The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-01-20
ND, oH1o WEDNESDAY, MORNING, JANUARY 20 1869.

when almost every thing was done 70,
me, 1 could not remember, and ge
along, how must 1t have been yeste,-
day with her. Sweeping, busting
brewing baking, mendiifg; milking
and mofG than aa9 and NEST Of all
tending baby at the beginning, end
ing, and between every. other duty
Why man ! We should go mad, with
Sd. iuuch care. Oh, woman4 From
this hour I am thy devoted admirer.' >
"You are right, Ned. appreciate
them too, particularly after eating
such caSs<and pie as this. FIR give
up the idsa9f being bachelor, ,a=ssid
the s,see1y man.
i.Bless me! 1t is halfpast six
O'CLOCK Fannie will be here very
soon. / ,5iSh those dishes had been
wished up; then everything would
have seemed right anyhow"
eve can do them in no time" said
Tom.
''Too late-here she is,n answered
Ned. And Fannie came in looking G
is bright and happy as possible.
"Why, how well you look. / was
fearful you would be tired, Fannie
Sit down, and let me remove your
vrappiiigs." -t#.-
"Oh, no-not bit tired. I am
glad to see you, Mr. Merryman. You
have kept Ned from being lonesome,
I know. I have had 4 Very pleasant
day How is frankie p returned the
little wife: .
"I wish I had," thought Ned-but
answered: "Tm very glad to hear it.
frankie is sleeping nicely"
"Give me a cup of tea, please, and
roll. The long ride has given me
an appetite"
A look of consternatio ion, mingled
with an, appealing one; was cast, to-
wards Tom, by the anxious husband.
He poured Gut cup, still quite hot,
and passed it over.
Fannie sweetened and tasted.
Putkered up her mouth, tasted again.
Her eyes were dancing, her mouth
drawn down, every feature expressing
rtfirth.
"Tea orcofee Did you say Ned ?"
she quietly asked
81 am really sorry, Fannie. But |
must have put both in, 1 guess. I
was very rnttth worried about that
time"
Never mind; I'll make cup in a
few minutes" answered his wife
And off she flew to the kitchen to
meet the breakfast things, just as she
had left them. She soon returned
with her tea sat down and asked:
Ykhesea re the fresh rolls, Ned ?
I'd like one of your baking"
''Now Mrs: Barton; T am very
much afraid you viii think We We're
COMMANDERS, burt thost rolls were so
very bre,on, and inviting, that we made
amdy with all of them," said the ever
ready Fcm.
"Ohl l am uery glad you liked
them. 1 would just as soon have the
loaf-a piece, if you please, Ned ~
Another appealing glance towards
his friend, who came to his assistance.
"Really, I do not know what you
ariU think-but my dear madam, we
were both Of Us pretty nearly famish-
ed and seeing the loaf which was so
rery light and tempting, why-we paid
our respects to that first" said Tom,
very gravefy:
Indeed, I am delighted you enjoy
ed both,'' said Fannie-but at the
same time. thinking there was stfne
mystery concerning it.
81 will go up and see frankie, re-
lieve Dick, and then come down and
tell you all about my visit, said
Fanuie.
She was gone about half hour.
during which time the two friends
were congratulating themselves on
their happy e3it ffoht their ennbnrras-
sing situatioH::
! Fahnie returned; looking merrier
than ever, and said:
"Ned, you have had a very trying
day with the baby-but, poor little
dear, no wonder he fretted. Dick
has told me all about it. Your pre-,
scription did very well to soothe him
to sleep, MIR. Merryman But you
did not get at the right cause of the
trouble. Although I've no doubt he
proved to you there was arind enough
but IN his lungs only. Just think,
l found the bosom of his dress stuffed
quite full of scraps of stiff paper, which
had irritated his skin considerably
That was the reason he cried so when
you pressed him to you. The sharp
edges of the paper hurt him, but it /;
nothing serious"
'1t was that little scamp, Harry
Blame Gas Dick calls him. Of6curse
| could not have my eyes on him ano
my work too" said Ned, in a rather
apologetic manner.
81 know it, dear. Now l will tel
you about my trip. Aunty was very
much disappointed at not seeing yo5
| "I hope you made it all right, FAN
What did you tell her -
81 debut I told her the truth
the ,ohole truth, and nothing but the
truth" answered his wife.
"No-you. did not dare to! To1o
her was homer"
"Yes. Now listen, my husband
and please not to say another wore
until T get through. 1 knew aunr
better than you. I, was straighttor
ward with her. I began by telling
her you sent me, because you did moi
wish to hurt her in any way. tolc
her of the hard trial this winter hac
beer for the poor-that every one
Efe1t it !; then Of the trohb1e in Ton
EDa%son's mily-how much sickness
and so on; and then I told her you