Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-01-02
MRS. ANDREWS.

IL > iio USE. Ndil 1 pit IL VII .sii
other day. remarked more to myself
than my great lazy brother, who las
stretched ont on the library lounge
just after breakfast reading the news.
paper.
"Can't put what OFF, he inquired
tossing the carefully perusea sheet OF
to the foor--his usual habit.
Cant put off having my dresses
made" replied, a little petulantly,
am afraid, for | knew my answer would
disappoint him. Men generally have
very little sympathy with housekeeping
and dress making trials-at least my
brother had none. women spend al
together too much time over these
things had heard him say time and
time again, and naturally was vexed at
myself for giving utterance to this
thought before him.
"Oh, drcsseS!' he replied, in his us
ual tormenting tore when a subject
didn't please him. Il thought from
your manner that it was something ot
Importance.
Every probably, Mr.. John Bittin
Ger" | answered, wrathtully. "lf YOU
hadn't decent coat to your back, you
would think
That it was matter to be attended
to immediately he interrupted. "Anj
| should 90 at once to my tailors's but
then / should never wait to get in sucl
q fix"
Oh, the tantializing manner witt
which this was spoken! If you hac
heard it you would have longed to DO,
his ears just as did.
If YOU had a baby to take care of
and II house to attend to, and all YOU
own marketind to attend to-" | began
my burning cheeks fully testifying tc
my ycXaiion. But he again stopped
me with:
If had q baby to take care of, ant
a nurse to do it, and n house to attenC
to. with and experienced housekeepel
at the head ofthc establishment, | don
think should have any excuse tornot
having a decent dress to my back, OF
for being served more than once witt
rump-steak, especially when ] paid to
porter-housc'
This was u sore spot, and John knew
it and thought it was real hateful O
him to revert to the matter again, es
pecially as 50 much fun had been made
of me in the past; but one can neve
be angry with John for more than {
minute-at least never could HI
saw my red face, and concluded he hat
gone about far enough, for, jumping
up quickly, he pulled me down on hi
knee Ohe great, rough, shaggy fellow,
and said, while both arms held M
tight:
''rhe little woman cant take jok,
any better now than before she was /:
matron, discover. was only in fill
Kate. Pull my whiskers, box my ears
do anything you choose se--only y do some
thing. THERE" as | couldn't he'll
laughing to see how much in earnes
he was growing.
"Now it's all right, isn't it? She shall
bother about dress-making, and bu,
tough steak, and be just as ridiculous
as she chooses--only she must neve
on any account be angry with he
brother for more than a second at
time. And now what kind of dresse.
is she going to buy, and how is she 60
ing to have them made? Pompadou
and pelerine and tlounces, and all tina
sort of thing, suppose?"
Il know exactly how | want then
made" | replied, laughing; for thi
was an unusual condescension of Johns
'The only thing that bothers me is wh'
can get to make them. Somebod,
told me about a Mrs. Andrews who
fitted beautifully"
"Nlrs. who did you say? inquired
my brother, loosing his hold of me
and looking into my face eagerly ant
almost sternly, thought.
Mrs. Andrews" | answered, won
denng what in the world had com
over him. ''But what makes you &C
so funny about it?' .
"F'unny?" he repeated after me
half musingly. "Do / act funny?
didn't mean to. But truly, Kate, i
there is one name that I hate mol'