Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-18
MRs. MEIYILIEs HoUsRKEEPINa.


Thermometer 80 degrees ia the shade Is ruin
Gus TO white muslin dresses and flowing ring !
lets
Now glove in cottage" would be quite
reasonable thing II il wasn't for the cooking, |
but with the existing state of circumstances it
is perfectly absurd TO talk Of That is, If any
body has a spark Of romance in his compost
tion Young people, who talk so beautifully
and sentimentally about living on smiles and
kisses, would be glad before the close Of a
weeks subsistence on such fare to set eyes
(and teeth, too,) on a beelsteak and acoompani-
ments.
We know we shall be rated vulgar 10 men.
ton such possibility, bot SO long as il is the
truth what cafel Just nothing-s0 set us
down as low, common mediocre, or whatever
pleases you best We give you carte blanche.
Our friend Martha Melville, commenced
housekeeping with the rosiest OF all rosy imagi-
nations II we were writing cf her as she ex
lists now, we should have written her name Mat
tie but as we are speaking Of her half dozen
years ago, we must present her to the readers
acquaintance as plain Martha, hoping she'll ex
cuse us for 80 doing. Martha married (it's the
firm conviction) for pure LovE--nothing more,
nothing less
George Melville was a young lawyer in the
little village Of Thirlow and his clients with their
fees being among the things which we've yet
to come, he was obliged to commence business
on a somewhat limited scale. Like an honest
lawyer, however, as he was () he explained the
matter to Martha beforehand, and she, with all
The ardent devotion Of young lady of seven
teen, expressed her willingness TO follow him
nto the lowest jungle in Africa, or to the sum.
NIT Of the tallest iceberg upon which the eye
of the lamented Kane ever rested But as
George required no such sacrifice, she was oblig-
ed to satisfy her longings for martyrdom by re-
firing, on her marriage, TO a little five.roomed
cottage, half hidden from the public road by two
large chestnut trees. RosesLthose necessary
auxiliaries TO love in cOttage--there were
none, but Martha cherished the idea of planting
some at no very distant day
They kept no servants--frstly, because Mar
tina said il would be SO delightful to work for
George--and there would be no pryng, uusYm-
pathizing eyes to witness their tender little tete
a tetes. Secondly, because George could not
afford the expense Of an "Irisher."
swell, one Monday morning, about week
after their removal TO their new house, Martha
found her lafIer (which had been amply sup
piled with cooked edibles-thrOugh her fond
mothers care nearly empty. George wanted
his breakfast in a hurry as there was prospect
Of law suit between JOhn Smith aud his near.
est neighbor Jol n Brown, and Georges chance
of becoming Mr.. Browns counsel was promis
There was bread 10 bake, coffee to concoct,
table to set floor to sweep, and her toilet TO
make, for Martha could not think Of appearing
at the breakfast table without her muslin peig-
aOiT, and fHile head-dress After she was duly
atttired in these becoming habiliments she com
menced preparations The first dash at the
stove, left spot black as ink upon her lily arm,
and smeared the spotless sleeve of her elaborate
morning dress. When this mischief had been
as nearly remedied as possible, Martha turned
her attention 90 the bread making. Make bread
that was easy enough, eertpnly, she said to
herself, but how was it done Tho Family
Housewife" was hunted up, and George depu
5 ted to read the prescription"
, "One pound of flour, sweet milk enough tC
knead, two table .spoonfuls of cream of tartar
and little salt" Very good; that was bu
little to do, 80 Martha Forthwith mIAvd tI.~ .s
/ quired ingredients, with the exception of the
| salt. ...
; "George, my love, how much is littl,
q saltl"
0 "Well, hardly know, my dear; gill or SO
l should think, will be sufficient 4"
A gill, or 50, was added by the obedieht Mar
tha, and the bread committed to the oven.
"Goorge, won't you just put in little wood
The fire is getting low''-and Martha peere,
G susPiciously at the black smoking CRATES an'
J; the sizzling tea-kettle.
t "Now for the coffee Let's see, George yol
/; Ike it strong, don't youl"
r. eyes, love"
? "Weil the receipt says--a common.size
coffee-cup full for two persons, but this is q
10 economical cook book you know, ii isn't likel
F. that's enough TO be good. I'll double the quar-
tity, to make sure !"
d The little urn received about pint Of tn
r fragrant Java, and after adding the water
=. Martha laid the table, and called her husban
i to breakfast, An inspection ofthe bread prov
- ed il Hat-ii not stale and improbable, as wa
evidenced by Georges wry face ....
+ "Goodness Martial Did you mean to max
d pickles of usl" calculated the diseomhttbd mar
y dropping a morsel Of the "staif Of life' fror
his halfopened mouth, upon the plates ''saltC
than Lots vile"
- amy dear. you told me how much 70 put il
Is | only used what you said-a gill or 50 !"
oil swell we'll; never mind dearest You'll
t. better next time, / dare say how about th
coffee o.
Georges hopeful smile vanished, and h
brow darkened with the first sip. mo man
10 love ever withstood bad coffee)
IN "stronger than dyestuffl My dear Marth
why did you make II so strongl"
"You said you liked it so, dear George ~
he Martha's fortitude was beginning TO give wa
or in turn.
sFIneret love- upu cry ~ u uo fNAJ VIC
dare say with plenty Of cream" and Georl
on made desperate effort 10 swallow a mouthfn
an which the effect of bringing the water in c.
=" pous quantities TO his eyes and nose.
r. 'The deuce !" he muttered under his breat
n as in trying to get his poket handkerchief
of upset his coffee, cup, saucer and all, into h
lap, and the scaldng fluid triekling leisure
TO the floor must have proved anything but
as pleasant sensation.
"Mercy, George you have split yourse
- and burnt the coffee oh dear oh dear
d cried Martha, too much frightened TO be pa
le, ticular about talking straight George gre
ID, a little red in the face, Marthl took TO the 30
at and her whito cambric handkerchief, while h
ss husband, without bestOwing upon her bis Gu
n tomary parting kiss, seized his hat and ded d
house
Martha groaued for an hour or two over Il
oi heartlessRess of the woyld-the men in pa
NJ ticular, and George over and about all womei
ay Poor child what sad ihing for romance, th
re black bread and blacker coffee had drawn awb
the rosy curtain Of imagined bliss from beio
4, the stern and sober reality Of life And 81
nv had seen the spectre in all is hideousness
Ies But II Martha Melville didn't know how
make coffee, she was Of tolera6le perception
a. and after time spent in rejecting, she staItS
be % and commenced washing the dishes. Hu
y, ried and austered--a dirt spot here, greA'
~ M mark there--dimming the sPlendor of h
L morning robe, and putting its far proportion
in eclipse--there came a sound like knell
Oh the ear Of Martha. The door bell raug Ol
lie horrors what Il IL should be the iashionab
'ss Misses Famtowns or, tho rich Mra, De Olsrl