The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-02-09
A WOmaN's Stratage N.

"Mary your corn bread is never
done [ wonder what is the reason
everybody else has things right and We
have always have things wrong!'
'"Why, Joe, I'm sure the corn bread
has never been in this state before! You
see the fire had a fit, and couldn't be
made to burn this morning"
go, yes! you are always ready with
an excuse. Now. there is Mrs. Smith;
her stove never has fits. And she al.
ways has the lightest, sweetest bread
and the incest cakes and preserves. I
wish you'd pattern by her,
"Well, l am sure, Joe, I do my best,
and think succeed oftener than
fail. I wish l could suit you always;
but that, L suppose, could hardly be
expected" and Mary gave a weary
sigh.
Mary Starr had been married about
a year, during which time she had
found housekeeping rather up hill work.
She was a neat little body, and consci-
entiously 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. Per-
haps, 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 her
self on any occasion if he could help
it,
Mary was an amiable wife, FORUM
ately, and not easily irritated, though
to tell the truth, there were times when
her forhearance was sorely tried. For
instance, whenever she and Joe took
tea out or went to party, or even to
to church, he seldom allowed an oppor-
tunity to pass unembraced to animad-
vert On some deficiency in cookery, or
manners, or dress. Oh the part of his
wife; and that pro bono publico. For
instance it would be:
"Mrs. Jones, what splendid sponge
cake you make! Mary, take notice
notice how light this cake is. l Won
der why you can have it so puffy!' Or,
"Nlrs. Brown, you certainly are
an adept at entertaining compa-
ny. l wish Mary, that you would try
to steal Mrs. Browns art" Or, Mrs.
Green, your dress is always most be-
coming. Your taste is exquisite. l
don't see why it is, Mary, that with all
| spend for you, you never can reach
the je ne sais quoi' Of Mrs. Green.
On these occasions Mary would blush
and bite her lips, and be inwardly an
noyed, but she was woman Of too
much pride and good sense to make a
display Of her modification or cha grin !;
and she Was really too good and chris
tan person t. let it change her feel
ing towards 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 cur
able, she bcthought herself how she
should proceed in order to break him of
his disagreeable habit. ..-a.
Fortune favored her. One day, a
lady, one Of her most valued friends
and best neighbors, called to invite Joe
and Mary to tea party at her house.
''It will be a small affair." said she,
''but very pleasant, I think. You are
only wanted to make the circle of har-
mony complete
"Well,' said Mary, II will come,
Mrs. Vane, on one condition.
Condition. Is it come to this that
you 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, | hope you don't mean to in.
sinuatc l am getting poor?"
"No, Hattie; thank fortune, she ha,
showered her favors on you literally
But l have notion for this, which, i