Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-06
a WORD Eftly spoken.

did not hinder him from going ons
much in the same strain
"Of course | don't know how she.
managed it, but / remember she used TO
talk about setting her sponge over night,
and then in the morning she was at
WAYS up as soon as the girl was, and the
dough was kneaded, and when 1t came out,
of the oven it was as white as the drly-
en- snow, and as sweet as honey"
Mrs. Penney's face was scarlet; II did
nv best, John" was just trembling on
her tongue, but this last elaborate de
scription Of the bread-making n1Od1ts OPP
erandi of his maternal parent, turned
the disappointment she had felt in not
pleasing her husband into gall and Bit
terness, and she answered, instead, in
hooking tone: ag
GAS white as the driven snow, and as
sweet as honeyl have seen it stated
somewhere that men are not given toex-
agperation. Such slight coloring,
though, suppose, is excusable when a
man is speaking of his mothers superb
ority over his wife. Hereafter, Mr.
Penney, if bakers bread does not suit
your appetite, the kitchen is at your dis,
posal to set your sponge, and knead ana
knead and have no doubt that when
YOU take your mess from the oven 1t VIII
be as white and as sweet as ever your
mothers was.
Just here Mrs. Penney arose, moved
the baby's high-chair away from the
table, and with the chubby year-old in
her arms, sought the privacy of her own
chamber.
Mr.. Penney followed.
"Theres no need of getting in huff,
Mary" he said, as he closed the door.
In this matter of continuation the gen.
tleman was swayed by two entirely OPP
posite and antagonistic motives. He did
not like to go to business with cloud
between him and his wife, and he did
want the last word. No doubt Mr..
Penney thought by having the last word
he could dissipate the shadows he had so
heedlessly eyoked-but of course he was
unsuccessful.
cit is my opinion, he proceeded, ''that
if YOU were to rise a little earlier, before
the dough had time to sour, you would
have just as good luck as mother had.
81 haven't slept three consecutive
hours for the last two months, with
this baby, John Penney, and that you
know as well as do; and yet you are
thoughtless enough to ask me to get up
in the morning when the cook does, IN
order that your a0hjm may be satisfied.
ga within, is it, to be careful of ones
stomach ? to prefer good bread to poor
Why, that bread you put before me this
morning wasn't fit for a-for "a" John
Penney hesitated moment, but finally
it came out-he really did say it, reader
flor hog to eat.
Mrs. Penney was on the point of say
ing something especially rasping, if not
actually insulting, but she was checked
by timid rap on the door, and the en-
trance of sad-faced, delicate woman,
who colored slightly as she noted the
embarrassment of her hostess.
81 found that / could spare you to-
day, Mrs. Penney" she explained. ''You
know / thought / should not be able to
sew for you until next week; but Mrs.
Smith was very i'll this morning, and
could not go on as she intended; so, if
you like, / will commence your work. "
Mr.. Penney withdrew with a single
good morning to the intruder. In one
sense he had come off conquerer; he had
had the last word after all, and that was
victory enough, Mary wouldn't try to
feed him with sour bread again, he was
very sure. Husbands should assert
themselves sometimes" he informed
himself, on the way to business. What
would become of them if they didn't !?
He had been married two years, and
housekeeping six months; while they
were boarding, everything was as
smooth as oil but they hadn't more
than become douiciIod IN their own
house before trouble commenced. The
baby was sick, and the mother com
planning. Then Mary had never been
instructed in domestic matters. She
could sew, and crochet and embroider {;
was very fond of reading understood
music; was considerable of an artist !;
a good deal of woman, and, with a
proper forbearance, and the exercise of
a decent amount of tact, would have
been the best wife in the world $50 she
thought. During the first days of court
ship, and the first few months of mar
ried life, she was tue subject OF unllmlt-
ed petting. Her will was her husbands
law; but, after the birth of the baby,
and the added responsibility OF house
keeping, everything changed. Mr.. Pen
ney did not, could not, take into con-
sideration that these cares had also made
a difference in her; that she was changed
also; she could not feel-wives never
can-that there was anything amiss with
her; that the cloud on her brow, and
the nervousness of her manner, Tadiated
a magnetism Enthusiastically repellant.
Had Mrs. Penney remained healthlly
sunny, bakers bread would undoubtedly
have satisfied Mr.. Penney. Deprived OF
I \. i J., 4
toned to, he turned, man-fashion, tc
finding fault with what, under Other
circumstances, he never would have con.
sidered for moment.
You are not well, this morning, Mrs.
Penney" said the kind voice of the
seamstress, as the lady nervously
brought out the material she wished
made up.
''No; am not very well, !" she replied,
apparently more to herself than to her
companion; but don't mind 80 much
about that mean / could bear ill
health very well-if | didn't have other
troubles"
The pale face of the dress-maker
lighted up wonderfully, as she met the
tired look of her companion.
"My dear Mrs. Penney" said she with
sudden inspiration, twill you allow me
to express my thought? Perhaps it may
be of service to you. have had very
hard life, and only by personal expert
ence have ever learned anything -ex-
perience of the richest, and yet most ag-
onizing description. lh
Il wish you would tell me something,
replied Mrs. Penney, with a culver of
the sensitive lip. Il am doing the best
can, and yet, Mrs. Harris i am failing
utterly in accomplishing that which is
dearest to my heart-the happiness of
my husband, and the comfort of my
home"
"You think you are doing the best
you can, continued the seamstress here
you are mistaken"
"But, Mrs. Harris, interrupted the
lady, with an offended air
"Wait one moment, and / will explain
and prove the truth ofmy statement by
your own words. You acknowledged, a
moment ago, that you were not well,
but that this fret was of small import
ance compared with other things Now,