The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-10-27
MEG,S BOMEsTIC EXPERIENCE.

Like most other young matrons,
Meg began her married life with the
determ ination to be a model house,
keeper. John should find home a
paradise: he should always see a smil-
ing face. should fare sumptuously
each day, and never know the loss of
a button. She brought so muoh love,
energy and cheerfulness to the work,
that she could not but succeed, in
spite of some obstacles. Her paradise
was not tranquil one, for the little
woman fused, was over anxious to
please, and busted about like a true
Martha, cumberel with many cares.
She was too tired. sometimes, even to
smile; John gre dyspeptlc after a
fully demanded plain fare. Before
the golden mean was found, however,
Meg added to her domestic possessions
what most young couples seldom get
along with out-a family jar.
Fired with housewitely wish to
see her store-room stocked with home
made preserves, she undertook to put
nm her own currant j5lly As John
firmly believed that my wife" was
equal to anything, took natural pride
in her skill, ne resolved that she
should be grati6ed, and their own
crop of fruit laid by in a most pleasing
form for winter use. Home came four
dozen delightful little pots, half a
barrel of sugar, and small boy to
nick the currants for her. With her
pretty hair tucked into a little cap
arms bars to the elbow, and a checked
apron which had a eoQuettish look in
spite of the bib, the yo1rg housewife
fell to work, feeling no doubts about
her success; for hadn't sne seen Han
nah do it hundreds of times? The
array Of pots rather amazed her at
first, but j ohn was so fond of jelly,
and the nice little jars would look so
we'll on the top shelf, that Meg re-
solved to fill them all, and SO spent
long day picking boiling, straining,
and fussing over her jelly. She did
her best: she racked Der brain to re-
member what Hannah did that she
had left undone; she re-boiled, re-
sugared, and re-stra ned, but the
dreadful stuff wouldn't jell."
Now in the first flush of the new
life, she had often said
My husband shall always feel free
to being a friend home whenever he
likes, [ shall always be prepared !;
there shall be no furry, no scolding,
no discomfort, but a neat house, q
cheerful wife and a good dinner.
John, dear, never stop to ask my leave;
invite whom you please, and be sure
of a welcome from me,
How charming that Was, to be sure
John quite glowed with pride to hear
her say it, and felt hat blessed
thing it was to have a superior wife.
Bat. although they had company from
time to time, it never happened to be
unexpected, and Meg had never had
an opportunity to distinguish herself
until now. 1t always happens so in
this vale of tears; il really would have
been unpardonable in him to choose
that day, of all the days in the year,
to bring a friend home to dinner I'M
expectedly. Congratulating himself
that a handsome repast had been
ordered that morning, feeling sure
that it would be ready to the minute,
and INDUCING In pleasant anticipations
of the charming effect it would pro-
duoe, when his pretty wife came run
ming out to meet him, escorted his
friend to the mansion, with the ire
pressible satisfaction IF young host
and husband
It is world of disaL continents, as
John discovered when NC reached the
dove cote. The front door usually
stood Hospitality open; noW 1t was not
only shut, but Locked, and yesterday 3
mud still adorned the steps. The
parIor windows were closed aud cur.
tained, no picture of a pretty wife
sewing on the piazza, in white. with 9
distracting little bow in her hair, or a
bright eyed hostess smiling shy well
come as she greeted her guest
Nothing of the sOrt-for not a soul APP.
peared, bat sanguinary looking boy
asleep u1der the currant bushes.
I'm afraid something has happen.
ed: step into the garden. Scott, while
I look up Mrs. Brooke said J ohD,
alarmed at the silence AID solitude.
Round the house be hurried, led by
n pungent smell of burnt sugar, and
Scott strolled after him, with a queer
leok on his face He paused discreet
ly at a distance when John disappeared
but he could both see AID hear, and
beng bachelor, enjoyed the pros
pect nightly.