Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-11-25
FIVE BACHELORS KEEPING HOUSE.
BIZ MARY CLARKE.


Susv Arnold, the young hostess, who kept
house for her two brothers, Harry and George
took one side Of the question, while three
other gentleman beside her tall brother OPP
posed her. Charley Grey, blue-eyed, curly
headed man, whose round face and boyish
air formed an apparent contradiction to the
assertion he made of having five years before
attained his majority; Joe Morris, who, frem
a Spanish mother inherited ietty hair and
ewes and pale complexion, and from his
father a fine tall figure, and frank, inge
Nous 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, who sat so
demurely the sofa
ssSay what you please said Susy,' you will
never convince me of the superiority of men
in the capacity of housekeepers."
= But maintain" said Joe, that men can
keep house without women, but that women
can not do so unless we shall assist them"
6 For instance" SAID Harry, when your
Biddy was sick last winter, Sue, how could
such mite as YOU have brought up coal, kept
no the furnace fire, and lifted about wood
unless your two brothers had calamity re
leved you of your care ?"
Not to mention that the furnace fire went
ont three"
"A truce" said George, laughing. THAT
was my fault but accidents will happen in
the best regulated families, as-somebody,
name forgotten-once very wisely remarked"
Il only wish you could keep house, for |
would accept Aunt James invitation to travel
with her this summer, were it not for leaving
you"
Il have an idea here" cried Charley Grey,
"an idea which, if YOU will agree TO act up
on shall fully cure women of their indispen-
sibility-ahem that word nearly choked
me-
''That ungallant sentence should have quite
strangled YOU" said Susy
Present company always excepted" was
the reply.
The idea, let's have the idea"
Suppose We keep house here, while Miss
Susy travels"
Here ?" cried Susy aghast-
Eyes, why not?"
But" said Susy, I'm sure Jenny would
not stay"
1--WE don't want her, We want no women
about"
Visions of muddy boots on the parlor sofa,
cigars in the flower vases, pipes on the center
tables, spittoons in the best he'd room, and
irving pans in the library, fitted through the
Young ladv's mind, but before she could re-
monstrate, Harry said
so be it ! hurrah for bachelors hall
Pack up your trunk, Susy."
But, HarrY--r
"Glorious u cried Charley, mot a petit
coat within the doors for month"
g But again said poor Susy.
No fuses about tobacco smoke in the
curtain" chimed iii George
won't it be gay :"
"Gavw' greaned the little housekreper
8 Law in a supply of cigars, George sug
gested joe 'When do you 50, Miss Susy?"
Monday Aunt James letter says Monday"
said Harry.
Monday, then We will como, bag and
baggage, on Monday morning
"on an express stipulation that not wo
man performs.a stroke of work for Us for
month"
With many flourish, amidst the gayest
tests, George wrote solemn contract, by
which they bound themselves to ask no ser
vice of any kind at womau's hand for one
month from the date OF the following Monday,
June ~, 1868, and all put their signatures TO
the important document.
Susy seeing that her brothers really were
in earnest, tried to think she was glad to go,
and added her laughing directions to the
schemes proposed. At a later hour the con
clave broke up, and Susy retired with a head
full Of plans, and i heart full of sore mlsgiv-
ings.
Monday morning dawned fair and clear.
Six o'clock saw Sue drive away from the
hind, the lady's pretty travelling dress, and
the shawl of her cousin and cavalier, all be
speaking travel Seven saw the servant de-
part to spend a month with her mother in the
country.
Nine o'clock witnessed the meeting of the
merry Young bachelors
Now then" said George, after the first
greets were over. Il, as the eldest host, viii
take charge to-day. As Susy says, when
ara Won ,r,iner down town
4 have nothing to do to-day. so III stay
to assist YOU" said Minnie.
Thank you!"
Whats for diuner?" said Joe, trying to
look like the head of some respectable family.
and failing most deplorably in the attempt.
You'll see at three o'clock
. Is that the hour
"Yes"
Remember" said George. .' wait for no
one. Punctuality IS the soul of dinner, rs
somebody once said before l mentioned the
fact
Having seen the others off, George and
Minnie went into the library for smoke, to
prepare them for the Herculean task before
them.
See" said George, producing cook book;
we are safe"
Mrs. HaIes. that's a woman " cried Min
ME
Roast lamb potatoes, green peas, aSpara-
gus, and strawberries"
"Thatl do Don't YOU have to shell peas,
or something
''Yes, that's easy enough"
8 Its awful hot" said Minnie, after short
silence
Horrid
Suppose we shell the peas up here Its
cooler here than in the kitchen. | suppose
there's fire there :"
''0f course
I'll 90 and bring them up
They're in basket on the table. Just
leave the rest of the things down in the
kitchen"
Smelling peas was rapid work even for IN
accustomed fingers, but II is matter of taste
whether the thorough smoking they had from
the two actively pulled cigars, improved their
flavor
Now, what do you do with them:" said
Minnie. There amt many" he added, as
he looked at the little green balls rolling
about at the bottom of the huge market bas
ket, and then eyed the large pile of shells on
the floor.
You boil them, of course" was Georges
answer.
ooh. suppose we go down"
"Well, come along" said George, taking
up the basket
The fire burned brightly; Jennie had left