Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-16
Managing a Man.

him in the least
And when the old parsOn gave con
sent, and they went to housekeeping in
a cosy bird-nest of little house on the
south side of the town, everybody pro.
phesied all sorts of happiness for the
pretty bride.
And, truth to tell, Nellie Carter was
very happy.
1t is a very pretty thing to go toulouse
keeping for the first time, with every
thing speck-and-span new and shiny, and
if you have some one you love very much
for a companion, it is still pleasanter.
Now Nellie did love that great blub-
bering Tom Carter with all her might
and main, and there was only one thing
to disturb her peace She was the very
pink of tidiness, and Tom the most care
less fellow alive.
He kept his person neat and nice-but
he kept his personal belongings anything
else In vain did Nellie braid a hand
some merino case, and tack it inside the
closet door for Tom to put his slippers
in-TOm would persist in tossing them
under the parlor sofa, ''to have em
handy" In vain did she gently suggest
that the rack in the hall was the place
for his hat and overcoat; wet or dry,
he would lay his overC oat on her pretty,
smoothly made, bed, and drop his hat
anywhere.
In vain did Nellie make place for
everything, for Tom invariably tossed
everything in some other place. Now
little Mrs. Nellie was only human, and
Toms slovenly ways annoyed her eX-
ceedingly. She 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, till one morning he had gone
up town, and she went into the parlor,
broom in hand, and there lay Toms big
shawl right across the center-tabe. ruth
lessly crushing beneath it the tritles that
lay on the marble top.
.'Now / can't have this. and | wont :"
said she, as she raised the shawl from
the delicate treasure, and discovered the
ruins of a favorite vase.
Il don't know what to do, hut this
won't have" she continued with a little
bit Of wifely snap, which every good
wife must have if she expects to get
along at all with that occasionally un-
reasonable animal, a man.
'Some way must be discovered to
cure Tom Of such performances rs this -
went on Mrs Nellie, as she removed the
ruins of the vase, and all the morning
she went around at her work with scar
let lips closely compressed, and a little
flash in her brown eyes which argued
we'll for Mr. Toms domestic subjuga
tion.
Womans wit, having a will, seldom
fails to find a way. And when a deter
mined little woman says must and
''shall. masculine cinsubordinationm might
as well surrender at once.
Before Mrs. Nellie closed her bright
eyes that night, she had arranged plans
for that cam aaign against her liege lord
who slept the sleep of innocence at her
side
But she meant to give him one more
chance. So, after breakfast, when Tom
drew on his boots and gave his slippers
the usual toss under the sofa, she gently
said:
Tom dear, hadn't You better put the
slippers in the case? ?"
mo, let EN- alone, they'll be handy
tonight
But, Tom, they look so untidy ?"
"Why, no they don't. A thing looks
as we'll in one place as another. What's
the use of a mans having home if he
can't keep things where he wants to?'
whats the use of keeping a woman
on her feet all day to pick up things at
ter YOU ?" asked Nellie, Withoutthe least
show of temper.
Don't pick 'em up. Just let 'cm
alone and then can find EN- when !
want 'em. " declared Tom as he gave her
a kiss and took himself off
And at the moment the door closed on
him, Nellie's red lips compressed again,
and her brown eyes wore the same look
they had worn yesterday.
''War it is, then, she said to herself.
''Now, Master Tom, we shall see who
wins the field"
She sat quietly about her mornings
work, and when Tom came home to din
ner everything was in its usual good or
der. 1t remained so, and Nellie busted
herself with her sewing until nearly time
for Tom to return to supper
Then she arose, put away her work,
and prepared to open the campaign.
First, she put Toms slippers where he
always left them, under the sofa. Then
she tossed the shawlupOn the piano, and
his best hat upon the center table. She
brought some of her dresses and flung
them across the chairs and on the sofa.
Her furs and sacQue repOsed in Toms
especial armchair, and her best bonnet
kept Toms slippers company under the
sofa, while her own slippers lay on the
mantle.
And then, thinking that feminine in
genuity could make no greater sacrifice
than her Sunday bonnet, she sat down to
crotcheting.
Presently the door opened, and in
walked Master Tom. He gave a low
whistle of surprise as he glanced at the
unusual disorder. and at Nellie, sitting
calmly in the midst with her crochet
work, and then came into the room.
. House cleaning. Nell? ?" he asked.
ooh, no. Why ?" said Nellie, looking
up in sweet uncOnsCi0usneSs.
. thought maybe you had been, that's
all, remarked Tom dryly, as he looked
for place to sit down.
Nellie quietly pursued her work.
Presently Tom said:
" Paper come this evening p
g Not yet, answered Nellie
Tom gave half sigh.
{" Nellie, met Granger uptown, and
he said he would call around this even
ing"
q Very well probably he won't come
before tea 1t will be ready soon, said
Nellie, working away in demure inno-
cence
Hadn't you better pick up things
little before he comes ?" said Tom, glanc-
inc around the ROOM
s'Oh, no Just let 'em lie, /" answered
Nellie sweetly.
. But they look so bad - said Tom.
ooh, no, they don't" said Nellie, as
sweetly as before. !" 4 thing looks as
well in one place as another"
Toms face REDEEMED.
Il never saw your room look like
this before, he said, hesitatingly. q
shouldn't like to have any one to step
in"
why not, said Nellie. We might
as well keep things handy. What's the
use of having house if you can't keep
things where you want to-"
"Tom's face grew redder and redder.
He tried to look sober, and then broke
into laugh. s'Oh, that's your game,