The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-04-08
MEe's DOMESTIC EXPERIENCE

MGNGA A0AAAAAA4
keeper. john should find home a
paradise; he should always see n smi-
ling face, and should fare s~umptuously
each day. and lever know the loss of
n button. She brought so much love,
energy and cheerfuldess to the work,
that she could not but succeed, in
pite Of some obstacles. Her paradise
vas not q tranquil Que; for the little
woman fused, was oyer anxious 70
please, and hustled about like q true
Martha, numbered with many cares.
She was too tired, sometimes, even 70
smile; John grew dyspeptlc after 4
course of dainty dishes, and migrate
fully demanded plain fare. As Tor
buttons. she Don learned 70 WonoeT
where they went, to shake her mead
over the ~carelessness OF men, ana TO
threaten to make him sew then on
himself, and then see 1t his work would
stand impatient tugs and clumsy In
GERS any better than hers.
They were very happy. even alter
they discovered that they could not
live on love alone. John did nothnd
Meg's beauty diminished, though she
beamed at him from behind the famil-
TAR coffee.pot; nor did Meg miss any
of the romance from the daily parting,
when her husband followed mp his
kiss with the tender inquiry, shall
/ send home veal or mutton for din
uer. darling?" The little house ceased
ID be a glorious bower, but it became
q home, and the young couple soon
felt that it was q change for the bet
Tor. At first they played keep house
sad frolicked over it like children;
then John took steadily to business,
ceiling the cares Of the head of a FAM
IT'D upon his shoulders; and Meg laid
bV her cambria wrapper, put on o big
enron, and fell TO work, as before said,
Nth more energy and discretion. /.
While the cooking mania lasted she
sent through Mrs. Cornelius Recipe
SOCK as fit was q mathematical ex-
e%r0ise, working out the problems with
uatience and care. Sometimes her
emily were invited TO help eat up a,
1nteous feast of successes, or Lolita
luld be privately despatched with a
batch of failures which were to be
eoacealed from all eyes In the conve-
u.ent stomaehs of the little Hummels.
An evening with John over the ao-
count books usually produced a tenn
porary lull in the the culinary enthu-
siasm, and a frugal fit would ensue,
during which the poor man was put
throug a course of bread-puddiDg,
hash, and warmed yer coffee, which
tried his soul, although be bore it
with praiseworthy fortitude. Before
the golden mean was found, however,
Meg added to her domestic possess
sions what young couple seldom get
along Without family jar.
Fired with q ~housewifely wish to
see her store-room stocked with home
made preserves she undertook to put
up her own currant jelly. John was
requested to order home a dozen of
little pots and an extra quantity of
sugar, for their own currants were
ripe, and were to be attended to at
once. AS John firmly believed hat
my wife was equal to any thing, aud
took natural pride in her skill, no
resolved thatshe should be grati1ied,
and their own crop of fruit laid by in
n most pleasing form for Winter use.
Home came four dozen delightful
little pots, half a barrel of sugar, and
q small boy to pick the e%urrants for
her. With her pretty hair tucked in
CD e little cap, arms barred to the ell
bow. and a checked apron which had
"a NAH4A0AAA0A IN - hAAN1 Va NAC GAOa
the young housewife fell to work,
feeling no doubts about her success;
sns hadn't she seen Hannah do it
hundreds of times? The array of
pots rather amazed her at first, but
John was so fond of jelly, and the
nice little Jars would look so we'll on
the top shelf, that Meg resolved to
fiji hem all, and SO spent a long day
picking, boiling, s%training, and fussing
over her Jelly. She did her best; she
asked advice of Mrs. Cornelius; she
raeked her brain to remember what
Hannah did that she had left undone;
che reboiled, re-sugared and restrain
ed. but that dreadful stuff wouldn't
'jell."
She longed to run home, bib and
AZ. aud ask mother to lend a hand.
but John and she had agreed that
they would never annoy any one with
their private worries, experiments or
auarrels. Thy had laughed over that
last word as if the idea it suggested
was a most preposterous one, but they
had held to their resolve, aud when
ever they could get on without help
they did so, and no one interfered-
for Mrs. March had advised the plan.
so Meg wrestled alone with the refac-
tory sweetmeats all that hot Summer
day. and at five o'clock sat down in
her topsy turvy kitchen, wrung her
bsdaubed hands, lifted up her voice
md wept.
Vow in the frst flush of the new
life. she had often said
My husband shall always feel free
to bring home 4 friend whenever he
likes. I shall always be prepared
there shall be no furry, no scolding,
no discomfort, but a neat house, a
cheerful wife and a good dinner.
John. dear, never stop to ask any
leave; invite whom you please, and be
sure of a welcome from me-"
low charming that was, to be sure
John quito glowed with pride to hear
her say it, and felt what a blessed
thing it was 10 have a superior wife.
But, although they had company from
time to time, it never happaned to be
Unexpected, and Meg had never had
EN- opportunity to distinguish herself
-1i now. 1t always happens so in
ms vale Of tears; it really would have
been objectionable in him to choose
that day, of all the days In the year
& ring a friend home to dinner un-
~ezpectedly. Congratulating himself
that q handsome repast had been or
dered that morning, feeling sure that
Noud be ready to the minute, and
indllging in pleasant anticipations oil
Che charming effect it would produce,
~hen his pretty wife came running
oJt to meet him, he escorted his friend
DO MS mansion, with the irrepressible
satisfaction of a young host and hus.
band.
is a world Of disappoiutmepts, as