The Republican journal., 1870-06-09
A WOMAN'S STRATAGEM.
Iow TO CURE A GRUMBLING HUSBAND.

Mary your corn-bread is never done
wonder what is the reason everybody else
has things right and we always have things
wrong"
why, Joe, | am sure the corn-brcad has
never been in this state before You see
the fire had a tit,' 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 lightest, sweetest bread, and the incest
cakes and preserves | ever ate. Iwish you,d
take pattern by her.
Well, | am sure, Joe, do my best, and
think succeed oftencr than fail l wish |
could suit you always; but that | suppose,
could scarcely be expected; and Mary gave
Il weary sigh.
Mary Starr had been married about a wear,
during which time she had found house keep
ing rather a uphill work She was a neat
little body, and conscientiously 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 q vital and constant sense that dis
cipline 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 the
truth, there were times when her forbear-
ance was sorcly tried. For instance, when
ever 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 deficiency IN cooking,
on IN manners, or in dress, on the part of his
wife; and that pro bono puJ3ic0 For in
stance, it would be:
Mrs. Jones, what splendid sponge-cake
you make! Mary take notice how LIGHT this
cake il. | wonder why you never have it so
puffy Or, Mrs. Brown, you certainly are
an adept at entertaining company | wish,
Mary, that you would try to steal Mrs.
Browns art. Or, Mrs. Green, your dress is
always most becoming. Your taste is ex-
19islte don't see why it is, Mary, that
with all | spend for you, you never can reach
the Je nc sats q1tor of Mrs Green
On these occasions Mary would blush and
bite her lip, and be inwardly annoyed, but
she was awoman Of too much pride and good
sense to make display of her modification
or chagrin; and she was really too good
natured and Christian a 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 durable,
she bethought herself how she should pro-
reed IN order to break him Of his disagree
able habit
Fortune favored her One day, lady,
one of her most valued friends and best
neghbors, called to invite Joe and Mary to
n 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, nv dear,
make your demand
The condition is said Mary, that you will
allow me to furnish all the refreshments
We'll that is an odd idea? Mary, nv dear.
hope you don't mean to insinuate that am
getting poor?' #R ss a n
No, Hattie thank fortune, she has shower
ed her tavOrs on you quite liberallyI
But l have notion Tor this, which, if YOU
please, will not diyulge; only let 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 anprv
with you. So, if it will be any satisfaction
to you-though for the life of me can't
imagine what your drift isl will comply
with your conditions When may I expect
my supplies?'
Let me see tomorrow is my baking day,
and your tea-party is not before Thursday
Wei; on Wednesday afternoon you shall be
supplied with bread, biscuit, cake, and all
the other accessories; and mind the only
thing | allow You to furnish is butter. which
| do not make' go
Very well, it's all settled, then, and / will
leave you. On the whole, this arrangement
suits me; it relieves me Of great RESPONSE
bility, for your cookery is we'll known to be
particularly nice. SO good by till Thurs
day
Mind you, say nothing about this, Hattie.
to any one; it is a secret of NINE
Very well, as you say, IN keep mum.
Goodbye again, for you win have your hands
full and must not interrupt you.'
So off Mrs. Vane went, inwardly wonder
ing what crochet dcmure little Mary had got
into her steady little head.