The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-02
How Mr.. Keith Managed

! Keith sr-tattt#1 BIZ ttlsAf
She bad just finished her work for til
evening, everything was tidied, and she wa
taking up her sewing, when Mr.. Keith up
set a vinegar bottle and bowl of gravy il
\ the kitchen cupboard, rumaging after
knife which was in his pocket all the time
Mrs Keith relinquished her idea of lit
tie season of quiet, and went out to Sc
matters in order again, Mr.. Keith follow
ed to oversee her--a habit some men have
4 wish you would try to be little mor'
careful. Henry. You do not realize hov
many things | have to see to- 1ai oil
2 'Humph 7 said Mr.. Keith, sitting down
in a basket of freshly ironed clothes; 4 new
er would complain of such a trihe as that
If didn't know, should think all the wo-
men were i'll slavery, 900 900 ,@% ,gat... oH
And you would be correct, Henry You
haven't the faintest idea MI
Nonsense, Mary Why, / could do your
work and three times as much more and
get all through by ten o'clock! a
Gould you, indeed e.- a ..a- am
TO be sure, if you would only give me
| the chance of it. -.
You shall have it, said Mrs. Keith, quiet
Fly. .r5 .5asa H1s.n.
Il have long wanted to visit my Aunt
Susan. ..-.4..... -f.......,...,.. .... y+a
| will do so now, and you may keep
house. | shall have to cook up some.
thing - q a-
nitAs if / couldn't cook f! You will do moth
ing Of the kind, Mary. i shall live like a
prince, and you viii see how nice | will keep
everything, You will hardly know . the
HOUSE, when you return. -aF ~,
1it 'I:dare say, remarked Mrs. Keith; but
when can go?' f....... -.... .a --a-
Tomorrow. if you like -- taa
HAnd you are sure you can manage! ,.-
7 l'Sure!' what a look he gave her; you
shall see.' ..;.,.-,- ......-,.....-.
Mrs. Keith laughed a little to herself
when her husband left her at the depot, and
turned his steps homeward to clear d the
breakfast things and prepare dinner. She
only wished she could be there invisible, and
see him manage bats
Let me see, soliloquized Keith, entering
the kitchen 'Ill wash the dishes first, and
I'll put, on one Of Mary's dresses to keep me
clean. g 50 :. . t'i-@l ts| 80 <n- d -uGt
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 succeeded in rekindIing it, and
then began the dishes. 'i et 'a. ~2 .a
He took them to the sink, plugged up
the spout, and put them to soak in pail of
cold water. " '" "..i .-, = t.a.'l
There, they're washed, said he to him
self now for something to wipe them on
III take the table cloth. Such fuss as
women do make about work Why,I could
wash all the dishes in the neghborhood in
half a day. This stew pan smells Of grease !;
wonder what's the matter with it ? There,
I've got some smut on my hand there it
goes on 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 &C
cidents will happen. guess I'll trim the
lamps next; mother always trimmed the
lamps in the morning. Confound 'em how
black the chimneys aren -' t7asn.
/, :. Thus conyersiug with himself, Mr. Keith
put the chinneys into the basin and cogitat-
ed a moment, He had heard it said that
boiling water was cleansing So he scalded
the chimneys, and the result was about
hundred different pieces to each chimney.
Good gracious cried he, who'd have
tboughtit! There's somebody at the door.
III just step out as I am 1t can't be
aiiybody that care for, so early as this
A small boy presented himself, cycling
Keith with Unsurpassed mirth. 1913
BE you mistress of the house?' hi q.
Yes-that is, am the master p said Mr..
Keith, with dignity, what can do for you?
Nothing | guess. Marin sent me over to
see if you - that is--if the mistress of the
house would take care of the baby while she
goes shopping" o.. w ~ iii5- 2.
Nor thundered Keith I've other fish to
fry, '.','.3 '-- s7as' .55
The boy put his thumb to his nose, and
Mr.. Keith, after sIamming the door-as men
always do when they are out Of temper-re-
turned to the kitchen. The fire was out,
and the room decidedly smoky.
pil go down cellar and bring up some
coal, said he, and started briskIy 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 cellar-sllash-
ing basket Of eggs, knocking over a shelf
loaded with pans of milk na' .....
Deuce take it, exclaimed he, scrambIing
to his feet, and rubbing his head, how do
the women manage with these Internal long
dresses? | shall break my neck with this
yet = H-tA si @ae1 ~ .l
Z The fire made again, Mr. Keith bethought
him of dinner. de looked at the time piece;
it was one O'clock. Almost time for callers.
What should he have for dinner! He had
heard his wife say that rice pndding was
easily made-he would have rice pudding
and boiled potatoes, and broiled steak.
He filled a basin with rice, stirred in a
little sugar, dropped in an egg, and set the
vessel into the oven. The potatoes he wash
ed in soap suds that they certainly might
be clean, and put them into the tea kettle
beceuse they would boil quicker.
The steam was frizzling in the frying pan;
he was proceeding to set the table, when the
he caught up the pan from the fire-to
keep 1t 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
astrying pan IN his hand SO he deposited it
on the parlor sofa, and answered the ring.
Mrs. DIR, Nudge was on the steps, dressed
in her best. pa if-a
.Yes--I--dare say stammered Keith,
'nry wife is absentand am playing Bridg-
ct Walk in 'aa
Mrs. Nudge sailed into the iparlor, which
was darkened to exclude the sun, and with
out stopping to look at her seat, sunk into
the frying pan on the sofa $50
Jupiter cried MIR. Keith, you've done it
nowv ..a taH
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, but managed to control
herself; bowed haughcily, and swept out of
the house. $500. -,
! Keith returned to the kitchen a little
crest fallen for Mrs Nudge was a lady before
whom he. desired to appear particularly we'll.
There was tremendous cracking in the
oven, He thought of his pudding and look
cd in. The burnt rice had hoped all over
the oven ;the basin had mel ted apart, and
the pudding was not done. He shut the
door upon the ruins in disgust, and looked
1,