National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-06-10
Curing a GrumbiinO Husband.

MARY, your corn pIcdu Is never
done! l Iwhat is the reason every
body else has things right and we
always have things wrong3
Why, Joe, | am sure the cOrn
bread has never been in this state
before! You see the fire had a fit,
and couldn't be made to burn this
morning.
'Oh, yes! you are always ready
with an excuse. Now, there is Mrs. |
Smith; her stove never has fits
And she always has the lights
est, and sweetest bread, and the
incest cakes and preserves | ever
ate. l wish you would take pattern
by her.
well, l am sure, Joe. l do my
best, and l think l succeed oftener
than / fail. l wish l could suit you
always; but that, suppose, can
scarcely be expected;' and Mary
gave weary sigh.
Mary Starr had been married
about year, during which time she
had found housekeeping rather up
hill work. She was neat little
body, and conscicntiously did her
very best to please her husband s.
but he, whatever might be the rea,
son, was very hard to pIease-in fact
seemed determined not to be pleased
with anything she did. Perhaps,
like the old soldier, in one of Dick.
ems stories, he had a vital and con
stant sense that discipline must be
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, for
tunately, and not easily irritatcd,
though to tell the truth, there were
times when her forbearance was Sc,
verely tried. For instance, whenev.
er she and Joe took tea out, or went
to a party, or even to church, he
seldom allowed the opportunity to
pass unembraccd to animadvert on
some deficiency in cookery, or man
ners, or dress, on the part of his
wife; and that pro bono puJlico.-
For instance it would be:
Mrs. Jones, what beautiful sponge
cake you make. Mary, take notice
how light this cake is. | wonder
why you can never have itso puffy
Or, Mrs. Brown, you certainly
are an adept at entertaining com.
pany. wish, Mary, that you wo'd
try 10 steal Mrs. Browns arts Or,
Mrs. Green, your dress is always
most becoming. Your taste is eX-
quisite. l don't see why it is, Mary,
that with all | spend for you, you
can never reach the je ne sais quoi
of Mrs. Green.
On these occasions Mary would
blush and bite her lip. and be in
wardly annoyed, but she was II wo.
man of too much pride and good
sense to make display of her cha
grin and she was really too good
natured and Christian person to
let it change her feelings towards
Joe, whom she knew to be, after all,
very fond of her, and a very just
man at heart. After a while, too,
seeing that the fault was probably
durable, she bethOught herself how
she should proceed in order to break
him of his disagreeable habit.
Fortune favored her. One day, a
lady, one of her most valued friends
and best neighbors, called to invite
Joe and Mary to tea.party at her
house.
1T will be small affair." said she,
'but very pleasant, l think. You
only are wanted to make the circle
of harmony complete
WELL said Mary, Il will come
Mrs. Nane, on one condition.
Condition Is it come to this
that you must make conditions p
Well, my dear, make your demand.
'The condition is, that you viii
allow me to furnish all the refresh
mcnts.'
well, that Is an odd idea : Mary
my dear, ! hope you don't mean tt
insinuate that ! am getting poor y
NO, Hattie thank fortune, sh,
has showered tavOrs on you quite
literally. But have u notion fol
, this, which, if you please | will no
dlvulge only let me have my wa,
this once, just for the oddity OF The
thing
III anybody but you, Mary, ha,
made such request of me, Ger
tainly should have taken offence
But | never could be angry will
you. So, if it will he any satisfaC
, ton to you--though for the life o
, me | can't imagine what your drif
isl will comply with your cOndi
tions. When may expect my SUP
pliesP
Ict me sec; to morrow is m,
, baking day, and your tea party !
not to he before Thursday. We'll
, on Wednesday afternoon you sha
/ be supplied with bread, biscuit, cak
and all the other accessories an,
mind, the only thing allow yOn {
furnish is butter, which ! do NO
make
r very well, it's all settled theI
I and will leave you. On the Who'll
O this arrangement suits me; It n
lieves me of u great respOnsibilit,
for your cookery is well known b
r be particularly nice. So, good by
n till Thursday
i Mind you, say nothing about thI
u Hattie, to any one; it's u secret