJ
stacle to her rapid rising in the estimation Of
mankind generally, was the surineness of her
slothful and easy husband When the ther-
mon1eter indicated less than seventy degrees,
the house was comparatively quiet; and Jimmy
did pull Benny's hair and set him to crying, and
then, in his effort to run away, fall over his
fathers boots and upset his mothers work -bas-
ket, why, Mrs. Easy never pursued him farther
than the door, and then on her return would
give her lord and master look that would
make him place the newspaper little closer to
On Wednesday afternoon, Just after the din
ner table had been cleared and everything ar
ranged orderly, Mr.. Easy was occupying his
favorite place on the lounge, and his wife was
engaged sewing the last button on a garment for
Jimmy, when Mrs. Easy suddenly exclaimed:
I wish could 60 to the sewing circle this
afternoon; Mrs Ray and Mrs Holbrook and al
most every body know is going, and they are
to choose officers, too, and heard they talked
of nominating me for president As --&
well, do 60, said her husband, laying down
his paper; to her utter astonishment, having
noticed her remark without her repeating it.
I don't feel very well, and will stay at
home and see to the children, and have every
thing first rate when you get back
'Firstrate,' repeated the wife, a little excited; ;
you have kept house before, and when got
home it looked as though there had been a fire
here, and | said then would never leave you
again with the children
We'll, my dear, you know experience is
good teacher; just try me this once, and see if
you don't find things in good shape when you
get back
The wife hesitated few moments, and then
the desire to spend the afternoon with her
friends, and the idea, too, that when she re-
turned she might be an officer in the society,
prevailed over her fears of household disorder
So, after giving her husband various instruc-
tons how to proceed for the next six hours, (of
which he heard not single word, though nod
now and then caused his more ambitious half
to believe that he treasured up the whole of
them, she went to her chamber to dress for
the occasion.
Half an hour afterwards Mrs. Easy entered
the sitting room, and her husband thought he
never saw her look more attractive than she did
in her closely fitting bodice and brocade skirt,
and he firmly resolved to do his best to merit
her appreciation when she returned
4 want piece of bread and BUTTER said jim
N.Y. about half an hour after his mother had
left His father was still on the lounge with
the newspaper before him, and not being ac-
customed to attend to the wants of the children,
he already forgot the responsible trust he had
assumed; so Jimmy, finding bis request unheed-
ed, proceeded to help himself and going to the
closet, he climbed to the top shelf in search of
the articles desired; but making miss-step,
down came Jimmy, bread, butter, Mrs. Easy's
favorite soup-tureen, and several other dishes.
Come down. Jimmy!' said his father, the
crash having brought him to his senses. -
4 am down. cried the boy, trying to extri-
cate himself from among the fragments.
4 should think you were down, and all your
mothers china with you!' said Mr.. Easy, with
sorrow depicted on his countenance; but there,
there, Jimmy, don't cry; III buy some more
before your mother gets back-so you be good
boy and run out to play; here's cent for YOU
and the father took his pocket handkerchief and
rubbed the butter either in or off the boys
face and left it shining like an apothecary's
bottle by gas light; then gathering up the bro
ken ware and putting it all into the swill pail,
he swept the remnants of the butter into the
dust pan, and again seated himself on his favor
ite spot. '-
But his troubles were not vet ended, for jim
my's mishap and outcry had awakened Ella,
the youngest, who had been sleeping in the cra-
die. She vocferous]y demanded where was
ma. -5s-" "s a." s"'6@'1 1 5f
'Oh, Lord, said her father half musingly,
she's gone down to Mrs. Norwood S to the sew
ing circle. 1fit was man who invented them,
| hope he will have to keep house every We'd
nesday afternoon SO long as he lives
Gone down TO Mrs Norwood s. repeated
Benny, to whom Jimmy had told the story of
his misfortunes, and who was now viewing the
ruins. ~s @O.'s" .-= "" - aa b"
eIll 60 right straight down and tell her that
Jimmy has broken whole lot of dishes, and
the baby's crying, and pa won't give us moth
ing to eat " De-4 Ms45 & s.'is. sf-.-
Come back!' shouted the father, while the
perspiration stood in drops on his face. But
the boy knew that bis father never used the rod,
50 it had no other effect than to make him in
crease his speed in the direction of Mrs. Nor
woods house. The parent did not wait to give
him second call, but started in pursuit ofthe
fugitive. As he was descending the steps that
led from the outer door to the pavement, owing
to the butter on the soles Of his boots he Slip
ed and fell, reaching the street without any
effort on his part. Mr. Easy groan-
ed aloud, but he had no time to ascertain if any
OF his bones were broken, SO away he hobbled,
much to the amusement of a group of sbavings
boys, who were on the corner opposite. In
spite Of all his exertions, the distance widened
between him and his undutiful son; so he hired
one of the boys to overtake Benny and bring
him hark we yueni tho how an his arrand