Litchfield enquirer., 1864-11-17
HOW FIVE BACHELORS KEPT HOUSE.
BY MARY CLARKE.

It was warm evening in early June, and in the paror of pleasant house in --------- ----- street. in the handsome city of Philadelphia that merry party of young folks were hold ing a warm aud laughing discussion.
 Snsy Arnold. the young hostess, who kept house for her two brothers, Harry and George. took one side of the question while three other gentlemen besides her tall brothers, op- posed her. Charley Gray blue-eytd, curly headed man, whose fair 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 from d spanish mother inherited jetty hair and eyes, and pale complexion, and from his father Il tal fine fgure. and frank, ingenious ex- presson, and Milton Dacres, whose small fig ure and bashfui ways accounted fully for his nickname Minnie; these three, with the mas ters of the house. waged playful war upon the little brown,eyed maiden who sat so demurely upon the sofa.
 "Say what you please" said Susy, you will never convince mo of the superiority of men in the capacity of housekeeper." But maintain, cried Joe, l" that men can keep house without women, but that women can not do, upess we will assist them."
 For instance" said Harry. "when your Biddy was sick last winter, Sue, how would such mite as you have brought up coal. kept up the furnace fire, and lifted about wood un- less your two brothers had gallantly relieved you of the 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" "I only wish you could keep house; for would accept Aunt Jane's invitation to travel with her this summer, were it not for leaving you.''
 "I have an idea" cried Charley Gray Gan idea which, if you will agree to act upon it, shall full / cure the women of the insane no tioE of their spensibiity-ahem that word nearly choked me-"
 1.-The ungallant sentence should have quite strangled you.' said Susy.
 Present company always excepted, was the
 "The idea let's have the ideal"
 Suppose We keep house here, while Miss Susy travels.
 "Here P said Susy aghast 7
 ," Yes, why not?" # aa
 "But,' said Susy, I'm sure Jenny would not stay" @t rsta@ N
 We don't want her; We want no women.' y
 Visions of muddy boots on her parlor sofas cigars in the flower vases, pipes on the center tables, spittoons in the best bed room, and frying pads in the library. fitted through the young ladys mind; but before she conld re- monstrate, Harry said d- "So be it Hurrah for bachelors hall Pack up your trunk. Susy
 "But, Harry
 "Glorious p cried Charley, not petticoa, within the doors for a month";"
 "But," again said poor Susy. "No fusses about tobacco smoke in the cur tains," chlmed in George. % "But. brother'-
 "Won't it be gay?" said Minnie.
 Gay rI groaued the little housekeeper.
 Lay in supply of cigars, George" sug gested Joe. "When do you go, Miss Susy ?
 "Monday. Aunt Janes letter said Mon day." said Harry. ef Monday. then! We will come, bag anG baggage, on Monday morning." i.
 ."On an express stipulation that not wo- man performs stroke of work for us for { month." f @ .s,.554 With many flourish, amidst the gayes jests, George wrote ont solemn contract, b, which they bound themselves to ask no ser vice of any kind at woman's hand, for on, month from the date of the following Mon day, June, 1860, and all put their name to the important document. Susy, seeing tha her brothers were really in earnest, tried t, think she was glad to go, and added he laughing directions to the many schemes pro posed. At later hour the conciave brok, up, and Susy retired with head full of plans and heart full of sore misgivings. Monday morning rose fair and clear. Si. o'clock saw Susy drive away from the door i the carriage. the trunk strapped behind, tn iady's pretty travelling dress and the shawl Q ? her cousin and cavalier all bespeak travel Seven saw the servant depart, to spend month with her mother in the country. Min young bachelors.
 Now then." said George, after the frs gteeungs were over. "l, as the eldest host VIII take charge to-day. As Susy says, whe are you going down town?"