Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-04

v.
II you wish to do it will leave it to YOU: but
If 1t Is to be my business, assure YOU / shall
do 1t exactly ss think best"
Sne stopped, half frightened at this frst
overt act of rebellion. Mrs Clinton looked at
her, surprised at such hardihood There was
an armistice of several minutes, and Sophy
went on with her work Any of NV lady
readers who may have had trouble with the
business may be glad to know her rule which
We and all our friends have "made by'' for
years, and which is perfectly infallible. She
boiled the juice by itself for five minutes, the
sugar meanwhile being placed in the oven,
and heated very hot. When the five minutes
were up, she added the sugar to the juice
and let them boil together one minute Then
the jelly was done, and ready to pour into the
moulds Old Mrs. Clinton watched the pro-
cess with great contempt
where did you get such a receipt as that"
she inquired
From cousin Helen, and she got it from
Frenth confectiOner."
"French confectionsri" exclaimed Mrs. Clin
ton, in accents of loftiest scorn. "A pretty
mess you'll have of it. You'll have to boil it
over every day this summer, and it'll never
csme to jelly after all. It's shame-I say it $
shame to waste all that nice sugar 500
But Sophy spirit was reused, and she paid
no need TO those SCOTS; she was sure of success.
And by-and-by old Mrs. Clinton, seeing that
the juice which adhered to the kettle was al.
ready hardening, began to yield to her opinion.
Il declare believe you're right about it,
after all, she said, tipping one of the cups q
iittle. ltcleaves away fr8m that side already.
well, we're never too old to learn I'm sure I
never should have put any faith in such rule
rs mat. NOW, Sophia, you 60 and lie down;
you look ut to melt; I'll call you when dinner
is ready
SoPhy lay down, but not to sleep Her hot
cheeks cooled, but her indignation did not. ITO
De spoken to In such way by a coarse old
woman like that" she said to herself Com
science smOte her little for these words. but
she said, 81 don't care; a saint could not bear
IL was well disposed to her when came
mere. would ALWAYS have been good TO her
if she would let me-" and thoughts of ffty
hateful little ways of mothers" added bitter.
ness 10 her feelings.
AS Is usual In such cases, there were fauIts on
both sides. Sophy found Mrs Clinton already
In possession when she came home to her hus-
band s house. The old lady had lived with her
son Tor several years, ana was accustomed 10
sovereign rule. Then SOphy, only nineteen.
was deficient in the details of us9keepinp'
She could make nice cake and pastry, il is true,
ana picking and preserving she did in the best
manner; but making soap! and cleaning the
cellar! and mopping the kitchen trying out
the tallow putting down hams and c0rped
Oeet OF these and many kindred subjects she
H.
rally took the lead, and Sophy as naturally fol-
lowed; yielding disposition and a dread of
having disturbance, had much to do with it.
but there was one other cause in operation
S0phy was little indOlent, not about doing
things she understood, but in facing disagreed,
bic details, taking on herself new responsible
ties and learning thoroughly things she did not
know and could not like, She saw her mother
ln-laws faults very clearly; and Mrs. Clinton
saw hers with equal plainness; yet, as Sophy,
to any unprejudiced observer, was much the
least to blame it is not strange that, to herself
she appeared entirely excusable: and that the
"lsn, III sne were only away" recurred again
and again to her mind.
"YOu'vJ got little speck of currant ielIv
on your cheek, said the old lady, as they sat
down to dinner.
Sophy went into the bedroom and tried 10
wash 1t of, but it would not come. She re-.
membered her whole tenor of thought that
morning, and was frightened.
CHAPTER III.
Alfred Clinton found his wife unusually se
rious and quiet that evening, and, sfter several
vain attempts to enliven her, he inquired. ter =.
derry, My darling SOphy, what's the matter!''
For all reply she threw her arms around his
need, and, bursting into food of tears, ex
claimed, 0'
"Oh! Alfred, if you love me, take me away
from here: L am so very unhappy"
Alfred's brow was grave in a moment DIs
it my mother, SOphy?" he asked
Yes, she sobbed, II never said ANYTHING
before, but L feel as if / cannot bear it an
longer. l am nothing but a servant in bouse
where L have right to be n mistress"
Certainly you have that right" said AL
fred, land L have seen that ali was not a. il
should be. Tell me just what you think and
feel aboutit, Sophy."
Thus encouraged the young wife poured for b
all her grlefs: how she never could count on any
time Of her own, and she was continually be-
ing set at work which properly belonged to
Bridget; how the table could never be nicely
arranged, but must always be set with the old
blue dishes; how brown sugar was used in the
tea and coffee, and napkins were forbidden be-
cause they made so much washing; how il WAS
all she could do TO have her own silver table
spoons, that she brought from home, used on
the table, old Mrs. Clinton thinking that Bri-
tinnia metal was good enough for common,
ETC., etc. All these griefs Alfred listened TO
respectfully; though, having been always used
to his mothers ways, he did not thoroughly
comprehend how they appeared to Sophy, who
had been accustomed to a tasteful and attrsc-
tive home. And the worst of all is,'' she
said, in conclusion, 81 don't feel as if [ had
the least authority in the world. cannot
have pudding for dinner, or sweetmeats for
tea, unless she chooses; she orders all the
household provisions, and all the household
work. am treated as nothing but child,
and | feel myself perfectly helpless and tyran-
nized over.'
"Now, ny darling" returned Alfred, "you
must not be angry If / say you are a little to
blame yourself for all this; you give up to my
mother too entirely"
"Oh Alfred ~ she exclaimed, with fresh
burst Of sobs, 81 didn't think you ever would
blame me for that"
" But must-just little, )" he said smiling.
"Now, Sophy. have proposal to make YOU.
Take your place at once as mistress of the
house. Bridget is attached to you, and there
is no need that. we should practice a rigid
economy. Have the napkins and the china
and silver on the table every day. Use such
quantities and qualities as you think most
suitable. Don't perform Bridget's work; YOU
have enough to do of your own. Act, in short,
exactly as you would do If my mother was.only
boarding with US"
'.But am afraid" said Sophy, "there are
some things don't know about
well, cannot you learn? Bridget under
stands most kinds Of work, and only requires
overseeing where she is ignorant. You must
set to work and learn together; you will find
it hard at first; my mother will not give up all