The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-29
RA VIENNA, o. ", WEDNEs T Q \ =7s

tatIon she had assumed WAS, she saw, destin-
ed to mar, for time at least, the happiness
OF both herself and husband. She knew An.
drew too well to hope for any permanent en-
dnrance, on his part, of annoyapees that must
come to every man whose wife is not good
heusekeeper, nor one who takes a daily and
controlling interest in all matters, from the
making of a bed, to the boiling of the tea
kettler7homely duties ,butsessential to home
happiness. ~, ...5I -, ..-ss
The first meal shared by Mrs, Jones. with
her son and daughter-in- law satisfied her
more completely than the equipment of the
house had done, that Andrew was doomed to
have some troubled experiences in domestic
life. The. cook had been ordered. to make
hot rolls, and to broil slice Of ham. The
rolls were hot, and the ham was broiled; but
to have digested the first would have required
the stomach of an ostrich; and as for the lat
ter, weeks fasting would hardly have recon-
ciied it to the revolving palate. Mrs Jones,
senior, like elderly ladies of her class, liked a
good cup of green tea. Black tea was served
on the present occasion, and black enough it
. was Very hard did Mrs. Jones try to drink
! this vile decoction, but the task was more
/ than she could accomplish. To sip few
spoonfuls was the utmost that could Be doEe.
Andrew was seriously mortified at all this,
| and blamed the miserable cook. Atabella
added her condemnation, and said that she
would not retain the. incompetent creature a
| day longer. Mrs. Jones answered nothing;
but she had her own thoughts. slaN So
| From the beautiful room and its indifferent
attractsons, the company soon Withdrew, and
went back to the parlor, but little refreshed
either in mind or body by the evenings en-
| tertainpent. Here, the young wife, with an
| of,xl, 1f IL a.
surprised Mrs. Jones, considering the morti-
| flying tea-table affair, introduced one pleasant
subject of conversation after another, and sue
ceeded in winning back to cheerfulness both
her husband and his mother. She played and
sung better-Anorewz thought-than he had
ever heard her before; and he could not help
regarding her with a feeling of proud satsfac-
ton, even in the face of the certain uuwifely
deficiencies. What were leaden rolls, carbon
lied ham, or dishwater tea, to the claims of
literature and lmusice Any vulgar woman
might be a cook or housekeeper; but only
one with high gifts could make an accom-
plished woman like his Arabella
& Something of this enthusiasm was abated,
when certain breakfast-tablea deficiencies, on
the next morning, came in to mar his animal
comfort A hungry man is not usually SEN
timental He does not appreciate the charms
of poetry nor pause in admiration over fine
thoughts, daintily expressed. And, if being
something of an epicurc and to hunger be
added the pleasing Imagination of choieely
prepared vands, the disappointment is all the
greater if 'meager, badly cooked fare is set be-
fore him. takes more than common man
ito preserve an even temper under such tri-
al; and Andrew. Jones was not uncoInmon
enough to pass unruffled through the trying
ordeal. tArabella had never seen him exhib-
it SO omuch temper as when, pushing away his
cup of weak, muddy coffee, he ejaculated--
Vile; stuff ~ The burnt more than half
raw beefsteak, he designated as !" "abomina-
blcl'' and the toast he declared to be "upfit
for hod carrier !'' s'io
so Poor Arabella looked frightened, and, after
hard struggle to repress her feelings, burst
into tears, and went hastily from the table. Esoi
:" hat Is not the way to speak, Andrew,
said Mrs. Jones, in mild reproof.
20" How could help it?'' he answered, re-
pentantly.9 ,isis 5I.ss9s5 Zag.a 81 st1as - d-
We can always help being unkind, ,"ssaid
the mother Would you have spoken after
that fashion if I had not been present?''
al" Perhaps not'' said Andrew
5d !" Yet my presence has made your words
only the harder to endure. They were doubly
unkind Arabella is not Indifferent to your
comfort; but she is ignorant of the homelier
duties appertaining to her new condition.
You must bear with her, my son.'' 81 =,
=; Andrew promised to be more patient and
more forbearing. He went to his fearful wife
and with loving words soothed her wrouged
feelings, and brought back the sunshine to
her beautiful face. sd .ii5s.-f Aat a
se Mrs. j Tones spent week with her son and
his wife,and then went hack to her own home,
feeling less at ease III her mind than when
she came. She had, as unobtrusiyely as pos
sible, led the mind OF her daughter-in- law in
to consideration of her duties as housekeep-
er; but these common things, she saw, We're
regarded by Arabella as only within the prov
ince of domestics. Servant was the name of
the individual who cooked, made beds swept,
and did housework in general. The lady of
the house could not come down to these vul-
gar matters without losing something of her
true dignity. .f.l r. .f.
And so the young wife, whose mental en-
dowmerts were of superior order, continued
to hold herself above these things, and to
cultivate the higher graces of music and lit. 4
erature, much to the pride of her husband.
when she shone in company, but much to his
discomfort, when she neglected his coffee,
toast and beefsteak, and left him wholly at
the mercy of Biddy the cook. @ -
AT the second visit of Mrs. Jones. the old
lady did not find matters at all improved in
her sons household. Arabella was still de-
voted to books and music and Bddy still
reigned supreme in the kitchen. Andrew,
who, while living at home with his mother
had been Every nice about his eating" seem
ed to have lost his discriminating palate, and
manifested nothing Of that table enjoyment
which had once been SO marked. He ate like
one who possessed the faculty of taste only
in a low degree. jaiaa $50 saia5 di
On the second day of the, mother-in-law's
visit, Arabella, who had been secluded for an
hour or two, came, down with warm glow of
pleasure on her handsome face, and drawing
4 chair close beside the old lady, said to her
80 want to read you something, mothero
And she unfoldedl sheet of tinted note 4
paper. ..g.yrs0 = r s.aa T
20 q What is it?'s asked Mrs. Jones.
g Listen !'' 38t4 eHH
And young wife read some charming lines.
to her husband. They were full of
heart rt-warmth--overfowing with tenderness.
She had just written them.
Mrs. Jones bent her head, and listened to
the beautiful lines witha glow of love and
pride-loye forfthe loving young creature, and 4
pride for her superior talents. But she made
no comment-sitting in silence, and with ewes
cast down, after the musical voice of her
daughter-in-law had murmured the last stan
"a, - .u3D iEfis aaaa9I sai s.'asa lsa57e
"1aTI'here ut are two kinds of poetry said Mrs.
Jones, speaking, at length, inther quiet way, d
" with which a wife. may charm her hus-
band" Ia s5e 4a' y 49, -.
1.-TWO kinds of poetry l'' 1Arabclla gazed
inquiringly into the face of her mother-in-
law. .s ,sg baa ss7s,aeg * ast. ~