The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-06-29
WHITE HANDs.AND MUDDY COFFEE

Ills vines glossy fiDglcts, brilliant eyes pret
'y mouth, and last Of hll herSamall, white
hahds. He never once asked himself whe,h
et thosesSsame hands could iron shirt
make aspudding, or mend pair of stock
ings. Not he; it was enough for him ,c
know that they could make ,riIls on the
piano, work wo,stcd dogs and horses on
stools and ot,omnns, work on crochet and
print something styled landscape. She
was not literary, either. Nor did his dear
Caroline care about politics; she did not
know whether Scbas,opol was up or down
in the hands Of the Allies or Russian.
Retormcry movements she never pratched.
In short, Mr.. Tomkins boosted that his wife.
was not one Of those Troublesome beings
that some people called a strong minded
woman.
Yet, though Charles Tomkins had been
married but two months, he had ,lscvycrcd
HtHe alloy in his gold. TO be sure It
would pass for pure metal, but close ex
animation disclosed the fact. To speak
plainly, his coffee had been very muddy for
more tian week and when he just dropped
hint th. if her personal attention were
given 'toEthe matter, the evil might be re-
medIeC, she responded rather tar,lv, that
coffee making was none Of her business
and then shut herself.Aup in her chamber
IN milf, depriving him.of her precious
company for :he rest of the day. A kiss
and new scarf however, set the matter
right the next morning, Mr.. Tomkius throw
ing in an apology gratis, remembering that
roses always grow in the Immediate vicinity
of thorns, and that mankind, and perhaps
womankInd seldom attain to perfection.
lt,is curious fact, but no less true, that
love scarcely ever ou;lives bad bread smo
Ky tea, thick coffee, discolored silver, and
soiIed tab|c-linen. No, the little gentleman
likes bread and butter, and he wants the
bread light and the butter sweet. lie in
sts TOO, that boots look better neatly laced
than when open and Tapping on the sides,
with the strings trailing on the ground.
lie was even known, once, to take an ap-
rupt leave Of IA lady, OH the osteusiblc plea
OF d1ssimilariiy Of disposition; but shrewd
people suspected that the true reason was
because she wore dirty collars.
The honeymoon. Lad just expired, and
the twain were seated at the breakfast table
Mr.. Iomkins looked dsbiou>ly at the burnt
and dried steak on the plate before him,
made wry face at his cup Of coffee, took
one lnouthful Of the clammy, leathcry toas,
aud then spoke.
my dear Caroline. ~
well, Mr.. Tomkinss es
Did you ever eat any Of my. mothers
breadE
No; why do you ask7' =
because she makes tire best ever tas-
ted .:@
No doubt; mans smotLer is generally
h's"w'fvs superior ig everythugs I only
wonder he is ever persuaded TO leave her,
responded Mrs! Tomkns, d,y.
1t was the firstSime she had ever spoken
sarcastically; and Charles was. puzzled. g
merely referred to my mother, because
she superintends tue breadmaking herself.
1 wish you could bet induced to do the
same. = -. j
Tire Iadylihed her taper fin gers.
And dosyou rca1lsss.Eaid she, swish me to
putty smy hands will pie-crust, and bury
my arms in dough, IF. Tomkns9'
No, notsfba, exactlNspy love; but you
could overlook Sally, and teach her to make
better stuff than tbis he added, pointing to
the toast: That wouldn't spoil your hands
would ita'
Il don't know how; besides Sally don't
want me in the kitchep and Tn not par.
ticulary attracted there. don't mean to
spend my life doing bousework, or frettng
servapts. I'm not able to do anything more
thadaRend, to. the table and entertain yisi-
tors
Andtheu she sighed and leaned back in
her chair.
But Your cousin Mary keeps no Il servant,
and yershe gets time to
MY cousin Mary1is very foolish to do
much more than she need. And then her
hands are as brown as agipsy'sr
4 never happened to notice them. l
know that she makes delicious pastry, and
plays the piano nearly as well las yourse)Es.s. &.
rejoined Mr.. Tomk,ns, soothi5gly!' ss
I'wisb you wouldpt quotseousin Mary
1 don't ike comparisons. She is a drudge
and bluss You esid You didn't like.
blses.'
! don't: blondes are my fasorites and
you are as pretty blonde as ever saw.
I'm only regretting your non.intsrfereuce
in matters that concern -four SEX
Mrs. Tomkins defined her position i'm:
media'ely. SHE did not design buryiug her.
selfin kitchen. Eho had married for a home