The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-20

j
ton of trying the experiment forthwith.
Here are ny keys!''
| Mr.. Dater backed obviously away from
the proffered insignia Of Office.
But, my-my dear" he said, hurriedly,
"you forget the demands of business"
" Let business be adjourned for once"
insisted the wife. 81 tell you I will not
undertake any longer to keep house with
insufficient funds"
Mr.. Dater looked at his WIFE There was
a resolution in her blue eyes ana closely
compressed lips which he felt it would be
entirely useless to combat
Every well, my DEAR" he said, compos-
edly drawing off his gloves, g if you really
insist upon it shall be very happy to
| show you the truth of Sam Patch's obser-
vation that some things can be done as
well as Others You will please send all
servants bills and other nuisances to me
| to day"
| "And I suppose 1 may avail myself
of this opportunity to bring up the ar
rears of my neglected correspondence"
said his wife at is not often that I en-
| joy such recess in my housekeeping du-
| ties"
"Just -ex-act-ly as you please, my
DEAR
Mr.. Dater calmly sat down in his easy
chair, lighted cigar, and prepared to
read the newspaper. Mrs. Dater, after
ringing the bell and consigning the rosy
| baby to the care of a servant, composedlV
| took her seat in front Of the rosewood
secretaire, and began her task of writing
letters
eff this is housekeeping it isn't such
| bad fun, after all % thought our hero, as he
| tipped his chair back after the fashion of
mankind, and lazily watched the golden
g l,aI
across the tinted ceiling.
Presently heavy football sounded along
| the carpeted hail, and Ellen, the cook, APP
peared.
eff We PLACE, ma'an, what'n we be after
havin for dinner?"
"Mr. Dater will attend to you, Elem"
said the abdicated sovereign, calmly mo-
tioning with her hand toward her hus-
band.
Mr. Dater was little puzzled how to
meet this emergency, but not for the worlds
would he have owned it.
"Roast fowls, Ellen, with currant jelly
and celery-and-and mince pie and suet
pudding for dessert! (That sounds all
right, anyhOw.~
"If Yell give me the money, sir, I'll
go to the market right Off"
Chow much do you require, Ellen ?"
Ellen reckoned up the sum on the ends
of her stout red fingers.
"It'll be two dollars for the fowls, sir,
and half dollar for the vegetables"
1.-TWO dollars and a half Isn't that a
good deal of money, Ellen ?"
And twenty-five cents for the Jelly,
sir" added the relentless Ellen.
Mr.. Dater reluctantly counted out the
money.
"Be as economical as you can, Ellen"
Ellen went out tossing her head, and
muttering under her breath certain unde-
niable truisms, respecting henhussies %
1.-The newspaper bill, sir" said Mary,
the chambermaid, entering on tip-toe,
with a narrow strip of paper between her
| fingers.
"What is it ?"
Thirty cents, sir"
Mr.. Dater again unclasped his portmon-
naie and handed out the requisite sum. 1t
| was hardly more than moment before
| Mary again came in.
| of you please, sir, the wood you or
dered has come home, and Patrick Daily
wants dollar for splitting itup."
"a dollar" fretted our housekeeper
| that is too much ]"
"He worked halfa day at it, sir, and it's
what he has always asked" said Mary, re-
| spectfully.
"Take it, then," sharply responded Mr..
| Dater. a must see if l can't get some
one to work for me little cheaper. |
don't believe in paying the highest prices
for the least possible amount Of work"
This was bomb-shell thrown belliger-
entity into Mrs. Dater's camp, but that
cue to notice any such indirect method of
| warfare.
| "The big kettle, sir, home from the tin
mans" put in Mary, once more. Its
| fifty cents, sir, if you please"
| Fifty cents Fifty cents for mending
a tin kettler' cried our hero.
YES, sir; it's soldered in two places,
| and"
"There is the grocer's boy coming up
the street," said Mrs. Dater, glancing out
of the window. And, sure enough, Ellen
| entered presently, with sleeves rolled up
and white biz apron tied up under her
| chin.
1.-THE bill from the grocer's, Mr.. Dater,
already receipted."
Mr.. Dater took the bill, and looked hur-
riedly over its list of contents.
| s-soap-prepared flour
-eggs-clothes- pins carpet tacks-lem-
! decentralization dollars and sew
| enty-fye cents -Four dollars and seventy
| five cents for a grocer's bill of two days
| standing! My dear! my dear this should
De lOOkeu lHtO, lnefc InuSt Dc some screw
loose in our housekeeping
you complained that the pudding sauce
was not rich enough, yesterday, Edward
said Mrs Dater, deliberately folding the
little note she had just written; land last
week you said that cake, without suffi-
cheney of raisins and spices, was merely
galvanized bread"
"a man don't want all his chance
speeches eternally brought up against
him." muttered Mr.. Dater, looking rather
confused, while his wife dated another gilt
edged sheet of paper, and began second
letter.
"Wen, what now?" demanded Mr. Da-
ter, in a despairing accent, as Mary came
in once more, stepping softly.
"It's the shoemaker's bill, sir; and
would you be pleased to pay it now, for
his rent comes due to morrow, he says"
"How much is it,"
"Seven dollars, sir" Mary handed him
the bill.
"Seven dollars for two pairs of chill
dren's shoes, My dear Maria, isn't that
rather unnecessarily extravagant?
"If you remember, Edward, you re-
proved me only yesterday for allowing
Bonnie to go out walking in such shabby
shoes"
"Well, there's no use in saying any
thing. l suppose the bill has got to be
paid, as the shoes are bought"