Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-03

However, to ell their home, with music, al
she had often done. Her matinee was the
singing tea-kettle, not the stringed piano.
She had heightened color, when she tool
her place at the breakfast table, and poured
for her husband the fragrant coffee, made by
her own hands, because she had discovered
that her Indifferent cook was ignorant of hel
art. How did she know the. art? . It. was
almost accidental; the recollection of some
good housewives talk had served her in the
right time. The warm praise bestowed by
Edward on the coffee was ample reward.
Ida bought a cook book during the day.
That sounds romantic. But it was even so
and she studied it for hours. During the af.
tcrnoou her mother-in-law came in ; and Ida
urged her to stay to tea. The old lady &C.
cepted the invitation; not, we are sorry to
say, in the very best spirit. She had opened
the war on Edwards "butterfy'' young wife
and she meant to follow it up. When Ed
ward came home and found that his mother
was there his spirits fell. He saw, by the
corners of her mouth, that she had not for
gotten their interview of the preceding day
and that her state of mind was not whit
more charitable Ida's face was a little
shadowed; but she was cheerful, and very
attentive to his mother-and, happily, igno-
rant of her true. feelings. She came and
went from the breakfast room to the parlor,
frequently, evidently with household cares
upon her mind.
Tea was at length announced. Edwards
heart trembled. His mother arose, and with
rather cold air, accompanied her children
to the room where the evening meal awaited
them. The table had an attractive look,
new to the eyes Of both Edward and his
mother. Itwas plain that another hand be-
sides the servants had been there, Ida
poured the tea, and Edward served the hot
biscuit and cream toast. The eyes Of the
latter were on his mother, as she lifted, with
an air which he understood to say, "Poor
stuff !" the cup Of tea to her1ips She tast-
ed the fragrant beverage-set the cup down
-lifted'and tasted again. Theinfusion was
faultless Yes, even to her critical taste.
Next the biscuit, and next the toast were
tried. Mrs. Goodfellow herself could not
have surpassed them.
"Have you changed your cook?" The
old lady looked across the table, cdriously at
Ida.
"No, mother" answered the young wife,
smiling. ''Only the cook has found mis-
tress."
"Is all this your work, Ida ?" The old
lady spoke in half incredulous tone.
eyes, it is all my work. Don't you think,
if I try hard, I'll make housekceper in
time ?"
This was so unexpected, thatthe husbands $
mother was delighted. Ida had gone right
home to ner matter of-fact, everyday heart.
"Why, yes, you precious little darling :"
she answered, with an enthusiasm almost
foreign to her character. 81 couldn't have
done better myself"
The shadow passed from the heart of Ida,
as her eyes rested on the pleased couutenance
of her husband. 1t was the first shadow
that had fallen since their happy wedding
day, and moved on quickly; but its memory
was left behind. 1t was like the drawing of
veil, which partly conceals, yet beauties a
countenance, revealing the enchanted ex-
preston.
Ida's husband was man, like the rest,
with mans common wants and weaknesses !;
and her married world one in which hands
must take hold of common duties But she
soon learned that, in the real world, were
real delights, substantial and abiding.
Bravely she did walk in the new path that
lay at her feet. She had her reward. Tea
and toast but expressed her household duties,
none of which we're rightly performed du-
ring that delicious honeymoon. But she
failed in nothing afterward; and soon learn
ed that the ground in which true happiness
takes deepest root, and from which it springs
up with strongest branches is the grcund of
common, homely duties