Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-12-10
MR.. PEPPERS WIFE.
HOW he SHUT HER UP.

retting breakfast. AS my former house
Keeper understood all my wishes with
regard to these things, ] found it unnec-
essary to give any orders respecting
them but with you it is different. As
YOU have never got meal in this house,
ofcourse you know nothing of the regu-
lasions of the household
In the first place, you will make a
fire in the kitchen, put on the kettle, &c;
then you will make fire in here. That
done, you will cook the breakfast and
bring it in here, as have always been
accustomed to taking mine in bed, and
do not consider it necessary to depart
from that custom on your account; but
should you prefer it, you can eat yours in
The kitchen, as it is perfectly immaterial
to me-
This occurred the morning after Mrs.
Pepper went to housekeeping. Mrs.
Pepper was a sensible woman-she
made no reply to Mr.. Peppers commands;
but as soon as her toilet was finished,
She left the room, and sitting down in the
Kitchen, she thus ruminated:
Make the kitchen fire Yes, I'll do
that. Then make fire in the bedroom
I'll see to that, too. Then take the break
fast TO his bedside! Just see if l do 4!
And then Mrs. Pepper sat and thought
deeply for few minutes, when, apparent
ly having arrived at satisfactory conclu-
sion, she proceeded to business.
Having got a nice fire kindIed in the
kitchen, she carried some coal into Mr..
P.'s apartment, and filled up his stove,
having first ascertained that there was
not a spark of fire in it. That duty
performed, she next prepared the break
fast, of which she partook with great
relish; and after matters and things were
all set to rights in the kitchen, she wen
down town on shopping excursion.
Meanwhile Mr.. Pepper began to grow
Impatient. He labored under the i'm
preston that the atmosphere his room
did not grow warm very fast, and h'
began TO feel unpleasantly hungry
Peeping out from behind the bed-cur
tains, he saw how affairs were with re
gard to the stove. Something like
suspicion OF the real state of affairs begal
10 dawn upon his mind. He listened 70
few minutes, but all was still about tn
house.
Hastily dressing himself, he proceed
ed to investigate the affair. He 500
eomprehended the whole of it, and wa
very wrathful at first but he comfor
ed himself with the reflection that he ha
the power to punish Mrs. P, and he fe
bound to do it too. After some scare
he found the remains of the breakfast, {
which he partook with gusto, and the
sat down to wait for Mrs. P. She VIZ
a long time in coming, and he had ampl
time to nurse his wrath. While sittir
there, he thus soliloquised:
That ever |, Philander Pepper, shou
be so treated, and by woman, too,
not to be believed. l can't believe If, n
nor won't either. But she shan't e
cape, that's certain; if she should n
reputation for dignity would be forev,
gone! for havn't told Solomon Simpl
ton all along how l was going to ma
my wife stand round, and how was goi
60 make her get up and make the e
every morning, and let me lie abed, al
how was going to shut her up, a
feed her on bread and water, if she dar
10 say she wouldn't do it?'
"A cosy little arrangement, Mr.. Pc
per- said soft voice behind MIN.
Mr.. P. startedup, and there stood NJ
P. right behind his chair, laughing j
as hard as she could. Mr.. Pepper I
on a severe look.
sit down in chair madam he sa
pointing to the one he had just vacat
'whileI have little conversation W
you
Now 1 should be pleased to kn
why you did not obey my orders I
morning, and where you have been
the forenoonP
Where l have been this forenc
Mr.. Pepper, have not the least OBJ
ton to tell you; have been down to
doing little shopping. / have purct
ed some lovely napkins just look
them, said she, holding them up demu
ly for his inspection only pal
dollar apiece for rthem-extremely che
don't you think so ? she added.
Mr.. Pepper was astonished; how
dared to turn the conversation in
Z, l.