The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-01-24
Managing a Man.


Nellie Davis was the prettiest, sweet
est, best and dearest little girl i'm Hills
burg, and when Tom Carter fell head
over-heels in love with her, nobody
blamed him in the least.
And when the parsOn gave consent,
and they went to housekeeping IN a
coy, bird-nest OF little house, on the
south side of the town, everybody proph-
esied all sorts of happiness for the pretty .
bride.
And, truth to tell, Nellie Carter was
very happy. It is a very pleasant thing [
TO 20 to housekeeping for the first time,
with everything spick-and-span, new !
and shiny, and if you have some one
YOU love very much for a companion, 1t
is still pleasanter.
Now, Nellie did love that great, tlun-
dering Tom Carter with all her might
and main, and there was only one thing
to disturb her perfect peace. She was
the very pink Of tidiness, and Tom the
most careless fellow alive.
He kept his person neat and niee-but
he kept his personal belongings any
thing else. In vain did Nellie braid a
handsome merinO case, and tack it in
side the closed door for Tom to put his .
slippers in-Tom would persist in toss .
ing his slippers under the parlor sofa, /
"tO have 'em handy.n In vain did she |
gently suggest that the rack in the hall
was the place for his hat and overcoat.
Tom would fling his overcoat, wet or
dry, on her pretty, smoothly made bed,
and drop his hat anywhere.
In vain did Nellie make place for
everything, for Tom invariably tossed
everything down in some other place.
Now little Mrs. Nellie was only human,
and Toms slovenly ways annoyed her
Va no IN
spoil the peace of their coy home by
scolding, but how to cure him she could
not tell.
She bore with him with the patience
of an angel, until one morning, after he
had gone up town, she went into the
parlor, broom in hand, and there lay
Toms heavy shawl right across the
center-table, ruthlessly crushing be-
meath it the pretty trifles which lay
upon the marble top.
"Now, I can't stand this, and ]
won'tr' said Nellie, rs she carefully
raised the shawl from the delicate treas
ures, and discovered the ruin of a favor
ite Bohemian vase.
81 don't know what TO do, but this
won't haven' she continued, with the
little bit Of wifely snap which every
good wife must have, if she expects to
get along at all with that occasionally
Unreasonable animal, man.
"Some way must and shall be discOv-
cred to cure Tom of such performances
as thisni went on Mrs. Nellie, as she re-
moved the ruins of her vase, and all the
morning she went around at her work
with scarlet lips closely compressed and
a little flash in her brown eyes, which
argued well for Mr.. Toms domestic sub
jugation.
WOman's wit, having will, seldom
fails to find 4 way. And when deter
mined little woman says "must' and
''shall," masculine insubordination
might as well surrender at once.
Before Mrs. Nellie closed her bright
eyes that night she had arranged her
plans for the campaign against her liege
lord, who slept the sleep of the innocent
at lrer side.
But she meant to give him one more
chance So, after breakfast, when Tom
drew on his boots and gave his slippers
their usual toss under the sofa, she
gently said:
''Tom, dear, hadn't you better put
your slippers in the case ,"
mo; let EN- alone, so they'll be handy
tonight"
,'But, Tom, dear, they look so un-
tidy"
"Why, no they don't. A thing looks
the use OF mans having home II he
can't keep things where he wants to ?"
said rebellious Tom.
WHATS the use Of keeping \ woman
on her feet all day TO pick up things af-
ter you?" asked Nellie, without the least
show Of temper.
"DOn't pick 'em up Just let 'em
alone, and then l can find 'em when |
want 'em,n declared Mr.. Tom, as he
l.. 4 4 4. ~
And the moment the door closed on
him, Nellie's red lips compressed again,
and her brown eyes wore the same look
they had worn yesterday.
"War il is, then ~ she said to herself
"Now, Master Tom, we shall see who
wins the fieldr'
She set quietly about her mornings
work, and when Tom came home "a
dinner, everything was in its usual good
order Ii remained so, and Nellie busted
herself with her sewing until nearly
time for Tom to return TO supper.
Then she arose and put away heT
work. and prepared, as she said TO her
sell, ITO open the campaign"
First She put Toms slippers where he
Always left them, under the sofa. Then
she Tossed his shawl upon the piano,
anu ms best hat on the center-table.
she brought some Of her dresses and
hung them across the chairs and on the
sofa. Her furs and sac0ue renosad in
Toms especial arm-cnair and her best
bonnet kept Toms slippers comnanv
under the sofa, while her own sIipners
lay on the mantle. fS4S
And then, thinking that feminine in
gently could make no greater sacrifice
than her Sunday bonnet, she took 4
piece of crochet work and sat down
Presently the door opened. and IN
walked Master Tom. He gave a low
whistle of surprise as he glanced at the
unusual disorder, and at Nellie sittinf
calmly in the midst with her work, an5
then came into the room.
"Honse-cleaning, Nellie?n he asked
"Oh, no. Why ?n said Nellie, look
ing up in sweet Inconsistencies.
II thought maybe you had been