Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-26


 q that you fall considerably below my ideal.
 do not wonder at Edwards disappointment
 Tears began to fall over the young wife's cheeks.
 I'm sure, she said, sobbing, that have been to him all that know how to be. 1flove would draw upon me favors and kindness. he would
 never look at me, as he does, sometimes with cold eyes and clouded face, nor speak in angry impatience, words that hurt, me worse than any blows
 I But you have not done for him all that you know how to do,' said Mrs. Barton.
 I fail to comprehend you, mother was re- piled to this.
 You do not make this home as pleasant as it should be. There seems 10 be no anticipation of his wants. and no provision against discom- fort. Everything is left to your two servants, who do pretty much as they please Why, motherH
 It is true my daughter. I have looked on with closely observant eyes, since l have been here; and must say that am disappointed in you. In every case that Edward has shone i'm patience in my presence, the source of annoy ance lay in your neglect of plain household duty. It was so this morning and so yesterday.
 He was annoyed at the burnt steak this morn ing said Martha in answer. That was not my fault, I'm sure. I'm rot the cook
 It is your place to have competent cook, said Mrs. Barton.
 If l can find one, mother.'
 The one you have now is not to be trusted to prepare meal.'
 I know that but how can I help r,yself?'
 And knowing that you never went near the kitchen to see that she did not spoil the steak intended for your husbands breakfast. It might have taken you ten or fifteen minutes to super intend. personally, the preparation of this morn- ing's meal, and so made it worthy of being set before your husband but instead of this, you set reading or talking. from the time you were dressed until the bell rang When we went down there was no butter on the table no knife and fork to the dish of meat no salt. or any napkin to your husbands plate. The table cloth was soiled, and you scoded the waiter for not putting on clean one. The meal opened in dis order, which you might have prevented by lit tie forethought, and progressed and ended in an- noyance and bad feeling. Now who was to blame for all this 2
 But mother. you don't expect me to go into the kitchen and cook ? said Martha.
 'Thc captain who undertakes to sail ship must know all about navigation. Is it more un- reasonable to expect that a woman who takes upon herself the obligations of wife, should know how to conduct a household? Is wo-
 ltSS IcSpOllSiUlt Ill pUSlGOU tutll l ildH. If so, what moral laws gives the distinction? I have not seen them. The captain does not trust the ship wholly to the man at the helm. He takes observations, examines charts, and sees and knows for himself that everything is done at the right time and in the right place. His thought and his will are active and predominant in every part of the ship, for on him rests all the And it is so everywhere in mans work. You ask if expect you to go into the kitchen and cook? 1 answer yes, in case there Is no one else to prepare your husband s food. If you have an incompetent cook, or one not to be trusted then it is your duty to make up her deficiencies by personal attendance in the kitchen, just as often and just as long as the case may require. You contracted to do this when you became wife
 don't remember that the subject was even referred to- said Martha, who did not yet see clearly, and who felt that her mothers view of the case actually degraded the wife into house hold drudge
 Was it stipulated, answered Mrs. Barton, that Edward should engage in business, giving himself up to daily re and work. in order to secure for his wife the comforts of home? 1 don't remember that the subject was even refer red to. And yet it was as much implied in the act of taking wife, as the other was implied in the act of assuming the relation, that you now hold. Do you suppose for moment, that he isn't active in every part of his business. That he trusts an incompetent clerk, as you trust an incompetent cook? Thought. purpose, hands are all busy in his work, and busy throughout every day busy for you as for himself. He can't find time for reading four or five hours eve ry day; nor time to call on pleasant friends; no, no. His work would suffer losses might follow, and comfort and luxury fail for the wife he tolls for. But his wife is too indolent or to proud to go down into her kitchen and see that his food is made palatable and healthy to be present in all parts of his household with taste order neat: ness, economy and cleanliness. don't wonder that he is disappointed and dissatisfied
 Martha's perception was beginning to be a lit- tie enlightened. She did not make any reply.
 Let me tell you how I have found it Tn your badly managed household resumed the mother. to better appreciation of things as they really are. Twice, since have been here, there has beer no water in my room, and had to come down in the morning, and get it for mvself.'
 'Oh, mother! That is too bad To think Margaret should have been 50 careless! The daughters face crimsoned.
 Now, if you had been careful housekeeper, or a thoughtful one, you would have visited my chamber to see that all was right there. ou would never have left your mothers comfort dependent on the uncertain administration of a servant Next, the room hasn't been dusted twice since I've been here. My fingers are soiled with eve- rything touch. and am sure, it hasn't been swept under the bed, or bureau, for month"; But this only affects your guests-is only so much taken from their comfort Let us look to some things that involve the comfort of your husband for these are of the highest considera- tion. You asked him, yesterday morning, to get you some pink lined envelopes. He brought them at dinner-tne. He asked you to darn rent in a black alpacca coat so that lie could wearit. Did you do as he requested? No, you read and toyed with fine needle work all the morning but never touched the coat and when he asked for it, what reply did you make? Oh, you hated alarming above all things, and told him he'd better direct his tailor to send for it. The day had become unusually warm, and he had to go out. after dinner, wearing thick cloth coat, just because you had almost wilfully neglected to per. form so light service for your husband. Do You imagine that he never thought of what he had asked? That he didn feel your indifference to his comfort? Your kiss, depend upon it, Martha, touched his lips coldly and your loving words, if any were spoken, were as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals in bis ear. He lock- ed past all lip afrmations and saw the failure in deed.
 And failure indeed seems to be the rule un- der your administration of his household, instead of the exception. Most especially is this the case in what appertains to the dinner-room and kitchen. The meals are always badly cooked .l ,.,,-,d Tho slovapIiness with which