South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-09-09
A Woman's Stratagem.


never been in this state before You see. the
fire had 6t,' and couldn't be made to
burn this morning
%, 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 1 ever ate. wish
you'd take pattern by her.
'Well, | am sure, Joe, do my best, and
| think | succeed oftener than fail. I wish
/ could suit you always; but that, l sup.
pose, could hardly be expected; ! and Mary
gave weary sigh.
Mary Starr had been married about
year, during which time she had found
housekeeping rather uphill work. She
was neat little body, and couscientiously
did her very best to please her husband
but he, whatever might be the reason, was
very hard to please, in fact, seemed deter
mined not be pleased with anything she did
Perhaps, like the old soldier, in one of Dick
ems stories, he had vital and constant
sense that discipline mustSbe maintained
At any rate, he never allowed 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 forbcar-
ance was sorely tried. For instance, when
ever she and Joe took tea out, or went to
party, or even to church, he seldom allowed
the opportunity to pass unembraccd to an
iinadvert on some deficiency in cookery, or
manners, or dress, on the part of his wife !;
and that pro bono puGlico. For instance,
it would be:
Mrs. Jones what splendid sponge cake
you make Mary, take notice how light
this cake is. | wonder why you can never
have it so puffy ? Or, 'Mrs. Brown, you
certainly arc an adept at entertaining com
pany. l wish, Mary, that you would try
to steal Mrs. Browns art 'Or, sMrs.
Green, your dress is always most becoming.
Your taste is exquisite. | dontt see why
1t is Mary, that with all | spend for you,
you never can reach the Je ne Sais quoF Of
Mrs. Green.
On these occasions Mary would blush
and bite her lip, and be nwardly ANNOYED
but she was woman of too much pride
and good sense to make u display of her
modification or chagrin; aud she was real
ly too good natured and Christian a person
to let 1t change her feeling toward Joe,
| whom she knew to be, after all, very fond
OF her, and very just man at heart. AT
ter while, too, seeing that the fault was
probably durable, she bethought herself how
she should proceed in order to break him
of his disagreeabIe habit.
Fortune favored her. One day, lady,
| nF hnr G.. u.
neighbors, called to invite Joe aud Mary to
a tea party at her house.
1T will be a small affair." said she, but
very pleasant, | think. You only are want
ed to make the circle of harmony complete
well, said Mary, Il will come, Mrs
Vane, on one condition.
Condition Is it come to this, that you
must make conditions? Well, my dear,
make your demand
The condition is, said Mary, that you
Will allow mJ to furnish all the refresh
ments'
We'll, that is an odd idea Mary, my
dear, | hope you don't mean to insinuatc
that am getting poor?'
NO, Hattie; thank fortune, she has
s3howered her favors on you quite literally.
but have a notion for this, which, if you
please, l will not divulge only let me
have my own way this once, just for the Cd
dlty Of the thing
III anybody but you, Mary, had made
such a request OF me, certainly should
nave taken offence. But I never could be
angry with you so, If it will be any salts
faction to you-though for the life of me /
! can imagine what your drift isl will
comply with your condition. When may
expect my supplies 2
Let me see-tO morrow is my baking
gay, and your tea party is not to be before
thursday. Well, on wednesday afternoon
you shall be supplied with bread, biscuit
cake, and all the other accessories and
mind The only thing allow you 20 furnish
Is butter, which / do not make
Very we'll It's all settled, then, and
leave you. On the whole, this arrange
ment suits me; it relieves me ola great re-
sponsloiIity, for your cookery is well known
C, To- be particularly nice. So, good bye till
Thursday
Mind, you say nothing about this, Hat
tie, 70 any one il is a secret Of mine.
Very we'll, as you say, I'll keep mum.
Good'b bye again, for you will have your
hands full, and will not interrupt you
30 Of Mrs. Yane went, inwardly won
aerIng what crotchet demure little Mary
mad got into her steady little head
Every thing come off on that baking day
precisely rs Mary could have wished it,
Her bread was light and sweet and white
as a.. a snow fake, with just a golden brown
line OF crust surrounding it her cakes were
perfection her crullers crisp, aud delicious.
lhen she knew that her preserved fruits