Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-30
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

pound of tea used, he kept an account Of
not that be was stingy, but he believed in
saving in every way, whether il interfered
with comfort or not; and it nearly drove
bis meek wife crazy to see him, nearly
every morning, come into the kitchen and
tell her not TO use too much wood-she
might as well cook with little as so much.
On this particular morning he came down
stairs as the clock was striking seven, and
pleasant sight met his eyes as he opened
the dining room door. On the well-laden
table, with its covering Of snowy damask,
and peat, shining silverware, were hot rolls,
light bread, golden butter, nice hot beef
steak and eggs, and plate of crispy brown
potatoes. He nodded approval at bis wife,
who had been working over the hot stove,
nearly an hour, to prepare breakfast that
he would be satisfied with.
"These rolls are heavy, Maggie; I do
wish you could make them ike mother
used tor said Mr.. Ward, as he broke up9n
a snowy roll that happened to be hardly
done. .r...t
"Are they not done? am sorry; but l
was so busy broiling the meat that did not
watch them close enough" was her reply.
"But you ought to notice everything ;
and here, this beafsteak is not half cooked.
| believe | could do better than that my.
SELF" were the next impatient words.
81 wish to gracious you would, and then
perhaps you would be suitedi' was the hasty
reply. -
"Well, don't get angry about it but
really, Maggie, you use good deal Of sugar.
Here | bought a lot of it last week, and
now it is nearly gone. 1 don't see where
it goes to-" said Mr.. Ward again. This
time there was no reply, and looking
around he found, to his amusement, that
he was talking 20 the chairs, for Mrs. Ward,
tired beyond endurance, bad field up stairs
to indulge in that luxury for women, a
good cry. .-......
"Really, she acts very singulsrly. /
wonder what / said to make her go off iu
that way?" he said to himself in surprise;
and, rising, he went down stairs. She
was not there; then up stairs, where he
found Mrs. Ward lying on the be-, asleep,
or pretending to be. "Why, here she's
as eep sgain, and not out of bed two hours
yet !" he said, more to himself than TO her,
as he stopped and kissed her cheek, which
was hot and feverish.
81 hope she is not going to be SICK" he
thought, as he went down stairs. He then
brushed his hat, put on his overcoat, and
started off to his business, not expecting to
be home until dinner time.
No sooner had he gone than Mrs. Ward
rose, saying TO herself, .NoW this has got
to be stopped. can't and won't stand
this everlasting fault finding. If John
Ward Or any other man thinks be can do
better than do at housekeeping, let him
try, and / think it will be a good lesson to
him to mind his own business and let me
attend to mine. have plan now to cure
him, if anything will"
What it was may be found In the sequel
John Ward came home ct twelve, expect
ing to find good warm dinner ready, and
a meek wife TO wait upon him. Instead,
what d sight met bis astonished eyes, as he
opened the door. The breakfast dishes
were standing just as be had left them in
the morning, only the cat had upset the
milk, and it had soaked into the carpet
| TIE stove was cold, and, worse than all,
where was bis wife? He rushed up stairs
two steps at time, at the risk Of breaking
bis neck, and there, lying on the bed. was
Mrs. Ward.
"Why, what's the matter, Maggie? Why
is not dinner ready? Are you sick?' be
asked.
zone question at time, if you please,
John. l don't feel very well, and as you
! said this morning you could do better than
l at housekeeping, thought it would bt
a good chance for me to rest" she said, very
sweetly.
Thunder! o, of course, if you are
sick, l can get along finely; and as have
nothing special to do at the Office this after
noon, will clean up the house and let you
rest" he said, trying to look as if be were
pleased, when in fact be was quite the re
verse.
He then went down stairs, leaving Mrs
| Ward with her face buried in the pillows
whether laughing or crying he did not ex
actly know.
First he commenced at the dishes.
Instead of taking the n TO the sink, IS he
had seen his wife do dozens of times, be
made preparation to wash them on Tx
table. BY. the time he had them gathered
up be found there was no warm water
Secretly blaming his stupidity, he soon haC
a hot fire, thinking to himself it took 8
good deal of wood for him to heat water as
well IS when bis wife was cooking. H
soon had the dishes all washed; and, with
the exception of cracking four tumolers by
! pouring boiling water over them, and max
| ing the carpet and himself soaking we
with water, he did pretty well. Then
chuckling to himself that he knew house
work was easy, be went down cellar to gel
pan of milk. He brought it up stairs
laid it on the table, and went down the
second time for the m.at, which his wife
always kept in the cool cellar.
Hearing a noise overhead, as of some
thing falling, be hurried up into the kitchen,
with the meat in one hand and a pan o.
| -four i'll the other.
There is tie pan of milk, bottom side
| up, on the floor, and the milk streaming II
all directions, while The cat, who had done
the mischief, was sitting under the stove
licking her paws as if she was very vel
satisfied with what she had done.
Mo- long, however, did puss rest; for Mr.
Ward, putting the meat on low shelf By
the stove, and the pan Of -four on the TOP
of the stove, which was nearly red hot
took the broom and threw it at her; thai
was followed by the boot-jack, and at last
Mr., Ward chased her out of the front door
Then, thinking of the meat and -four, HI
rushed Into the kitchen by one door as ,
large, lean dog rushed out of the other
with that cherished piece of meat 10 hi
mouth. John Ward chased that dog dowL
to the gate without getting near him; then
returning, he smelt something burning.
In an instant he thought of the pan o
-four he had left on the top of the stove.
"Confound it, The stove must have beef
hot" he muttered.
Well, no need to describe that -four. L
only took him half an hour to see that b.
could not get that pan ia a presentabl,
state again. He then threw it over tn
fence, devoutly hoping bis wife would no
= find it, and gave him lecture about vast
ing so much -four, and spelling pan. Hi
words to his wife that morning still rang il
his ears: "You ought to notice everything
l could do better ct housekeeping myself
Somehow it did not seem so easy as b
, had thought and now he began to fee
, hungry, not having had a bite to eat sine
breakfast.
He went to the cupboard and looked 70
the rolls and bread. They were gone, an
| the closet looked emDtV