The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-02-16
Tltr Aaaeuek 9effersunian
How Mr.. Keith Managed.

She had just finished her work for
the evening, everything was sided,
and she was taking up her sewing,
when Mr.. Keith upset a vinegar bot.
tie and a bowl of gravy in the kitch-
en- cupboard, rumaging alter a knife
which was in his pocket all the time
Mrs. Keith relinquished her idea
of little season of quiet, and went
out to set matters in order again.
Keith followed to oversee her--a
habit some men have.
81 wish you would try TO be lit
more careful Henry. You do not
realize how many things 1 have TO see
to-"
"llumph!" said Mr.. Keith sitting
down in basket of freshly ironed
clothes; 81 never would complain oi
such trifle as that If l did't know,
| should think all the woman were in
slavery"
"And you would be correct Henry
You haven't the laintest idea"
"Nonsense, Mary why l could dc
your work and three times rs much
more, and get all through at ten
o'clock"
"Could you, indeed?"
"ro be sure, if you would give MT
the chance of it."
"You shall have it," said Mrs
Keith, quietly. / have long wantet
TO visit my Aunt Susan. will d,
so now, and you may keep house.
| shall have to cook up something
"As if | couldn't cook! You vii
do nothing of the kind, Mary. Ishal
live like Il prince, and you will sc,
how nice l will keep every thing
You will hardly know the house whei
you return"
~ dare say" remarked Mrs. Keith
"but when can / go?'
"To morrow, il you like"
"And you are sure you can man
age!'
"Sure!' what a look he gave her
"you shall see "
Mrs. Keith laughed little TO her
self when her husband left her at th,
depot, and turned his steps homewart
to clear the breakfast things and pre-
pare dinner. She only wished sh
could be there invisible, and see hir
manage.
LET me see," soliloquized Keit
entering the kitchen; "I'll wash th
dishes first and I'll put on one c
Mary's dresses to keep me clean"
He fastened it around his wais
with pin, rolled up his sleeves, an
ilcokCa about him. The fire was ou
but after much trouble he succeedc
in rolindling it, and then began {
wash the dishes.
He took them to the sink, plugge
up the spout, and put them TO soak i
a pail OF cold water.
"There, they're washed," said i
to himself "now for something t
wipe them on. Ill take the tabl,
cloth. Such fuss as women d
make about work. Why, / coul
wash all the dishes in the neIghbo
hood in a half day. This stew pa
smells of grease. l wonder what
the matter with it? There, I've 9,
some smut on my hand! There
goes on that China saucer, deuc
take il! l wish there was no smut
Hillo, there's one plate gone to smasl
Oh, there goes the cream pitcher
And I've stepped into that potat
dish that set on the floor TO dr.,
and that's gone to shades! Nev,
mind, accidents will happen. | CUES
I'll trim the lamp next; mother a
ways trimmed the lamp in the morr
ing. Conlound 'em how black th
chlmneys are"
Thus conyersing with himself, NJ
Keith put the chimneys into the b;
SIN and cogitated a moment. He ha
heard it said that boiling water wa
cleansing. So he scalded the chin
neys, and the result was about hun
dred different pieces to each chin
.ney.
Good gracious! ~ he cried, "who'
have thought il There's somebod
at the door. I'll just step out as
am. 1t can't be anybody that | cal
for, so early as this"
A small boy presented himsol
cycling Keith with ill-suppresse
mirth.
"Be you mistress Of the house?"
"Yes-that is, | am the master
said Mr.. Keith, with dignity, "wh;
can do for your
"Nothing, | guess. Marin sci
me over to see if yOu-that is-if I'll
, mistress Of the house would taxi
care of the baby while she goes shol
ping
MOI thundered Keith. "IV
other fish to Try"
The boy put his thumb to his nos
and Mr.. Keith, after slamming IL
door-as men always do when the
are out Of temper-returned to I'll
! kitchen. The fire was out, and ii
room decidedly smoky.
"Ill go down in the cellar an
bring up some COAL" said he, an
started briskly down the stairs. Q
: the second step he put his foot thr
a rip in his dress sliirt--stumblC
and fell TO the bottom OF the cellar
smashing basket of eggs, and knoc
2 ing over a shelf loaded with pans
. mdlf.
!, "Deuce take it, exclaimed h
a scrambling to his feet, and rubbir
I his head, chow do the women ma
age with these internal long dresse
l shall break my neck with I'll
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