The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-07
A Woman's Stratagem.
How TO CURE A GRuMBLIyo HUSBAND.

wonder what is the reason everybody
else has things right aud we always have
things wrong -
"Why, Joe, | am sure the corn-bread
has never been in this state before You
see the fire chad ft," 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 al
ways has the lghtest, sweetest bread and
the incest cakes and preserves ] ever ate.
| wish you'd take pattern by her."
"Well, am sure, Joe, do my best,
and think | succeed oftener than | fail.
| wishl could suit you always; but that,
suppose, can hardly be expected" :" and
Mary gave weary sigh.
Mary Starr had been married about a
year, during which time she had found
housekeeping rather uphill work. She
was neat little body, and conscientious
ly did her very best to please her husband
but he, whatever mig be the reason, was
very hard to please-in fact, seemed de-
termined not to he 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" 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
tha r,,th tbar rha, hnr fnr-
bearance 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 opportunity to pass
unembraced to animadvert on some def
cheney in cookery, or manners, or dress,
on the part of his wife; and that pro
bono pmblico. For instance, it would
be:
Mrs. Jones, what beautiful SPONGE
cake you make Mary, take notice how
light this cake is Iwondcr why you can
never have it so puffy !" Or, Mrs. Brown
you certainly are an adept at entertain
ing company. wish, Mary, that you
would try to steal Mrs. Browns art. Or,
"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 two much pride
and good sense to make display Of her
chagrin and she was really to good-na-
tured and Christian a person to let it
change her feelings toward Joe, whom
she knew to be, after all,very fond of her
and just man at heart. After 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, lady,
one Of her most valued friends and best
neighbors, called to invite Joe and Mary
to a tea party at her house.
sit will be small affair" said she,
"but very pleasant, think. You only
are wanted to make the circle Of harmony
complete"
"Well," said Mary, II 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 me to furnish all the re-
freshments."
"Well, that is an odd idea ! Mary my
dear, l hope you don't mean to insinuate
that am getting poor?'
"No, Hattie thank fortune, she has
showered her favors on you quite liberal
ly. But | have notion for this, which,
if you please, | will not divulge only lei
me have my way this once. just for the
oddity of the thing"
"If anybody but you, Mary, had made
such request of me, | certainly should
have taken offence But | never could
be angry with you. So, if it will be any
satisfaction to you-though for the life o.
me, can't immagine what your drift is
| will comply with your conditions. Wher
may ] expect my supplies ?"
"Let me see !; tomorrow is my baking
day, and your tea party is not to be before
Thursday. Well, on Wednesday after
noon you shall be supplied with bread
biscuit, cake, and all the other accessor
les; and mind the only thing allow yo'
; to furnish is butter, which | do no
make"
Every well, it's all settled, then, and
will leave you. On the whole, this ar
rangement suits me it relieves me of
great responsibility, for your cookery i
we'll known to be particularly nice. S
good-by till Thursday"
"Mind you, say nothing about this
Hattie, to any one it is secret o
mine"
"Very well, as you say, I'll keep mum
Goodbye again, for you will have you
' bands full and | must not interrupt you.
So off Mrs. Vane went, inwardly won
dering what crochet demure little Mar.
had got into her steady little head.
Everything came off on that baking
day precisely as Mary could have wishe'
it. Her bread was light and sweet, AM
white as n snowflake, with just golden
brown line of crust surrounding it; he
a cakes were perfection her crullers cris
and delicious. Then she knew her pre-
served fruits were nice, and if ever ther
was spouge-cake more like soidified frotl
she would like to see it. Every thin
was sent into Mrs. Vane on Wednesda
afternoon, and she had all Thursday t
devote to her dress.
Mary looked pretty that night at tn
tea-party, for her eyes shone with pur
pose, and she had Just excitement enoug
= about it to redden her cheeks in a becom
y ing manner. Add to this that she wa
dressed with neatness and taste, and yo
S will not be unwilling to believe me whe
| say that she was quite the belle of tn
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