The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-02-01

"And you are sure you can man.
agew i.. .y-....f ...- .el,
"Sure |" what a look he gave her
"you shall see," -ll..
Mrs. Keith laughed a little to
herself when her husband eft her
at the depot, and turned his steps
homeward to- clear the breakfast
things and prepare dinner. She
only wished she could lie there in.
visible and see him manage.
"Let me see," solioquized Keith,
entering the kitchen "l'll wash the
dishes first and III put on one OF
Mary's dresses to keep me clean.
"He fastened it around his waist
with pin, rolled up his sleeves,
and looked about him, The fire
was out, but after much trouble he
succeeded in rekindlingit, and then
Logan to wash the dishes.
He took them to the sink, plug
ged up up the spout, and put them
to soak in pail of cold water.
"There, they're washed" said he
to himself; "now for something to
wipe them on. III take the table
cloth. Such a fuss as women do
make about work. Why, ] could
wash all the dishes in the neighbor.
hood in half a day. This stew-pan
smells of grease. ! wond 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 |!
--Ilillo, there's one plate gone to
smash! Oh, there goes the cream
pitcher! And Pve stepped into that
potato dish that set on the floor
to dry, and that's gone to the
shades Never mind, accidents will
happen. ! guess Ill trim the lamp
next; mother always trimmed the
lamp in the morning. Contound
'em, how black the chimneys are."
Thus conversing with himself,
Mr.. Keith put the chimneys into
the basin and cogitated a moment.
He had heard it said that boiling
water was cleansing. So he seal
ded the chimneys, and the result
was about a hundred different
pieces to each chimney. -.
"Good gracious !" he cried, "who'd
have thought il There's somebody
at the door. Fll just step out as /
am. 1t can't be any body that j
care for, so early as this"
A small boy presented himself,
eyeing Keith with ill.suppressed
mirth. .........., ... ...........
"Be you mistress Of the house p
Yes-that is, l am the MASTERY
said Mr.. Keith, with dignity, what
can do for you? -.. a.
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 Ia FIJI.
Non thundered Keith. I've
other tisl: to fry .t. .., ~.
The boy put his thumb to his
nose, and Mr.. Keith after slamming
the door--as men always do when
they are out of temper-returned
to the kitchen. The fire was out,
and the room decidedly smoky.
I'll go down cellar and bring up
some coal said he, and started
briskly down the stairs. On the
second step he put his foot through
a rip in his dress skirt-stumbled
and fell to the bottom of the cellar
smashing a basket ofeggs knock
ing over shelf loaded with pans
OF milk. . ' ...u -E
Duece take itp exclaimed he,
scrambling to his feet, and rubbing
his head. 'how do the women man.
age with these internal long
dresses? | shall break my neck
with this setn ns. #.... r
The fire made again, Mr.. Keith
bethought him of dinner. He
looked at his time piece; it was one
o'clock. Almost time for callers.
What should he have for dinner?
He had heard his wife say that a
rice pudding and boiled potatoes,
and broiled steak. .-.
He filled the basin with rice, stir
red in a little sugar, dropped in an
egg, and set the vessel into the
oven. The potatoes he washed in
soapsuds, that they certainly
might be clean, and put them into
the teakettle, because they would
boil quicker. n
a The steam was fizzling in the
fryingpan, and he was proceeding
to set the table, when the bell rang.
He caught up the pan from the
fire-to Keen IL from burninp-