Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-17
FIVEBACHELORs KEEPING HOUSE


q FIVEBACHELORS KEEPING HOUAF
BY MARY CLA. IKE.
IT was warm ever,iuu In parlv Irna
ana IN the parlor os pleasant home in
- ,street, III Lto handsome city of Phila-
oelpma, a raerry party of young folks
"ele hol ling a warm, laughing discussion.
OuSy Arnold, the young hostess who
Kept house for her two brothers,
Harry and George, took one side of the
question, while three other gentlemen, be.
sides her tall brothers, opposed her.
Charley Grey, a blue-eyed, curly-keaded
man, whose round face and boyish air
formed an apparent contradiction to the
assertion he made of having five years be.
lore attained his majority; Joe Morris,
who from a Spanish mother inherited
.Jetty hair and eyes, and pale complexion
and from his father tall, fine figure, and
frank, ingenious expression land Milton
Dacres, whose small figure and bash(ul
ways accounted fully for his nickname,
Minnie; these three, with the master of
the house, waged playful war upon the
little brown eyed maiden who sat so de-
murely on the sofa.
Say what you please" said Susy, "you
will never convince me of the superiority
OF man in the capacity of housekeeper"
But maintain" cried Joe, "that men
can keep house. without women; but that
women cBnnOt do SO unless we shall assist
them"
. =" For instance" said Harry, "when
your Biddy was sick last winter. Sue,
how would such a mite as you have
brought up coal, kept up the furnace fire,
and lifted about wood, unless your two
brothers had CALAMITY relieved you of
your care?"
Not to notice that the furnace fire
went out three
"a truce" said George, laughing.
THAT was my fault; but accidents will
happen in the best-regulated families as
asomebody-name forgotten-once wisely
remarked" .,sg -
Z" only wish you could keep house, for
would accept Aunt James invitation to
travel with her this summer, were it not
for leaving you"
81 have an idea," here cried Charley
Grey, an idea which, if you will agree
toact upon, shall fully cure the women
OF the insane notion of their indispensa-
bility-ahem! that word nearly choked
me-"
THAT ungallant sentence should have
quite strangled YOU said Susy.
Present company always excepted"
was the reply.
nC illcd! let ) nave Ju0 1upd.
Suppose we keep house here, while
Miss Suzy travels"
Here?" cried Susy, aghast.
~ "Yes--why not?"
e" But" said Susy, 81 am sure Jenny
would not stay"
"We don't want her; we want no wo-
men,
Visions of muddy boots on her parlor
SOFAS, cigar in the flower vases, pipes on
the center tables, spittoons in the best bed
room, and frying pans in the library, fit
TED through the young lady's mind; but
before she could remonstrate Harry said:
SO be it! Hurrah for Bachelors Hall
Pack up your trunk, Susy"
"But, Harry"
"Glorious!' cried Charley; not pet
ticoat within the doors for a month"
"But"-again said poor Susy.
No fuses about Tobacco smoke in the
curtains, chimed in George
But, brother"
won't it be gay?"
"Gayl groaned the little housekeeper.
Lay in supply of cigars, George" sug-
gested Joe. When do you go, Miss
Susy?"
MONDAY Aunt James letter says
Monday" said Henry.
Monday, then. We will come, bag and
bdSSuge, nlOuudy ulOIAllHg
r ION an express stipulation that not
woman performs stroke of work for us
Tor month"
With many flourish, amidst the gayest
'jests, George wrote a solemn contract by
which they bound themselves to ask no
service Of any kind at womau's hand for
one month from the date of the following
Monday, June =, 1860, and all put their
signatures to the important document"
Susy, seeing that her brothers really
were in earnest, tried to think she was
glad to go, aud added her laughing direc-
tions to the scheme proposed, AT late
hour the conclave broke up, and Susy re-
tired with head full of plans, and heart
full of sore inisgivings.
Monday morning rose fair and clear.
Six o'clock saw Susy drive away from the
door in the carriage, the trunk strapped
q behind, the .lady's pretty travelling dress,
and the shawl of her cousin and cavalier,
all bespeaking a travel. Seven saw the
servant depart to spend month with her
mother in the country.
Nine o'clock witnessed the meeting of
the merry young bachelors.
;" Now then, said George, after the first
greetings were over, II, as the eldest host,
will take the charge to-day. AS Susy says,
when are you going down town."
b. L YndV6 nOlHlIB W bO-udy, so ii
stay to assist you" said Minnie.
"Thank your
v whats for dinnerg" said Joe, trying
10 look like the head of respectable
family, and failing most deplorably in the
attempt
{" You'll see at three O'clock"
as that the hour?"
eyes"
''Remember," said George, 81 wait for
no one. Punctuality is the soul of din
ner,' as somebody once said before men,
toned the fact.
Il Having seen the others off, George and
Minnie went into the library for smoke,
to prepare them for the herculean task be- |
fore them
See" said George, producing cook
book, 1--WE are safe" Jff.t
" Mrs. Hale that's a womanr cried
Minnie.
" Whew never once thought of that.
We will stick to the contract. My dear |
madam, am sorry to appear rude, but l |
must show you back to the book case"
"What's for dinnerg" said Minnie
81 Roast lamb, potatoes, green peas, as
paragus and straw berries"
Thatll do. Don't you have to shell
peas, or something"
Yes, that's easy enough"
sits awfully hot" said Minnie, after a
short silence ...-
Horridp
"Suppose we shell the peas up here, It's
cooler here than in the kitchen. l suppose
there's fire thero?"
=" OF course"
"I'll go bring them up"
JI"They're in basket on the table. just I
leave the rest of the things down there"
Shelling peas was rapid work, even for |
llnaccustomed fingers, but it is a matter OF