Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-01
AWonnn,s strntagem.

"Mary. your corn-bread is never done.
I wonder what is the reason every body
else has things right, and we always have
things wrong"
"Why, Joe, Tn sure the corn-bread has
never been in this state before. You see
the fire chad a fit and couldn't be made
TO burn this morning"
go yes! you are always ready with an
excuse. Now, there is Mrs. Smith; her
stove never has fits And she always has
the lightest, sweetest bread, and the incest
cakes and preserves I ever ate. wish
you'd take pattern by her"
"Well, I'm sure, Joe, do my best, and
I think / succeed oftener than | fail /
wish could suit you always; but that
suppose could hardly be expected" and
Mary gave weary sigh.
Mary Starr had been married about a
wear. during which time she had found
housekeeping rather uphill work. She
was a neat little body and conscientiously
did her very best to please her husband,
bat he, whatever might be the reason, was
very hard to please-in tact, seemed deter
mined not to be pleased with anything
she did. Perhaps like the old soldier In
one of Dickens stories, he had vital and
constant sense that discipline must be
maintained. Az any IdbNs Nv AAC'NA "a
lowed Mary to be pleased with herself on
any occasion if he could help it.
Mary was an amiable wife, fortunately,
and not easily irritated, though, to tell
the truth, there were times when her for
bearanoe was sorely tried. For instance,
whenever she and Joe took tea out, he
seldom allowed the opportunity to pass
unembraced to animadvert on some dei-
-, 1.,lyR 1QF
on the part of his wife; and that pro
bono pu5lic0. For instance, it would be
Mrs. Jones, what splendid sponge cake
YOU makel Mary, take notice how light
this cake is wonder why you can never
make them so puffy" Or, Mrs. Brown
you certainly are adapt at entertaining
company wish, Mary, that you would
try to steal Mrs. Browns art" Or, Mrs
Green, your dress is always most becom
ing. Your taste is exquisite. don't SCI
why it is, Mary, that with all l spend fo
you, you never can reach the &c ne Sd1
0u0i of Mrs. Green"
On these occasions Mary would blusl
and bite her lip, and be iuwardly annoyed
but she was woman of too good sense It
make display of her modification o
chagrin; and was really too good nature'
and christian a person to let it change he
feeling toward Joe, whom she knew to be
after ALL very fond of her, and very jus
man at heart. After a while, too, seeing
that the fault was probably durable, sh
bethought herself how she should proceed
in order to break him Of his disagreeabl
habit.
Fortune favored her. One day, lady
one of her most valuable friends and bes
neighbors,, called to invite Joe and Mar
to a tea party at her house.
at will be small affair" said she, "bu
very pleasant, think. You only ar
wanted to make the circle of harmon
complete"
"Well," said Mary, 81 will come, Mr.
Vane, on one condition"
Condition Is it come to this, that 70
must make conditions well, my dea
make your demands"
.The condition is" said Mary, that 20
will allow me to furnish all the refresl
ments."
"Well, that is an odd ideal Mary, m
dear, hope you don't mean to insinuai
that l am getting poor ~
"No Hattie; thank fortune, she hf
showered her favors upon you quite libel
ally. But have motive for this, which
if you please, will not divulge; only Il