Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-07-22
miserable meal; and frowns, and sometimes
unkind words for welcome

| Win a lC" III tuC SthS-toSn du
after few weeks it was reported throug
the village that the young lawyer, Mr.. Har
ward, had ''taken to drinking"
+, "Poor fellow if he only lad little com
fort at home; but his wife is too sfuckup t
descend to snch means as making ii SOL!
The sentence was spoken sadly. in slight
ly sarcastic tone, the speaker did not k9pv
Julia was walking directly behind and hear
every word; but could one have. looked int
the countenance Of the young wifs the,
would not have doubted it.
"Has it indeed come 70 this.'' -sheSwhis
pered to herself, and pressing her hand owe
her heart and pausing in her vsizf sam
the cause, of oil thiss Bsssss of MI
negligence that NV hnshasd .4e aassag
his home and turning daily from ne! Oh
the mistaken ideas that once possessed me
but for false gentility | might now possess
the undivided affections of my husband, ant
instead Of a cheerless, untidv home, have
one of neatness and order. But it is never
too late to learn; | will commence now;
yes | will put an end 10 this and strive to
the utmost to again be to my husband
what once was: and more. learn what !
once despised to be, good housekeeper.
The next morning Biddy was dismissed,
and without informing her husband of her
intentions julia went to work; she was in
| good spirits, for she wished to surprise her
husband with a neat home and nice sup
per. so she did not stop to wonder if rolled
up sleeves were becoming, if broom and
dust pan were Questionable articles, but
commenced With great energy. But Julia
knew nothing of that part of the house
work. for in few moments such dust was
raised as to almost blind and suffocate her,
settling upon books. furniture and curtains,
much to discontinue.
We will pass over washing dishes, max
ing beds, and other things, which, however,
took up the entire forenoon; although she
tried her very best, everything had peculiar
s;ovenly appearance, and one o'clock P. NJ.
found her weary and almost discouraged,
and the kitchen still in disorder.
The sink was filled with dirty dishes,
rusty knives. broken tumblers and cold dish
water. The cupbord with half washed
dishes, shelves covered with crumbs, spices,
scraps of colo meat and mouldy cheese
which formed very disgusting sight. The
smooth white floor was covered with grease
and dried dough; the pretty cherry table had
lost it's varnish; and the stove, once so black
and shining, wore different appearance.
Poor Julia, she was weary and almost
discouraged; and. all these things meeting
her view she sat down, rested her face on
her ha nds and burst into tears
would netJos there WIS., nasb-
ing cooked in the house,, but some cold
burned meat and few dry crumbs Of bread;
with heavy heart Julia took her cock book
and looked over number of recipes.
"Yes that will Go; biscuits and butter,
some of my nice preserves Jane made be-
fore she left, and some cookies; or some
kind of cake; let me see;;" and she named
the different ingredients of which each is
composed, and finally set TO work in earnest.
Reader, if you never made a cake. you
may imagine how perfectly ignorant was
Julia. Butter, eggs, buttermilk, soda-let
me see Il guess this is soda-yes. it says
so on the box-and Julia proceeded to mix
the aforesaid articles together, but to her
astonishment the cake instead OF being a
delicate color. was almost black.
81 suppose it will be lighter when baked;
let me see--'bake'in quick oven'-wonder
what quick oven SIS s!--weH, the fire is all
out. as true as the world!" and with this
soliloquy she burst into tears.
ayes, sure enough the fire was out, ,--cvery
spark, and turning to the wood box for
shavings, her flowing sleeve caught cup of
melted butter on the table, upsetting its con-
tents upon her dress and breaking the DISH
AS she stopped to the floor to pick up the
fragments, the founce of her thin dress
caught on the corner of tine stone hearth,
making a sad rent,-and raising her head
from its STOPPING posture, gave it stun
ming blow under the table. Almost dizzy
with pain and overcome with vexation, after
half an hour of blowing and putting, the
fire began to burn. Julia placed the cake
in the oven, and as she saw according to
the cock book it must bake three quarters
of an hour, looked at the clock and calculat-
ed the time it would oe done, five minutes
twenty-it would not bake-more wood was
put into the stove, and as some other things
needed attention. she did not look to it ngain
until the striking of the clock reminded her
it must be done. And it looked done, in
fact-black as charcoal; Julisf fried to take
it from the pan, but it was imP possible.
H., 80, h.,
from the morning when she said never fear
that shall ever be engaged IN kitchen Ia
bor,' then reclining on her crimson sofa she
dreamed not Of day like this.
Ring, ring ring!
"Oh. who can it be!' Julia glanced at
her dirty dress,at her arms and, ,hands!cover-
ed with burns, smut and dough; her hair
was standing out in very fantastic manner,
partly unconfned by combs or pins where
her face was smutty, wet with tears, and
her eyes red with weeping--oh. what a
plight. Gentle reader or tidy housewife.
believe me such was the appearance of
Julia, the proud, scornful Julia Harvard.
Ring, ring, ring!
That would not 90; there must be scme-
thing urgent TO cause such a summons-for-
getting her appearance Julia now obeyed
the call, and the next moment stood facing
her sister Louise and Mr.. Leslie her hus-
band. But Mr.. Leslie made an excuse to
go and attend the baggage, really to leave
the sisters alone; and Julia, after confess
ing her pas, trials, begged her sister TO for
give her past faults, and lend her assistance
in the time Of need
Louise went into the kitchen. and after