The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-03-06
TURNING THE TABLES

-:
Breakfast had just been cleared
away, and the little sitting-rooIn wal
bright and cheerful in the yellow
flood of the April sunshine, There
! were pots OF purple blossolned violets
i'll the window-seat, and blue-rib
boned guitar lying ON the sofa, anc
| books piled on the table, and close by
! the fire Mrs. HaYen had seated herself
at her desk to write some letters.
She was trim, compact little wo-
man. with bright, brown hair, and
eyes to match, and resolute mouth
tnat somehow carried out the expires.
sion of nose that our French neigh
bors phrase retrousse." Mary Ha-
ven had a character that you might
| see at distance.
AS she sat there selecting her pen
and unscrewing the silver top of her
| inkstand, the door opened very softly
and round tull-moon face appeared.
Mrs. Haven, mem, if you please
"Yes," said Mary Haven. deserving
at once by the infallible barometer of
woman's ear the rising thunder
storm in the domestic atmosphere be-
low. "What is it, cook ?"
It's not that you are not a kind
mistress. men," said the cook, twist
ing the hem of her checked apron,
.s and the wages is good, not to say
company allowed once a week, and
Sunday evenings always ours; but
there are some things flesh and blood
can't stand, no more they can't mem !;
and l hain't no patience with such
doin's, and if you please suit yourself
mem, it's months warnin'-"
Why, cook, what's the matterw
sSome can abide meddlin' with,
mem, and some can't; and if the bar
rel of mackerel sets on the wrong
corner, and the sugar boxes aint kept
covered proper,its the mistress should
tell me of it, not the master; and if
Mr.. Haven wants to be cook, mem,
well and good; but 1 won't stay in
the same kitchen II
And The cook flounced out, mall
treating her apron, having her say"
Mrs. Haven flushed scarlet. She
rose aud went down stairs to the cell
lar, where her husband, minus his
coat. was endeavoring to move huge
washing machine.
"You see, Briget," he called out,
.'this is the worst possible place the
thing could stand in, and-why, Mary
is il vou?"
"Yes, it is l." said Mrs. Haven. 81
thought you had gone TO your office,
Henry ?"
"Pm going presently" said Mr. Ha-
ven. s'But you see, Mary, everything
down here is by skies and sevens. 1t
is well l come down here occasionally
Cook has no more economy than a
wild savage, and Bridget puts every
thing where it shouldn't be. My dear
have you looked over the grocer's bill
for month Z"
"No, haven't" said Mrs. Haven.
"Well, it's quite alarming. There
must be leak somewhere; and that
reminds mc--the molasses keg is drip
ping at the rate of half pint day."
81 will see to it," she said.
"But you don't see TO it, my dear !.
found box of stale eggs on the top
shelf-eggs. my dear. that are COM
pletely wasted. when eggs are five
cents apiece!"
Mrs. Haven turned and went up
stairs again, with round red spot
glowing on either cheek, signal pen
mons of the disturbance within. She
was not faultless angel, any more
than other women are, and she was
very much out of temper, and she
walked up and down the room with
her hands behind her, and her brown
eyes glittering with an ominous spar
kle.
"Mary, have you seen my memo
randum book ?" asked her husband,
pulling on his gloves.
mo, ] have't." answered Mary
shortly. .Probably you will find it
on the pantry shelf, or under Bridget's
machine"
"Now, puss. you are out of temper,
said. Mr.. Haven good humoredly," "and
how very unreasonable that is of you."
Henry" said Mrs. Haven, laying
one hand appealingly on his shoulder,
and looking up into his face, .'you
don't know how it mortifies and an-
noys me TO have you interfere in my
domestic affairs"
"Aren't we frm-Henry Haven
s. Wife" he asked coolly, . and are
not our interests identical %
Eyes; but Henry Haven has his
department, and his wife ought to
have hers"
''Thats all nonsense, my love"
Henry, you will oblige me by
leaving these domestic concerns 10
my management !"
al would do much to oblige you,
my dear Mary, but shall not concede
that point" he said, as he took his de-
parture, leaving Mary Haven very in
dignant and very meditative.
Bridget's voice broke with Celtic
accents upon her reverie.
Please, ma'am, found this little
black book behind the -four barrel.
"Thank you Bridget, 1t is Mr.. Ha-
ven's.'
She glanced mechanically at its
pages as Bridget disappeared. The
column devoted 10 that day was full
of closely written memoranda:
" See Kartwyn 81 Dalcey about the
house in Twelfth street; do not let
them haye it for 81 200. Call at Nc
allisters and order the green oil cloth
instead OF the buff one for the Office
floor. Tell Martin to proceed direct
ly in the suit of Russell VS.. Russell,
IL