Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-01
.QDbio StateIt:s'rrraritl'.,, It:' n,
HOW MA. KETrM MANAGED.


HOW MR. KETGBH MANAGED.
"Man's work is from sun to sun, but wo-
mans work is never DONE" quoted Mrs.
Keith. .'."a .' I.. '
She had Just finished her work for the
evening, everything was tidied, and she
was taking up her sewing, when Mr..
Keith upset vinegar bottle and a bowl OF
4 gravy in the Kitchen cupboard, rUmaging
after knife which was In his pocket all
the time. '.' "H ~. l#' ..a
Mrs. Keith relinquished her idea of a lit
tie season Of quiet, and went out N set mat
tiers in order again. NJ. Keith followed to
oversee her-a habit some men have. '.'
! IL wish you would try and be little
more careful, Henry. You do not realize
how many things have to see to-" S.4'Ie
"Humph!" said Mr.. Keith, sitting down
in basket of freshly ironed clothes; ~
never wohld complain Of such a trifle as
that If didn't know, | should think all
the women were in slavery" J'm'' " '.
"Apd you would be correct, Henry. You
haven't the faintest idea" t'V .''l"
"Nonsense, Mary Why, could dOyour
work, and three times as much more, and
get all through by ten o'clock" '' 'I" h'H
"COuld you, indeed?' '.' '.
"ro be sure,if you would only give me
the chance OF it," ... .u..
"You shall have it." said Mrs. Keith,
quietly. 81 have lOrg wanted to visit my
Aunt Susan. | will do so now, and you
may keep house. | shall have to cook up
something"
GAS if 1 couldn't cook! You shall do
nothing of the kind, Mary. | shall live
like prince, and you will see how nice
will keep everything. You will hardly
know the house, when you return"
Il dare say" remarked Mrs. Keith; "but
when can | go?" ........ ..... ...
''TO-morrOw, if you like"
Sand you are sure you can manager p
''Sure y what Il look he gave her. You
shall see." ...
Mrs. Keith laughed little to herself as
her husband left her at the depot. and turn
ed his steps homeward to clear the break
fast things and prepare dinner. She only
wished she could be there invisible, and see
him manage.
Let me see," sOliloquiZed Keith, entering
the kitchen "I'll wash the dishes first, and
! I'll put on one of Mary's dresses TO keep me
clean"
| He fastened it around his waist with a
pin, rolled up his sleeves, and looked about
him. The fire was out, but after much
trouble he sucSeeded in rekindling it, and
! then began tb Hshes.
He took them to the sink, plugged up the
spout and put them to soak in pail OF
cold water. nj ....LL.
| There, they're washed" said he to him
self, Now for something to wipe them on.
| I'll take the table cloth. Such fuss as wo-
men make about work. Why, could wash
half the dishes in the neighborhOOd in half
day. This stew pan smells of grease; l
wonder what's the matter with it? There,
| / got some smut on my hand there it goes
OIL that china saucer, deuce take it! | wish
there was no smut! Hillo, there's one plate
| gone to smash! Oh, there goes the cream
pitcher! And I've stepped Into that potato
dish that set on the floor to dry, and that's
gone to the shades! Never mind accidents
will happen. Iguess I'll trim the lamps next
mother always trimmed the lamps in the
morning. COnfound 'em! how black the
chimneys are"
Thus cOnversing with himself Mr.. Keith
| put the chimneys into the basin and cogita-
ted moment. He had heard that boiling
was cleansing. SO he scalded the chimneys,
and the result was abouta hundred differ
! ent pieces to each chimney. .t.
-"GOod gracious!' said he, "who'd have
thought it! There's somebody at the door.
| Ill Just step out as am. 1t can't be any
body that care for as early as this"
A small boy presented himself, eyeing
| Keith With ill-suppressed mirth. % O.
,"Be you the mistress of the house?"
| "Yes-that is, / am the masterm said Mr.
Keith, with dignity "what can | do for
1 your" ~ .I.l,. ND r.F .~ nt
.',Nothing, i gness. Marin sent me over to
see if you-that is-if the mistress of the
house could take care of the baby while she
goes shopping" -,
No y thu6dered Keith. "Pve other fish
TO fry" ..,n .f .t... s .o vf.s.
The boy put his thumb to his nose, and
| Mr.. keith, after slamming the dOor--as
men always do when they are out of tem-
per-returned to the kitchen. The fire was
out, and the room decidedly smoky. a|.H
"I'll 90 down the cellar and bring up
some coal" said he, and started briskly
down the stairs. On the second step he put
! his foot through rip in his dress skirt
stumbled and fell to the bottom of the cell
ar--smashing basket of eggs, and knock
| ing over shelf loaded with pans of milk.
! ''Deuse take i'll" exclaimed he, scram-
bling to his rect, and rubbing his head,
"how do women manage with these infer
nal long dresses? l shall break my neck
with this yetm ~. .ll- .e. r
The fire made again, Mr.. Keith bethought
him of dinner. He looked at the time
Lpiece; it was one O'clock. Almost time for
callers What should he nave for dinner
He had heard his wife say that rice pud-
ding was easily ma1e-he would have rice
pudding and boiled potatoes, and broiled
steak. He filled basin with rice, stirred
in little sugar, dropped in an egg, and set
the vessel intO the oven. The potatoes he
washed in soap suds, that they certainly
might be clean, and put them into the tea
kettle, because they would boil quicker. ot
The steam was irizzing in the frying pan;
he was proceeding to set the table, when
the bell rang. .' ir"
He caught up the pan from the fre-to
keep it from burning, and made haste to
the front door. Then he remembered it
would not be just the thing to go to the
door with frying pan in his hand, so he
deposited it Oh the parlor sofa, and answer
ed the ring. H4. 0l
Mrs. DIR. Nudge was on the steps dressed
In her best. F -...I ..sH." u. ...IH
"Yes-I--dare say" stammered Keith,
"my wife is absent, and l am playing
Bridget. Walk in.n 'H .. #s4lly3I & 7
Mrs. Nudge sailed into the parlor, which
was darkened to exclude the sun, and with
out stopping to look at her seat, sunk into
the frying pan on the sofa. I. ~
Jupiter" cried Mr.. Keith, 'you've done
it now." l..t ua sHat 1888
Mrs. Nudge sprang up--the grease drip
ping from her rich silk on the carpet. Her
face grew dark. She was tempted to say
something cutting; bowed haughtily, and
swept out of the house. F wg a-iWt
Keith returned to the kitchen q little
crest fallen, for Mrs. Nudge was a lady be-
fore whom he desired to appear particular
lily well. .ttH AgbC ~