Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-25
A WOmau's Stratagem.
How to Cure GrumOuus Husband.

=
wonder what is the reason everybody else
has things right aud we always have things
wrong
Why, Joe, am sure the oorn-brcad has
never been in this state before You see
the fire had a fit, and couldn't be made to
burn this morning"
ooh, yes, you are always ready with an
excuse Now, there is Mrs. Smith her stove
never has fits And she always has the light
est, sweetest bread and the incest cakes and
preserves | ever ate. wish you'd take pat
tern by her"
"Wel, | am sure, Joe, do my best, and
| think | succeed oftener than fail. wish
Icould suit you always; but that, | suppose,
can hardly be expected; )" and Mary gave
weary sigh.
Mary Starr had been married about year,
during which time she had found house-keop-
ing rather uphill work. She was neat little
body, and coDscientiously did her very best to
please her husband; but he whatever might
be the reason was very hard to please--in
fact, seemed determined not to be pleased
with anything she did. Perhaps like the
old soldier, in one of Dickens stories, he had
a vital and constant 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, fortunately and
not easily irritted though, to tell the truth,
there were times when her forbearance was
severely tried For instance, whenever she
and Joe took tea out, or went to a party, or
even to church, he seldom allowed the oppor-
tunity to pass unembraced to animadvert on
some deficiency in cookery, or manners, or
dress, on the part of his wife; and that pro
bono p,lbLico. For instance it would be;
Mrs Jones, what beautiful spongc-cake
you make Mary, take notice how light this
cake is | wonder why you eau never have
it so puffy !" Or, " Mrs. Brown, you cer-
tainly are an adept at entertaining company
wish, Mary, that you would try to steal
Mrs. Browns art. Or d" Mrs. Green, your
dress is always most becoming. Your taste
is exquisite. don't see why it is, Mary,
that with all | spend for you, you never can
reach the genteel appearance Of Mrs. Green. -
On these occasions Mary would blush and
bite her lip, and be inwardly annoyed, but
she was woman of too much pride and good
sense to make display Of her chagrin and
she was really too good-natured and Christian
person to let it change her feelings toward
Joe, whom she knew TO be, after ALL very
fond of her, and very just man at heart
After while, too, seeing that the fault was
probably curable, she bethought herself how
she should proceed in order to break him oI
his disagreeable habit.
Fortune favored her. Ono day, lady
one of her most valued friends and best neigh
bors, called to invite Joe and Mary to a te,
party at her house
1T will be ii small affair, said she, " bu
very pleasant, | think. You only are wanted
to make the circle of harmony complete
Well" said Mary, " will come, Mrs
Vane on one condition"
Condition Is it come to this, that yor
must make conditions Well, my dear, max,
your demand
A" The condition is" said Mary, " that you
will allow me TO furnish all the refreshments
"Well, that is an odd idea Mary, m.
DEAR | hope you don't mean to insinuate tina
| am getting poor"
" No, Hattie thank fortune, she has show
cred her favors on you quite literally. Blu
have notion for this, which, if you please
| will not diyulge only let me have my wa
this once, just for the oddity of the thing"
If anybody but you, Mary had mad
such request Of me, certainly should hav
taken offence. But never could be angr
with you. So, if it will be any satisfaction
to you-though for the life of me, | can't i'm
ague what your drift isl will comply witt
your conditions. When may | expect m
supplies ?"
I" Let me see tomorrow is my baking-day
and your tea party is not to be before Thurs
day. Well on Wednesday afternoon yo
shall be supplied with bread, biscuit, cake, an
all the other accessories and mind, the onl
thing | allow you to furnish is butter, whic
| do not make"
every well, it's all settled, then, and
will leave you. On the whole, this arrange
ment suits me it relieves me of great II
sponsibility, for your cookery is well know
to be particularly nice. SO good-by ii
Thursday"
Mind you, say nothing about this, Hatti
= to any one it is a secret Of mine"
Very well, as you say, I'll keep num-
Goodbye again, for you will have your hanC
/,
% On WIS, uuo "On.' 'u"aiy 80 "D"ts'
ing VIVA. ototouG' I.I" GeIiuto i''''V ''''y "'
/, 60. in'o nor '''Auy "'.0 n0'u'
G Everything came on on mat paHlng-na
Z precisely as Mary could have wished it. lie
! bread was light and sweet, and white as
G snowflake, with just golden-brown line
t crust surrounding II her cakes were pgTle' Tl