River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-11-14
A WORD FIFTY SPOKEN.

My mother never had sour bread. -
This was most unfortunate remark,
and Mr.. Penney was conscious of it as
soon as the words were out but this
did not hinder him from going on 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
always up as soon as the girl was, and
the dough was kneaded and kneaded,
and when it came out of the oven it was
as white as the driven snow. and as
sweet as honey"
Mrs. Penney's face was scarlet, /
did my best, John, wasjust trembling
on her tongue, but this last elaborate
description of the bread making
Dlodus Opcrdndj of his maternal parent
turned the disappointment she had felt
in not pleasing her husband into gall
and bitterness, and she answered in
stead in a mocking tone
As white as the driven snow, and as
sweet as honey | have seen it stated
somewhere that men are not given to
exaggeration. Such slight coloring,
though, | suppose, is excusable, when
"a man is speaking of his mothers
superiority over his wife. Hereafter,
Mr.. Penney, if bakers bread does not
suit your appetite, the kitchen is at
your disposal to set your sponge, and
knead and knead and have no doubt
that when you take your mess from the
oven IL will lie as white and as sweet as
ever your mothers was.n
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.
There's no need of getting in a
huff, Mary, " he said, as he closed the
door In this matter of continuation
the gentleman was swayed by two en-
tlrely opposite and antagonistic mo
tlyes. He did not like to go to bust
ness with cloud between him and his
wife, and be did want the last word.
No doubt Mr.. Penney thought by hav-
ing the last word he could dissipate
the shadows he had so heedlessly
eyoked-but of course he was unsuc
cessful.
" 1t is my opinion he proceeded,
that II you were to rise little earlier.
before the dough had time to sour, Won
would have just as good luck as mother
had.
havnt slept three consecutive
hours for the last two months, with tins
baby, John Penney, and that you know
as well as | do; and yet You are
thoughtful enough to ask me to get up
III the morning when the cook does, in
order that your whim may be salts
fed. -
A within is it, to be careful of ones
stomach to prefer good bread to
poor Why, that bread you put before
me tins morning wasn't fit for a-for a
- John Penney hesitated moment,
but finally it came out-he really did
say it, reader, -" for hog to eat. .
Mrs. Penney was on the point of
saying something especially rasping, il
not actually insulting, but she was
checked 10y a timid rap on the door,
and the enhance of a sad-faced, deli.
cate woman. who colored slightly a
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 morn
ing, and could not 60 on as she in
tended, SO, il you like, | will com.
mence your work
NJ x.t,fI,.lr,,.
good morning to the intruder. In one
serso he had come off conqueror; 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. Illus.
bands should assert themselves some-
times he informed himself. on the
way to business What would become
of them If they didn't He had been
married two years, aud housekeeping
six months, while they we're boarding
everything was as smooth rs oil but
they hadn't more than become domi.
clled IN their own house before trouble
commenced. The baby was sick, AID
the mother complaining. Then Diary
had never been instructed in domestic
matters She could sew, and crothet
aud embroider. was very fond of read.
ing, understood music, was considora
hle of an artist, good deal Of
woman, aud with the proper forbear.
ance, aud the exercise OF a decent
amount 81 tact would have been the
best wife III the world SO she thought.
During the days OF courtship. and the
first few months Of married life. She
was the subject Of unlimited petting.