The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-10-28
VOL. XXV.---No. ID.
MATRIMONIAL INFELICITIES.

FRIDAY CLEANING.
Bridget, the housemaid, having entered
the husband study on household thoughts
intent, and armed with broom and dust.pan,
is exercised as an intruder by the indignant
inmate.
"Go!' exclaimed, interrupting her, and
rising from my chair as | spoke.
She retreated precipitately, slamming the
door behind her as she disappeared | step
ped to the door, turned the key in the lock,
and returned to my desk. " Now, then"
said to myself, ~ think that matter is salts
factorlly settled How curious it is | con
tinued, "that all womenfolls take such
pleasure in sweeping. Now, if there is one
thing dislike more than another, it is
broom. Brooms were invented by the evil
one to try the patience of mankind" Then
| returned to my writing.
Before five minutes elapsed, knock at
the door disturbed me.
"Who is there?' | asked.
oneself, it is, said the original Biddy.
"What do you want?" inquired.
"The mistress bids me come back and
sweep the ROOM
at cant be done," 1 replied ego
away"
"Will ye let me in, ?" she asked.
"No," | answered.
"Then I'll tell the MISTRESS" she said.
For few minutes | enjoyed comparative
quiet. Only my little boy, taking advantage
of the maid having left the dust-pan by my
door, converted it temporarily into dram,
using the handle Of the feather buster as a
drumstick, aud getting astride the broom,
was riding up and down the hall Going to
the door, | told him he might take them all
into the yard and play with them there
Then | resumed my writing, congratulating
myself upon having disposed Of the servant
the boy, and the sweeping utensils. had
written six lines, perhaps, when gentle
tapping at my door disturbed me. | knew
it was my wife, so opened it and admitted
her. She walked in with rather domestic
Dir, and took seat on the lounge, without
speaking.
''Well my DEAR" l said, what is it?''
THAT is exactly what lcame here to have
answered. she replied.
Then you ii have to inquire Of Barnum,
l said, So for cant tell"
son, it's no joking matter. sir, can
assure you she continued. How do you
suppose that can keep my house in clean.
illness and order, if the servants are nOt
allowed to sweep and dust when | tell them
to?"
I'm sure don't know | replied, "but
.hen, ! dont see the necessity of ones com
ing in here while am writing, and raising
such dust as she necessarily must Why
she can't sweep some other room Just as
we'll as this, confess puzzles me. The fact
is, this room doesn't require sweeping 1t
isn't more thar two or three weeks ago since
saw some one sweeping it"
"Two or three weeks.' echoed my wife:
off it had not been swept until then, think
you would find cart,load of dirt in it. 1t
was thoroughly swept on Wednesday, and
now Friday is my regular day fer sweeping
and cleaning throughout the house. SO, if
you will just let the servant come in here
and sweep, will be much obliged to you"
"But, actually, don. think the room
requires it. said "besdes, it being a
rainy day. had decided to remain at home
and write. 1t will be very annoying to me
to stop at this moment; and, indeed, | won't
do it," And l resolutely took up my pen
and resumed writing.
My wife answered not q word, but sat
silent for at least five minutes. | did not
once look up from my paper, although |
knew her eyes were upon me, and that she
was regarding me attentively. 1t is very
trying to a sensitive man like myself to be
made the target of woman's eyes for many
minutes at time. At last, throwing down
my pen, exclaimed: 81 wish You would
60 away and leave me to my writing This
rs my room and don't want it to be swept.
It seems to me that sweeping was done for
no other purpose than to raise dust-so
that one can go about with feather brush
and busting CLOTH and scattered the dust
which has settled on the furniture over the
floor again. What possible good is accom-.
pished thereby, dorft see.'
'The obtuseness of some PERSONS she
answered, malciously, "often prevents their
seeing good in anything
Indeed" was all | vouchsafed to reply
At this moment Biddy made her appear.
ance, complaining that some one had car,
ried off her broom and dust.p pan, and she
could not find them. Ny wife regarded me
attenuvely.
If any one," said she, g has had the
audacity to hide them, | shall never forget
it as long as live!"
made no reply.
st is very singular" she continued,
" what has become of them"
looked out of the window, and asked my
wife what the noise was that came up from
the yard.
"Well, if that is not too bad she said !;
"there is that dear little boy out in the rain
without any cap on, and with the dust pan
and broom. What a careless girl you are to
have left them lying where the little fellow
could get them. Go, quickly, and bring in
the child. After all, 1t is your fault" she
added, turning to me; if you had allowed