The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-12-04
FIVE BACHELORS KEEPING HOUSE
BY MARY CLlRkE.

and in street, in the handsome city
of Philadelphia, a merry party of young
folks were holding a warm, laughing dis
cussion. ~
Susy Arnold, the young hostess, who
kept house for her two brothers, Harry
and George took one side of the question
while three other gentlemen beside her tall
brothers opposed her. Charley Grey,
blue-cyed, eurly-headed man, whose round
face and boyish air formed an apparent
contradiction 10 the assertion he made Of
having FIVE years before attained his mas
ioriiv Joe Morris, who, from Spanish
mother inherited jetty hair and eyes. and
a pale complexion, and from his father a
fine tall figure, and frank, ingenious ex
preston; and Milton Dacres, whose small
figure and bashfu ways accounted fully for
hisnicknams Minnie; these three, with
The masters Of the house, waged playful
war on the little brown-eyed maiden, who
sat so dernurely on the sofa.
"Say 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 cannot do so unless we shall assist
them"
For instance" said Harry, "when
your Biddy '7as sick last winter, Sue, how
could such a mite AS you have brought up
coal, kept up the furnace fire, and lifted
about wood, unless your two brothers had
gallantly relieved Jon Of your care %
Not to mention that the furnace fire
went out 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"
II on : wish you could keep house, for
[ would accept Aunt James invitation to
travel with her this summer, were il not
for leaving you"
81 have an idea here" cried Charley
Grey, "an idea which, if you will agree to
act upon, shall fully cure women of their
ndispensibility-ahem that word nearly
choked me-"
"That ungallant sentence should have
quite strangled you," said Susy.
"Present company always excented; :"
was the reply.
"The idea, let's have the idea"
"Suppose we keep house here, while
Miss Susy travels"
Uere % cried Sissy aghast.
"Yes, why not -
D,,t ,.;l C,,.- T., ,,.o To,ov
would not stay
"We don't want her; We want no wo>
men about
Visions Of muddy boots on the paylor
sofa, cigars in the flower vases, pipes on
the center tables, spttoons in the best bed
room, and frying pans in the library, fits
ted through the young lady's mind, but
before she could demonstrate, Harry said,
So be it hurrah Cor bachelors hall
Pack up your trunk, Susy."
But, Ifarry-'
Glorious - cried Charley, "not pet
ticeat within the doors for month"
But again said poor Susy.
"No fuses about tobacco smoke in the
curtain" chimed in George.
Won't it be gay?
"Gay!" groaned the little housekeeper.
LAY in a supply OF cigars, George"
suggested Joe. When do you 60, Miss
Susy 2"
MONDAY! Aunt James letter says
Monday" said Harry.
Monday, then! We will come, bag
and baggage, on Monday morning"
"On an express stipulation that not a
woman performs stroke of work for us
for a month"
With many flourish, amidst the gay
est jests, George wrote a solemn contract,
by which they bound themselves to ask no
service of any kind at woman's hand for
one month from the date of the following
Monday June =, 1868, and all put their
signatures to tie important document.
Susy seeing that her brothers really
were in earnest, tried to think she was glad
to 60 and added her laughing directions
to the schemes proposed. AT late hour
the conclave broke up, and Susy retired
with head full Of plans, and heart full
of sore misgiving'.
Monday morning daSned fair aud clear.
Six o'clock saw Susy drive away from the
door in the carriage, the trunk strapped
behind, the lady's pretty travelling dress,
and the shawl of her cousin and cavalier,
all bespeaking travel. Seven saw the SER
want depart TO spend month with her
mother in tbs country.
Nine o'clock witnessed the meeting OF
the merry young bachelors.
"Now them" said George, after shs first
greetings were over, I, as the eldest host
will take charge to-day. As Susy says,
8 when are you goins down town?"
81 have nothing to do to-day, 80 III
stay to assist YOU" said Minnie.
Thank you!"
"Wha.'s for dinner?" said Joe trying
to look like the head Of some respectable
family, and falling most deplorably in the
attempt.
You'll see at three o'clock"
ais that the Lour?''
"Yas."
Remember" said George, 8" I wal, for
no one. Punctuality is the soul of dinner
as somebody once said before | mentioned
ia a facto