The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-09-23

little clock on the kitchen mantle shelf
rung out the hour of two, and the well
known footstep was heard in the hall,
Julia's first impulse was to meet him
kindly and confess her fault, but when
she saw him safe at home, her pride
arose, and a. remark touching the late
ness of the hour was the only greeting.
Thus commenced an estrangement
between those two once loving hearts.
Jnlia discouraged and vexed, after try
ing in vain to find better "girl," set
tied down.into a sort of desperate calm
ness-aye, moroseness- endeavoring
neither to make herself or husband
happy, while he, worried and annoyed,
weary with daily care and anxiety, re-
turned to his home, where he should
have found rest and happiness to find
everything gloomy and disordered, an
untidy room, miserable meal; and
frowns, and sometimes unkind words
for a welcome. gH e11sla71 10 's@''''
At last he staid from home almost
entirely; his dinner was eaten at the
village tavern, his evenings spent over
social glass" with. "A few friends in
the club-room,' and after few weeks
it was reported through the village. that
the young lawyer, Mr.. Harvard, had
"taken to drinking. "'aifH } =
=" Poor fellow, if he only had little
comfort at home; but his wife is too
stuck up to descend to such meanness
as making it SO % f..azFr.
The sentence was spoken sadly, in a
slightly sarcastic tone, the speaker did
not know Julia was walking directly
behind and heard every word; but
could one have looked into the counte-
nance of the young wife they would
not have doubted it.
elias it indeed come to this" she
whispered to herself, and pressing her
hand over her heart and pausing in her
walk, am l the cause of all this |!
Because of my negligence that my
husband is forsaking his home and
turning daily from me? Oh, the mis-
taken ideas that once possessed me!
but for a false gentility [ might now
possess the undivided affections of my
husband, and .ns.ead Of a cherries un-
tidy home, have one of neatness and
order. But it is never too late to learn !;
l will commence now; yes will put
an end to this and strive to the utmost
again to be to my husband what once
was; and more, learn what l once
despised to be, a good housekeeper.
The next morning Biddy was dis
missed, and without informing her hus-
band of her intention, Julia went to
work she was in good spirits, for she
wished to surprise her husband with a
neat home and a nice supper, SO she
did not stop to wonder if rolled up
sleeves were becoming, if a 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 ard suffocate her, settled upon
books, furniture, curtains, much to her
discontinue. .aoet- "+fa h.,.oa
We will pass over washing dishes,
making beds, and other things, which,
however, took up the entire forenoon I;
although she tried her very best, every
thing had peculiar slovenly appear
ance, and one O'Clock p. NJ. found her
weary and almost discouraged, and the
kitchen still in disorder. ,....sF f..,..
The sink was filled with dirty dishes,
rusty knives, broken tumblers and cold
dish-water. The cupboard with half
washed dishes, shelves covered with
crumbs, spices, scraps of cold meat and
mouldy cheese, which, formed a very
disgusting sight. The smooth white
floor was covered with grease and dried
dough; the pretty cherry table had lost
its 'yarnish and the stove, once so
black and shining, wore very differ
ent appearance. .,,, e,,, - I..,i,.'
Poor Julia, she was weary and al
most discouraged and, all things meet
ing her view, she sat down, rested her
face on her hands and burst into tears.
But that would not do; there was
nothing for supper, nothing cooked in
the house, but some cold burned meat
and few dry crumbs of bread; with
a heavy heart Julia took her cook book
and looked over number of receipts.
Yes, that will do; biscuits and but
ter some of my nice preserves Jane
made before she left, and some cookies !;
or some kind of cake let me sce;" and
she named the different ingredients of
which each was composed, and, finally
set to work in earnest. oGi s@ss--' h3-i
Reader, if you never made cake you
may imagine how perfectly ignorant
was Julia. Butter, eggs, buttermilk,
soda-let me seeTI guess this is the
soda-yes, it says soda on the box
and Julia proceeded to mix the afore-
said articles together, but to her aston
ishment the, cake, instead of being a
delicate color was almost black.
I suppose it will be lighter when
baked; let me see--' bake in quick
oven'-wonder what a quick oven is 2
well, the fire is all out, as true as the
world!'' and with this soliloquy she
burst into tears.
Yes, sure enough the fire was OUT
every spark, and turning to the wood
box for shayings, her flowing sleeve
caught cup of melted butter on the
table, upsetting, its contents upon her
dress and breaking the dish. AS she
stopped to the floor to pick up the frag-