Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-09
Managing a Man.

best and dearest little girl in Massachusetts,
and when Tom Carter fell head over heels
in love with her, nobody blamed him in the
least. And when the parson gave his bless
ing, and they went to housekeeping in
cosy little house on the south side Of the
town, everybody prophesied all sorts Of
happiness for the pretty bride.
And, truth to tell, Nellie Carter was
very happy. It isa pleasant thing to go
into Housekeeping for the first time with
everything new and shiny and if you have
somebody you love very much for COM
pauou, it is still pleasanter. Now Nellie
did love that great, big, blundering 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 was the most careless fel.
low alive.
lie kept his person neat and nicc-but
he kept his personal belongings anything
else Tom would persist in tossing his slip
pers under the paror sofa to have them
handy. 10 vain did she gently suggest
that the rack in the hall was the place for
his hat and overcoat. Tom would fling his
coat wet or dry, on her pretty, smoothly
made bed, and drop his hat anywhere.
In vain did tidy Nellie make place for
everything, for Tom invariably tossed every.
thing downiu some other place. Now little
Mrs. Nollie was only human, and Toms
sloveDy ways annoyed her exceedingly.
She was resolved not to SPOIL the peace of
their cosy 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
left for his office, she went into the parlor,
and there lay Toms heavy shawl right
across the table, ruthlessly crushing beneath
it the pretty triaes which lay upon the
marble top.
Now | can't stand this aud | WON'T"
said Nellie, as she carefully raised the
shawl from the delicate treasures, and dis
covered the remains Of favorite Bohemian
vase
Il dout know what to do, this / won't
havel she continued with bit of wifely
snap which every good wife must have if
she expects to get on at all with that oc-
casionally unreasonable ANIMAL man.
Some way must and shall be discovered
to cure Tom of such performances as this !"
Wthb Ou WIS. ANtiilty Us sue TtuuONtu tut
ruins of her vase, and all the morning she
went about the house with scarlet lips COM
pressed and little fash in her brown eyes,
which argued well for Master Toms do
nestle subjugation
Woman's wit, having a will, seldom fails
to find a way. And when determined lit
tie woman says must" and SHALL" mas
culine insubordination might as well sur
render 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
by her side.
But she meant to give him one moro
trial. So after breakfast, when Tom drew
on his boots and gave his slippers their usu.
al toss under the sofa, she gently said,
" Tom, dear, hadn't you better Put your
slippers in the passage or in the bedroom2"
t q No let 'em alone they'll be handy
tonight" said Tom.
+" But, Tom, dear, they look SO untidy."
Why, no they don't. A thing looks
as well 10 one place as in another. What's
the use Of mau's having home if he
can't keep things where he wants to ?"
/ said rebellious Tom.
c "What's the use Of keeping a wife and
servant on their feet all day to pick up
$ things after you 7" asked Nellie, without
the least show of temper.
d Don't pick en- up at all. Just let 'em
q alone, aud then | can find em," declared
= Master Tom, as he gave her kiss and
took himself off.
. "War it is, then Now, Master Tom,
, we shall see who wins the field"
: She sat quietly about the usual work Of
/ a mistress of house where only one ser.
want is kept; and when Tom came home
to lunch everything was in its usual nice
r order. 1t remained so, and Nellie busted
8 herself with her ueedle-work until nearly
: time for Tom to return for dinner. Then
5 she rose, put away work, and prepared, as
r she said to herself to "open the campaign"
: First she put Toms slippers where he
d always left them, under the sofa Then
she tossed his shawl upon the piano, and
r fung his best hat on the table Then she
n flung some Of her dresses across the chairs
' aud on the sofa. Her .urs reposed in Toms
!. own especial arm chair, and her best bon
e net kept Toms slippers company under the
f sofa, while her own slippers lay upon the
q cheffonier. And tten thinking that femi-
nine ingenuity could make no greater sac
D rifce than her Sunday bonnet, she took a
piece of crochet work aud then came into
[ the room.
/ "llaven't been putting things to rights,
Nellie r. he asked.
D ''No, no. Why" said Nellie, looking up
in sweet unconsciousuess.
at thnnyht m uha Won ha1 haa, thot'a
a ALL" remarked Tom, dryly, as be looked for
f place to sit down.
Nellie quietly pursued her work.
;. Presently Tom said, Paper come this
+. EVENING""
r mot yet" answered Nellie.
4 Tom gave half sigh.
/. "Nellie, | met Granger Just now, and he
said he would call round this evening"
I Very we'll Probably he won't come
I before dinner. 1t will be ready soop,"
Q said Nellie, working away in a demure in
nocence.
G "iladn't you better put things a little to
f rights before he cones?" said Tom, glancing
f uneasly around the room.
+ "Oh, no. Jast let 'em lie," answered
Nellie sweetly.
j "Dut tney look 80 Uuui bolu ioW.
I "Oh, no, they DON'T" said Nellie as
sweetly as before. "A thing looks as well
in one place as in another"
al never saw your room look like this
' before" ho said hesitatingy. should
/ not like to have any one step in"
"Why not 7" said Nellie. 1--WE might as
b well keep things handy. What's the use
OF having house if you can't keep things
. where you want to ?"
Q Toms face got redder. He tried to look
A serious, and then broke into laugh.
5 Oh, that's your game, is it ?" he said.
/ Trying to beat me with my own weapons,
4 are you, little woman 2"
a swell, don't you like that plan?" said
+. Nellie demurely.
/, No, | declare don't" said Tom.
D "Well, then, I'll make bargain with
! you. AZ long as you will keep your things
in their places, I'll do the same with minc
/ and whenever you don't"