The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-10-31
Setftt Stusl|.
FIVE BAGHEL L @ r S
KEEPING HOUSE.
BY MARY CLARKE.

1
IT was a warm evening in early
June, and in -- street, IN the city
Of Philadelphia, merry party {"
yonug folks were holding warm
laughing discussion.
Susy Arnold, the young hostess,
who kept house for her two brothers,
.sEHafry and George, took one side o.
aassIsa gaI!s D, tasss 81. s. s;ss ss,sss'l
/ her. Charley Grey, blue-eyed, cur.
! ly-headed man, whose round face and
boyish air formed an apparent con-
tradiction to the assertion he made
of having five years before attained
his majority; joe Morris, who from
Spanish mother, inherited jetty hair
aud eyes, and pale complexion, and
from his father, tall fine figure, and
frank, ingenious expression ; and
Milton Dacres, whose small figure
and bashful ways accounted fully for
his nickname Minnie; these three,
with the masters Of the house, waged
playful war on the little brown-eyed
maiden VINO sat so demurely on the
sofa.
Say what you please said Susy,
you will never convince me of the
superiority Of men over women, in
the caTacity*of house-keepers.
Blu; I maintain, said Joe, that
men cln keepfhouse without women,
but that women cannot do so, unless
we shall assist them.
sEor instance, said Harry, when
your Biddy was sick last winter Joe,
how could such mite as you have
brought up coal, kept up the furnace
fire, and lifted about wood, unless
your two brothers had gallantly re-
heved you of your care?'
mot to mention that the furnace
fire went out three
"A truceH said George, laughing.
! That was my fault but accidents
will sometimes happen in the best
regulated families, as-someoody,
name forgotten, once very wisely re-
Marked
i only wish you could keep house,
f0r | would accept Aunt James in
vitatinn to travail with her this san-
rnt. ner, were it not for leaving you.
Il have an idea here, cried Char
LEY Grey-'an idea which, if you will
agree to act upon, shall fully cure
women Of the insane notion of their
indispensibility-ahem ! that word
nearly choked me.
That uugallant sentence should
have quite strangled you, said Susy.
Present company always excep-
ted, was the reply.
'The idea, lets have the idea.
Suppose we keep house here,
while Miss Susy travels.
'Here?' cries Snsl, aghast.
'Yes, why not?'
'But, said Susy, 4 am sure Jen-
ny would not stay.
we don't want her We want no
women about,
Visions Of muddy boots on her
;ar!or sofas, cigars in the flower va
ses, pipes on the centre tables, spit
toons in the best bedroom, and fry
ing pans in the library, fitted thro'
the young lady's mind, but before
she could demonstrate, Harry said
so be it! Hurrah for bachelor s
hall. Pack up your trunk, Susy.'
! But, Harry
sGlorious!' cried Charley, mot a
petticoat within the doors for a
month.
But t'-again said poor Susy.
No fuses about tobacco smoke in
the curtains, chimed in George.
Wont it be gay9'
'Gay!' groaned the little house
keeper.
Lay in supply of cigars, George,
suggested Joe. 'When do you go,
Miss Susy
Mondayl Aunt James letter says
Monday said Harry.
Monday, then ! We will come,
bag and brggage, on Monday morn
ing.
'On an express stipulation that not
woman performs stroke of work
for us for whole month.
With many flourish, amidst the
gayest jests, George wrote solemn
contract, by which they bound them,
selves to ask no service of any kind
at woman's hand for one month from
the date of the following Monday.
June lst, 1868, and all put their sig
natures to the important document.
Susy seeing that her brothers re-
ally were in earnest, tried to think
she was glad to go, and added he'
Ching directions to the scheme.
proposed. At late hour the con
clave broke up, and Susy retired with
head full of pains, and a heart-f"I
OF sore misgivings.
Monday morning dawned fair anc
clear. Six o'clock saw Susy drive
away from the door in the carriage
Tho trnnk strained behind, the Ia