Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-14
q sunsbinv little lady, whose dimpled

Wlfeno0Q, IrOH1 Iueuce SAlueu III
motherhood, the dimples did M
show themselves as often, and th
pretty roses paled and paled on th
round cheek, until they bid fair t
leaveit altogether. People began t
y saw How much Mrs. Prettiman ha
changed since her marriage. I d
wonder if Mr.. Prettiman is such
nice man at home as he seems in sc
ciety."
Let us see him at home and fin
out. Mrs. Prettiman comes down t
breakfast with rather a troubled
brow; the spring campaign is befor
her. The house and premises gener
ally need to be cleaned and put i
order; the children and herself nee,
numerous additions to their ward
robes. Mrs. Prettiman sighs.
i"If one could only do withou
clothing; or if things wouldn't wea
out. so, howsdelghtful it would BE-,
4 she soliloquizes.
She finds Mr.. Prettiman engaged
in his newspaper. (Mem. Hus
bands that grumble are usually news
paperSdevotees.)
i Breakfast is ready, father; you'c
better come now while everything il
nice and hot" remarks Mrs. Pretti
man, in conciliatory accents.
Better come now. Yes, yes, il
may suit you; but I'm busy reading.
You can read afterward-can'
you?"
ooh needn't read at all. Guess
| if you had such a family to support
as 1 have, you'd find out how neces
sary it is to read the newspaper the
first thing. Must know what's going
on in the business world"
(Mem. The gentleman at this mo-
ment is deeply engaged in perusine
the details Of a wedding in high life,
Mrs. Prettiman, without further
comment, sits down to the table, and
proceeds to breakfast with only Bessie
and May, two bright-eyed little dar,
lings, to keep her company.
Mr.. Prettiman, who always revels
in being as late at meals as possible,
finally lays down bis paper and takes
his place.
"Of course, they've eaten every
thing up by this time j. is his first
comment. The appearance of the ia
Bile confuting this assertion, he I'M
graciously adds, "They have left
Something for WONDER - and then
proceeds to find fault in every con-
ceivable direction. The table is half
SET" because some one article fails to
be Just at hand. Bessie and May are
the most wasteful of children, be-
cause they have failed to dispose of a
bit of bread-and-b butter lying on their
plates-andtso on.
Mrs. Prettiman observes, as she
drops lump of sugar in the gentle
man S cup.
"oh ! this puts me in mind, dear,
we're out of sugar"
Mr.. Prettiman affects to be thrown
into perfect paroxysm of wrath and
dismay.
1.-The sugar all gone! Impossible
there must be mistake 1t must
have been stolen or given away" He
would be brought to "beggary and
ruin" if things went on at this rate.
"Of course, he couldn't be at home
to look after things" If he only
had somebody that would go into
the kitchen once and awhile,
This is all very pleasing to wife's
ears, certainly; especially one who
tries to do her duty, and who is con-
scientiously careful of everything
committed to her charge.
Mrs. Prettiman, with troubled brow,
suggests, they have had considerable
company lately" and that cake and
desserts run of with sugar very
fast
"Ah! whose fault is that p retorts
the grumbler. "I didn't invite any,
BODY. Of course, you will have peo-
pie here to put me to expense. Il
never expect to be the gamer by it. ;"
But you wouldn't live a hermit's
life ?" returns the little lady, begin
ming to show signs of fire; for she
had been brought up to consider
hospitality one of the duties of
living. IA person had better
he out of the world than in it, if
they are to do without society. Be-
sides, Mr.. Prettiman, I can't be put
off any longer. The house and premi-
ses must be set in order; and the
children. and myself provided with
spring clothing"
This is the signal for a grand out
burst from pater fan'ilas: Where
is the the money to come from for all
these expenses 2" Does she expect to
get " blood out Of stone p
"But what's she to do ?"questions
the little woman, in despair.
"Why, do without, Of course" the
same as he does.
Regarding this argument as a
clincher, Mr.. Prettiman returns to
his newspaper, Mrs. Prettiman cries
quietly bit; then, wiping her eyes
resolutely, kisses the children, and
declares in an undertone, "I will
have the decencies Of life, at all
events,
The consequence is, that Mr.. Pret-
timan credit being good-he always
paying his bills after terrible grum-
ble-Mrs. Prettiman obtains the need
ed supplies, as is apt tc be the case,
at disadvantage and until the bills
are presented, has the Damocles feel
ing of sword suspended over her
head-for she knows the result.
Mr.. Prettiman, at first sternly and
savagely, ignores the remotest inten-
tion Of ever paying the bill the ar
ticles were not bought for him." he
"knew nothing aboutit. : ETC., etc. T; at
last winds up by producing his re-
ceipt-book, settles with the trades
people, and congratulates himself