Maryland free press., 1862-11-07
White Hands and Muddy Coffee.

Charles Tomkins had been married man just
two months. He was proud Of his nifs's glossy
ringlsts, brilliant eyes, pretty mouth, and, last
of ali, her small, white hands. BE never once
asked himself whether those same hands could
iron shirt, make q pudding, or mspd pair oi
stockings. not he; it was enough for him to
know that they could make triils on the piano,
work worsted dogs and horses on stools and otto
mans, work on crochet and paint soiasthiDg
styled landscape. She was not literary, either.
Nor did his dear Caroline care about politics.
she did not know whether Sebastopol was up or
down-in the hands of the Allies or Russisns.-
Reformatory movements sbe never baosched. In
short, Mr.. Tomkins boasted that his wife was not
one of those troublesome beings that some pso.
pie called ga strong minded" woman.
Yet, though Charles Tomkins had bean married
but two months, he had discovered siats alloy
in bis gold. To be sure 1t would pass for pure
metal, but close examination Disclosed the fact
To speak plainly, his coffee had been very muddy
for hoso than q week, and when be just dropped
q hint that If her personal attention Wsre given
to the matter the etii might be remedisd, she re-
spoAded rather tartly, that "ccffee making was
none of her business" and then shut herself up
in her chamber in q milf, depriving him OF her
precious company for the res. of the day. A
kiss and q new scarf, houeser, set the matter
right the next morning, Mr.. Tomtirs throwing
in an apology gratis, remembering that roses al
ways grow in the immedi vicinity ss -slSSTbs,
and that mankind, and perhaps womankind, sell
dom attain to perfection.
1t is curious fact, but no less true, that love
scarcely ever outlives bad bread, smoky tea,
thick coffee, discolored silver, and soied table,
linen. No, the little gentleman likes bread and
butter, and be wants the bread light and the but.
ter sweet. He insists too, that boots look better
neatly laced, than when speu and tapping on the
sides, with the strings trailing on the ground.-
lie was even known, once, to take an ahrupt leave
of . lady, on the ostensible plea of disiinilariy
of dispositionj but shrewd people suspected that
the true reason was because she wore dirty col
lars.
TIE honey moon had just expired, and the
twain were seated at the breakfast table Mr..
Tomkins looked obviously at the burnt and dried
steak on the plate before him, made wry face
at his cup of coffee, took one mouthfdi ef the
ciammy, leathery toast, and then spoke:
"My dear Caroline"
"well, MIR. Tomkinsf"
"Did you ever eat any OF my mothet,s tsraa!"
"Eo; why do you askf'
"Because she makes the best ever tssted."
"No doubt; q mans mother is generally his
wifes superior in everything. only wonder he
ia ever persuaded to leave her," responded -srs.
Tomkins, drily.
II was the hrst time she had ever spoken sar-
castically, and Charles was puzzled.
81 merely referred to my mother, becau,e she
supsrintends the brsad-msking herself. wish
you could be induced to do the same"
The lady lifted Ser taper fingers.
"And do you really" said she, "wish me to
putty my hands with pis-cruat, and bury my
arms in dough, MIR. Tomkins?"
"No, not that exactly, my love; but you could
overlook Sally, and teach her to make better
stuff than this" he added, pointing to the toast
"That wouldn't spoil your hands. would il'
"I don't know how; besides Sally don't want
me in the Kitchen, aud Tn not particularly at
tracted there. don't mean to spend r}y life
doing bousswork, or fretting Ahaat-sesvakss.-
Pm not able to do anything more to tho table
and enter tain visitors" "a.
And then she sighed adj leaned back in her
chair.
"But your cousin Mary keeps no servants, and
yet she gets time to"
"My cousin Mary is sery foolish to do so much
more tbsn she need. And then her hands are as
brown as gipsey'P'
"I never happened to notice them. know
that she makes delicious pastry, and plays the
piano nearly VIVA ranrself" reioined Mr.
Tomkins, sootbingly.
wish you wouldn't quote cousin Nary. !
don't like comparisons. She is O drudge and 0
blue. You said you didn't like blues"
"I don't: blondes are my favorites;e and you
are as pretty a blonde as ever l saw. I'm only
regretting your non-interfersnoe in matters th ct
concern your SEX"
Mrs. Tomkins "defnsd her position" immsdi-
ately. She did not design burying herself in the
kitchen. She had married for q homo and a
maintenance, not to spend her life in rolling
pie.cr or moulding bread
Charles Tomkins looked surprisedj and no
wonder, for he felt surprised. Her determination
set him to thinking. He did not wish his wife TO
be . drudge, but he hoped she would take the
general supervision Of matters. He was clerk,
with moderate salary, and prudence was abso-
lutely necessary in his situation. The story need
not be heightened. Waste and improvidenoe in
the kitchen soon brought pecuniary ernbsrass-
ment. While in the psrlor ineapacity aaaignor-
ance Of what constitutes q true woman and q
real lady, laid the foundation of discord which
time did not lessen. The charm Of the "white
without intellectual attainments, fund of com.
monsens, and NOR al worth, cannot long prove at.
traotive.