Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-11-29
HETrY HENDERsoN's ERA
BY RosELLA RICE.

Two neighbors, Mrs. Ray and Mrs.
Carter, we're taking tea with Hetty
that afternoon. Now Hetty, though
in the main a kind, prudent, good
woman, treasure of n wife and moth
er, had one bad fault, she was SLOW
en-.
WHY, sometimes her hair would not
be combed for two days mt a time,
and as to wearing q collar, while
about her work, she never thought of
such a thing! Sometimes only her
toes would be thrust into her run
down, Tapping slippers, and if she
tore her dress she always pinned up
the rent and let it go.
Now every tidy woman knows this
is bad state of things if there's
a hole in her dress no bigger than a
gimlet hole, and she passes a barrel,
or a box, n loose end of a hoop, or
Jagged nail sticking cut, will be sure
to catch in that hole and tear it worse.
That thing is conceded to be Il GER
tainty-no sane woman doubts that.
Hettv's tea-table looked tempting.
She occupied the pos. of honor at one
end.
Her face was flushed from the
cooking-stove, and the rosy glow
would have been exceedingly becom-
ing If her hair had been smooth, and
her dress freshly clean, but the dress
did not fit we'll IN the waist, and she
had no collar on, and her hair hung
in little tagged, sneaking slips about
her ears and on her neck. Poor Het-
ty her punishment was near.
Tea was over, but they still sat at
the table conversing,
"Yes-yes, think it was the win
ter that young Wiltsee, from st. Al
bans, taught our school" said Mrs.
Ray.
Chow pleasant the memories of that
winter" said Mrs. Carter; ''hardly n
day passes in which do not think of
the good times we enjoyed togeth-
er."
GLOW much older are you, Hetty,
than Mrs. Ray 2" said Mr.. Henderson,
looking first at one and then the
other.
colder! why, husband! Tn five
wears younger, and three years
younger than Susie Carter" said the
poor wife, blushing.
"Why, Hetty Henderson! L should
have thought from yogr appearance
| that you were almost old enough to
be their mother. step-mOther, at
least" said her astonisheu husband,
smiling and looking at the smooth,
placid faces and neat appearance of
the visitors, and then at the rumpled,
creased head and face of poor Hetty.
No wonder; she sat there stopped
over, her ill-fitting waist hanging
loosely about her, making her back
seem as broad as her husbands.
The untimely woFds only made heI
face flush still redder yet.
She felt as if she had been stabbed
: by the hand of a friend.
"Y our wife works too hard, and i,
too loving and careful a mother" saiC
Mrs. Ray, apologetically, although
Hetty fancied that she smirked n lit
tie, and relished the compliment s.
freely and honestly given.
"Now l never fuss much over III.
children. l try to save myself" anI
she laughed, and her eyes sparkled
and she really did look winsOme ant
pretiy-that woman of thirty-thre
: years.
On their way home the two visit
ors talked of the painful affair.
alt was Just good enough for her,
said Mrs. Ray; mo woman has an,
right to 60 looking like a Scare-crow
! If went that way I'd hear from Ray
and in no very measured terms eth
er. He has no patience with a sloven
ly woman; he thinks all women ar
pretty if they have mind to be so.
, almost old enough 10 be on
mother; well, she's n tip-top cooE
any how" said Mrs. Carter; Il lik
l. her good meals, and 1 know she
cleanly about her work. She don
seem to care much for herself, onl
. for the comfort and happiness {
' Henderson and the young 'uns. Nov
if I were in her place that fellow
hear from me tonight, praising othe
women and comparing and measarin
her beside them in way that is II
!, compliment to her.
"Oh, she'll never think any MOI
about it; and if she does, it Will d
her good itll be a good lesson fC
her." was the answer, and the tw
women parted at the big gate in IL
edge of the wood-lot, each one fee