Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-02-15
How Mr Keith Managed.

fsDub - Vtfle@s > N0th Is never UDne,
liagetsse eIfs Keith. She had jus
fffSaea Ger work for the day, every
thing was tidied, and she was takin!
up her sewing, when Mr. Keith up
set vinegar bottle and a bowl o
gravy in the kitchen cupboard, rum
maging after a knife which was il
his pocket all the time Mrs. Keitl
relinquished her idea of little sea
son of quiet, and went on to set mat
tiers in order again. Mr.. Keith fol
lowed to oversee her-a habit some
men have.
Iwish you would try to be little
more careful, Henry You do not
realize how many things 1 have to
see to-"
"Humph!" said Mr.. Keith, sitting
down in a basket of freshly ironed
clothes; Il never would complain OF
such a trife as that! If / didn't
know, I should think all the women
were in slavery"
Sand you would be correct, Henry.
You haven't the taintcst idea"
Nonsense, Mary! Why, 1 could
do your work and three times as
much more and get all through by
ten o'clock"
t "Could you, indeed?"
f sTo be sure, if you would only
give me the chance of it,
you shall have il" said Mrs.
Keith, quietly. Il have long wanted
to visit my Aunt susan I1RiA do
so now; and you may keep house. /
shall have to cook us som ething-"
"As if l couldn't cook! You will
do nothing of the kind, Mary. ]
shall live like prince, and you will
hardly know the house, when you
return"
Il dare say" remarked Mrs.
Keith; ''nut when can l gO?"
Tomorrow, if you like"
"And are you sure you can man
age?"
"Sure!' what look he gave her;
"you shall see"
Mrs. Keith laughed little to her
self when her husband left her at the
depot, and turned his steps home
ward to clear the breakfast things,
and prepare dinner She only wish
ed she could he there, invisible, and
see him manage.
Let me see" solioquized Keith,
entering the Kitchen; Il II wash the
dishes first, and I'll put on one OF
Mary's dresses to keep me clean"
lie fastened it around his waist
with a pin, rolled up his sleeves and
looked about him. The fire was cut
but afte much trouble lie succeeded
in rekindling it, and then began the
dishes
He took them to the sink, plugged
up the spout, and put them to soak
N pail of cold water.
'Thare, they're washed" SAID h'
| to himself, now Tor something tx
wipe them on. I'll take the table
cloth. Such fuss rs women dc
make about work. Why, l coulC
wash all the dishes in the neighbor
hood in half day This stew par
smells of grease; wonder what's thu
matter with it2 There, I've go
some smut On my hand! there it goe'
on that china saucer, deuce that it
/ wish there was no smut; hillO
there's one D ate gone to smash! Oh
there goes the cream pitcher, Ant
I've stepped into that potatoe disl
that / set on the floor to dry, ant
that's gone to the shades! Neve
mind; accidents will happen! gaes
I'll trim the lamps next, mother al
ways trimmed the lamps in the morn
ing! Confound 'em, how black tn
chimnays are''
Thus conversing with himself, MI
Keith put the chimneys into tn
basin and oogitated moment. H
) had heard it said that boiling waite
was cleansing. So he scalded th
chimneys and the result was about
hundred different pieces to eac,
chimney.
"Good gracious!" cried he, "who'
have thought it, There's somebod
at the door. I'll just step cut as
am. 1t can't be anybody that l car
for, so early as this"
A small boy presented hrmsel
Z eyeing Keith with ill-suppresse
E mirth. -
= "B, you mistress of the house2
4 "Yes-that is l am the master!
| said MIR. Keith, with dignity; ''wh;
4 can l do for your
Nothing guess; marin sent n
over to see if you-that is, if Il