American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-11-28
5f(istellantous,
MR.. KINGS PLEAShST EXPERIENCE IN
HOTSEk EEPING.


better half. Que morning at break
fast, 81 really must go to see OH
Mrs. Houston. She has been sick
week, confined to her bed, and m
conscience reproaches me for m,
negligence in visiting her, when
think of her motherly kindness Will
Johnnie was so i'll, and help SO har,
TO procure. | would like 10 90 to
day, with Mrs. Myers. who has kind
ly offered me seat in her carriage
do YOU think you could make on
without me one day 20 | will ge
n, yN!,sIEefs toMttend to he dinner
Iand Martin Blake will mind til,
children whenever you want him"
81 think you had better 90, Fan
ny, by all means, replied her hus
band, q" it will be good opportunity
and yon had better remain all night
If YOU find her very ill.,
Why! Mr.. King. stay all night
away from the children What al
idea What could you do with thu m
! should not think Of troubling YOU
with them all day. if | conld wei
avoid it, but Lilly is so restless
should hardly fancy keeping her fol
several hours in sick ROOM"
"Nevcr fear for me or the child
rem" responded Mr. King, " Just GET
ready and start at once, and 7 will
attend to the nursing aud house.
/ keeping. without assistance from
Miss Ncttie, or Master Martin Blake,
either. You women make such a
parade about yOnr work. | want to
show you how easily it can be done.
and how much more you might ac-
compliSh by systematic arrangement.
In the i,st place, would never al
low those children TO worry me as
they do you. However, just wait
till your return. and you can ju0qe
Of my superior ability in housekeep-
ing"
Certainly" said Fanny, ~, snp-
pressing a smile that just dimpled
the corners of her pretty mouth. she
FASTENED TO prepare for her visit. n
half an hour she set forth. in compa-
ny with her nciehbor. Mrs. Myers.
leaving her luSbund charge d'af-
fairrs' for the day. Having salts
fed himself that his little RESPONSE,
hiIities, t0-wit: Johnnie, three years
OF age, and Lilly. eighteen months,
we've harmlo&Sly amusing themselves
I,,- r,,t'it,p, 1,.,,.n ,r1 Il.
over the bedroom carpet. he threw
himself upon q sofa in the snug sit
ting room, to read the morning pa
pCrS. IN the course Of an hOur or
two he happened to think Of the
children. and founc Lilly asleep nm.
der the bed. where she had crept in
search OF missing marbles, while
Johnnie. rerchPd upon chair at the
window. was intcntIv watching the
gamhols of some frOlicenmc children
across the way. ever and anon. when
the mclrmrnt became unusually
hoiSterouS, clapping his little hands
in sympathetic glrp. "Surely,' said
Mr.. King. cit is all humbug about
children being So troublesome. Just
let them alone, and they will amuse
themselves. And now. had better
be getting dinner under way. Let
me e-Fanuy said there was some
ham ready to broil, some biscuit
dough made up, and the coffee in the
boiler, all in order. She said some.
thing about gathering some peas. if
she had time; perhaps | had better
gather enough for some soup: think
! could relish a nice dishof pea soup
saving which, he proceeded to the
garden. Having gathered and shelled
the peas, his next care was to kindIe
a fire. hut while thus engaged noise,
rs of a fall, accompanied by loud
outcry from Johnnie. FASTENED his
steps to the bedroom, where he found |
his son and heir screaming Justify |
upon the floor, while Lilly, awakened .
by the contuSion. joined her cries to
his. In his intense enjoyment OF the
out ut.door sports. Johnnie had unwit |
tingly approached too near the edge
of his chair, cauSing it to capsize, and |
in his fall, striking his head against |
4ccrner of a dressing bureau. Hav-
ing, p'Afed the children, and bathed
and naNSSaged the injured head. he
returned Ntais culinary labors; but
on entering h>litchen. an uneypcct- |
ed sight grecteo',is asonisbed ewes.
In his haste to reachNNe scene of
.Johnnie's disaster, he \ n.reIess
Ily thrown lighted matck ,to a box
Iof kindlings these ignitiN"o%d I'D wv wv
tended the blaze to the hrE, .nd
thence to a rack ofrough drieEI"t
ling consuming in its fierce prS""s
several haukerchiefs; towels, etcS\5 a
scorching beyond redemption, Az
vorite huff.bosomed shirt, helongiN
to our hero. He eXtingulshed IN
] flames by emptyiug upon them
= large lar of buttermilk, and the
+ FASTENED TO draw tubful of waite
II in case of another conhagratlon.-
Placing the children upon the kltc'
e en- floor, to prevent further dIsas" T
riyiug the baby rattle, and Jon
nie a paper and scissors, he set aoo'
dinner in earnest. Pouring qua
of water into a saucepan, he emu
led the peas intoit; partially filed q
coffee boiler with cold water, al
placed. it on the stove, and then ga
e his undivided attention to the nan
in but, manage as he would, the )u'
a, a, meat still persisted in blazing uh
rs rs a few leathery looking bits were