The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-11-18
- Word Fifty Spoken.

| This was most unfortunate remark
aud Mr.. Penney was conscious oft as soor
as the words we're out; but this did no
hinder him from going on, much in th'
tho same strain:
OF course | don't know how she man
aged it, out | remember she used to tall
about setting her sponge over night, ant
then in the morning she was always up a
soon as the girl was, aud the dough wa
kneaded, and when it came out of thC
oven it was as white as the driven suow
and as sweet as honey
Mrs. Penney's face was scarlet; Il did
my best, john was just trembling on hei
tongue, but this last elaborate description
Of the bread-making modus operandi o.
his maternal parent. turned the disap
pointment she had felt in not pleasing bel
husband into gall and bitterness, and she
answered, instead in mocking tone :
AS white as the driven snow, aud as
sweet as honey / have seen it stated
somewhere that men are not given to ex.
aggeration. Such slight coloring, though
| suppose, is excusabe when a man is
speaking of his mothers superiority over
his wife. Hereafter, Mr.. Penney, if bak.
er's bread does not suit your appetite, the
kitchen is at your disposal to set your
sponge, and knead and | have no doubt
that when you.take your mess from the
oven it will be as white and as sweet as
ever your mo,hpr's vas'
Just here Mrs. Penney arose moved
the baby's high.chair away from the ta-
bio, and with the chubby year.old in her
arms, sought the privacy Of her own
chamber. Mr.. Penney followed.
There's no need Of getting iu hutl
Mary he said, as he closed the door. La
this matter of continuation the gentleman
was swayed by two entirely opposite and
antagonistic motives. He did not like tc
60 to business with a cloud between him
and his wife, and bo did want the las,
word. No doubt Mr.. Penney thought by
having the last word he could dissipate
the shadows he had SO heedlessly evoked
but of course be was unsuccessful.
1t is my opinion he proceeded, that
if you were to rise little earlier, before
the dough had time to sour, you would
have just as good luck as mother had
Il haven't slept three consecutive hour
for the last two months, with this baby
John Penney, and that you know as wei
as | DO; ; and yet you are thoughtless en-
ough to ask me to get up in the morning
when the cook does, in order that you
,ohim may be satisfied
"A within, is it, to be careful Of one
stomach to prefer good bread to poor
Why, that bread you put before me thi
morning wasn't fit for the a-for a
John Penney hesitated a moment, bu
finally it came out-he really did say it
reader-'for a hog to eat
Mrs. Penney was on the point of say
ing something especially raspiug, if no
actually insulting, but she was checked
by timid rap on the door, and the en-
trance of a sad.iaced, delicate woman.wh
coored slightly as she noted the embar
rassment of her hostess.
Il found that l could spare you to-day
Mrs. Penney she explained. You kno'
| thought should rot oe able 10 sew 70
you until next week but Mrs. Smith wa
very i'll this morning, and could not 20 o
as she Intended so if you like | will com
mence your work.
Mr.. Penney withdrew with singl
good morning to the intruder. In on
sense he had come off conqueror he ha
had the last word, after all, and that wa
victory enough. Mary wouldn't try I
feed him with sour bread again, he wa
very sure. Husbands should assert then
selves somo times he informed himsel
on the way to business. What would be
come of them if they didn't? He ha
been married two years, and house.keeI
ing six months while they was boardin
everything was as smooth as oil but the
hadn't more than become dominciled
their own house before trouble commen
ed. The baby was sick. and the moth'
complaining. Then Mary never ha
been instructed in domestic matters. ST
could sew. and crochet and embroider
was very fond Of reading understood m,
sic was considerable of an artist got
deal of woman, and with a proper 70
bearance. and the exercise Of dece
amount Of tact. would have been the be
wife in the world $50 she thought, Du
ing the days of courtship, and the fir
few months OF married life, she was Il
subject of unlimited petting. Her W
was her husbands law but after the bir
of the baby, and the added responsible
of housekeeping, everything change
Mr.. Penney did not, could not, take in