Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-11-21
JOHN JONES, sEsy LEAE..
A Story For Rural Husbands.

| were dirty and smoky, the breakfast
dishes stood on the table III the middle
Of the floor, the cooking stove was
open, with the kettles and pans on it
and cold ashes on its hearth, its soots
/ plates away, a kettle Of dish water
standing on top of the stove, and the
broom, and poker, and tongs lay just
where the little riders had left them
when called to prepare for school
Johnny had gone off crying, and his
1 whine could even then be heard com.
ing up the hollow from the direction
of the school house. The milk had
not been strained, and the flies were
buzzing about it as they sat on the
edges of the two brimming pals, sip.
ping and rubbing their hands together
in satisfied way. The baby was teeth.
ing and cross, and the one pair OF
, hands that could have brought order
out of this disorder were busy trying
to soothe it. a.
Is it any wonder that tears were in
the mothers eyes, as she cuddled hel
baby to her bosom, and walked across
the floor, trying to still it's cries?
"Oh, dear! what a iife-what life ~
said she; II try to be patient and
make the best Of it, but it does seem
SO hard"
Just as the babe was growing quiet,
and its little blue hands had fallen
listlessly upon its bosom, shadow
fell across the doorway, and the hus-
band entered, saying:
"Jane, can you tell me what the
children did with the hatchet, yester-
day."
sIt was out on the rock, behind
Johnny's wagon, last night" laying
the baby down in a bed that had not
made get.
"Seems to me you're a good while
gittin' your chores done; you haven't
the. mack Of gittin' along like Mrs.
Leavondyke-her work is done up
long ago, and she's busy III the garden.
Tell you she's nice garden--it don't
look much like our'n; you don't put
the time on our'n that she does on
her'n..
"Oh, John,n said the little woman,
rolling up her sleeves and tying on a
big apron, aud trying to keep her face
turned away to hide the gathering
tears, sswith four children and the
baby sick, and three cows to milk, and
the calves to feed, and hands to cook
for; and all the other work to do, | only
wonder that I get half my chores done
in a whole day.
"Well, I'm sure | don't see how it
is" said he; "iny mother had ten liy-
ing children, and she managed to get
along frst-rate, and do all her own
weaving, besides taking in weaving
for the neighbors. You have more
room than she had, and you don't have
to carry water forty rods, like she did
here it is, right at the foot OF the
hill; and you never have to cut your
own frewood, either, unless it is in the
midst Of harvest, and | think you
shouldn't complain. If there is any
thing | hate to hear, it is a growing,
whining wife. Now | have to be out
of doors all the time, no matter how
hot the sun shines, or how cold the
wind blows, while you are in the shade,
and comfortable-if you only knew it.
All, you have any easy time Of it, you
women, if you only knewiit; SO cheer
up. / married you for a helpmate,
don't you know. The girls will be big
enough in three or four years to help
you, and then you can take times
easier; and maybe by that time the
bottom farm will be paid for, and we'll
be able to ride in carriage, like the
Leavondykes."
AHow long since you brought in this
waterin he added. as he took drink
from the dipper. Finding it not cool,
he squirted it out coolly right on the
floor among some pans that had slip
ped down off shelf.
AS he took the hatchet, and started
ont toward the wagon. to fix the hay
rigging on it, he said:
1.Jane, if you can as well as not,
'sposin' you have some Of them new
beans that grow in that fur lot for
dilner.n
aWeI, I'll try" said she hopelesslyy,
and she slipped her shoes OFT 50 that
she might step softly and with more
All working women know
what task it is to put q disordered
kitchen into neatness, especially when
little children have been about. First
she strained the milk, taking out q
quart, with which to mix the bread,
=, IL, fsayo