The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-11-27
A LESSON FOR HUSBANDS.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

/ y
Indeed. The fire, like great red clus
tier of rubies, was shining rpddily through
the twilight; the table was spread witt
faultless china, FURNISHED silver and gilt
tering cut-glass, and Mrs. Thorneycrof
herself had been out into the garden ant
gathered the blue, bloomy bunches o
late grapes that were in the basket OF
the side-board, destined to adornlthe des
ert. And as she stood before the fire
balancing first one slippered foot and ther
! the other on the polished rail of the fen
lder, she smiled to herself to think wha
charming culinary surprise was covered
up in the kitchen oven, in the shape Of
sundry dainty birds, nesting on toast.and
Drowned to marvellous shade Of perfec.
tion.
VI hope he will make his appearance
before they are quite spoiled" sighed Mrs
Thorneycroft, as the bronze clock struck
the hour of six. HE is so careless about
being in time for his meals"
What a trim, dimpled, satisfactory, lit
tie Mrs. Thorneycroft she was, as she
stood there, with the freight shining
into her blue eyes, and CLOSING her satin
brown hair, and just revealing the faint,
peachy bloom on her cheeks and the ex-
quisitc turn of her round white throat
The very black silk dress she wore seem
ed to fit her by instinct, and the white
apron, with its ruffled pockets, was simply
bit of jaconet perfection.
Suddenly she Strengthened her little
figure, and her larkspur blue eyes spar
kled, as foot step sounded on the thresh-
hold below.
( "It's Harry only five minutes behind
time, after all.
But it was not Harry-it was only the
cooks cousin, come to pass social even
ing back of the kitchen stove. Poor
Millyl she thought of the fast deprecia-
ting birds and sighed.
Fifteen minutes past six. Milly rang
for the cook to take the tea-urn down
stairs again.
"You can bring itup when Mr.. The:.
neycroft comes in, Bridget" !"
Half-past Ska quarter to sevenl
Milly began to grow a little nervous;
she went to the parlor window and looked
up and down the street.
81 wish he sooud be little more pune
tual.
The wish was yet framing itself in her
mind when there was night-key slipped
into the door-a tramp of masculine boot
heels on the oil-cloth, and Harry came
jovially into the room.
GAS dark as a pocket, eh, Milly! Here
give me a match, aud I'll light the
gas. ~
"What makes you so late, Harry?p
| sLate? Oh-let me see-a fellow came
into the Office, and we smoked cigar to-
gether, and the first I knew it was half.
past SIX"
'sThe dinner is spoiled" sighed Milly,
s'and l am so tired waiting.
90, never mind-never mind" said
Harry, briskly, sitting down to the table
"IIallol are these sh.iveled up little anat-
omies all you have for dinner. !"
"They were beautiful birds an hour
ago."
"Well, at all events we can eat the
chicken-pie. The tea is as cold as {
stone
eI dare say" said Milly, drily; "six is
our dinner hour"
"Where's the use of being particular
to shade?" demanded Mr.. Thorneycroft
with his mouth full of chicken pie
Women are SO whimsical What DO yor
say to hearing Rachel tonight"
Milly's face frightened up,
"I should like it of all things, Har
Try"
"Then well GO"
j Half an hour afterwards Milly came
down, a pearl-gray silk, with scarle
opera-circle over her shoulders, and co
quetish French hat of white scrape ant
scarlet buds, fastened as only woman
knows how, among her brown braids.-
Bridget only was in the room, clearin!
away the relics of the late dinner.
"Where is Mr. Thorneycroft, Bridget?'
/ "Just stepped out to get shaved, mem
be says he will be back directly"
Milly sat down by the fire and begar
to read. As she turned the first page tn
clock struck eight.
1--WE shall certainly be late," though
Milly, nervously.
4 Fiye-ten-ffteen minutes went by
Mllly closed her book and laid it aside
annoyed beyond all expression. 1t wa
nearly nine when at length her husban,
came in.
Ready
eReadyp' echoed Milly who was delib
erately untying her bonnet. Look .
the clock"
"By Jovel' calculated Mr.. Thorney
, croft, '.vho would have supposed it wa
SO late2 But, you see, ! met Jenkins
and we sauntered down street little way
and"
$50 we may as we'll give up Rachel a
once" !" 80
aNeyer mind, Mill, we can go som
other evening"
Milly did not trust her hayward tongu
to answer, else she might have truthful
: replied that all evenings were alike, an
the occasional little treats that migt
have diversified her monotonous life,wer
toe often missed through the carelessnes
and selfishness of her husband.
"Sulking, eh!'' thought Harry discor
tentedly, as Milly went up stairs to pu
up her circle. hReally, Milly is littl