Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-29
A Word Fifty Spoken.

My mother never had sour bread"
This was a most unfortunate remark. and
Mr. Penney was conscious of it as soon a.
the words we're out but this did not hinder
him from going on, much in the same strain
OF course don't know how she man
aged it, but | remember she used to talk
about setting her sponge over night, and
then IN the morning she was always up a.
soon as the girl was, aud the dough was
kueaded and kneaicd, aud when It came
ut Of the oven it was as white as the
driven snow, and as sweet as honey"
Mrs. Penuey's face was scarlet; II did
ny best, John, was just trembling on her
tongue, but this last elaborate descrintion
of the bread-making molous operqadi OF
his maternal parent, turned the disappoint.
nent she had felt in not pleasing her hus.
'und into gall and bitterness. and she an.
'wered, instead, in a mocking tone:
As white as he driven snow. and a.
-weet as honey | have seen it stated
,omewhere that men are not given TO exlr
,eration. Such slight coloring though. |
suppose, is excusable when man is speak
ng Of his mothers sunerority over his
wife. Hereafter, Mr.. Penney. if baker,
bread does not suit your appetite, the
Sitchen is at your disposal 10 set your
pouge, and knead and knead and | have
40 doubt that when you take your mes.
from the oven it will be as white and a.
sweet as ever your mothers wos."
just here Mrs Penney arose, moved the
haby's high-chair away from the table, and.
with the chubby year-od in her arms,
ought the privacy of her own chamber
Mr. Penney followed.
"There's no need of getting 10 a huff
Mary" he said as he closed the door. In
this matter of continuation the gentleman
vas swayed by two entirely opposite and
,ntagonistie motives He did not like to
20 to business with a cloud between him
md his wife, and he did want the last
word. No doubt Mr.. Penney thought hy
raving the last word he could dissipate the
shadows he had so heedlessly evoked-but
II course he was unsuccessful.
4" 1t is my opinion he proceeded, "thai
II you were to rise little earlier, before
he dough had time to sour, you would have
Just as good luck as mother had"
8" haven't slept three consecutive hours
or the last two months, with this baby
Iuhu peuuuy, aud that you Luov oe vol as
| do; and yet you are thoughtless enough
ask me to get up in the morning whom
he cook does, in order that your ,chim
nay be satisfied
"a whim, is it, to be careful of one.
stomach ? to prefer good bread to poor ?
Why, that bread you put before me this
morning wasn't ft for a-for a." john
Penney hesitated a moment, but finally il
ame out--he really did say it, reader
.' ior hog to eat
Mrs. Penney was on the point Of saying
som thing especially rasping, if not actually
u,ulting, but she was checked by timid
zap on the door, and the entrance of sal
aced, delicate W imaD, who coored slightlya.
he noted the embarrassment Of her hostess.
found that could spare you to-day.
Mrs. Penney" she explained. You know
thought should not he able to sew for
you until next week but Mrs Smith wa,
very III this morning, AMI eoui not go on
as she intended so, if you like, will com
meme your work"
Mr. Penney withdrew with a single good
morning to the intruder. In one sense he
md come of conqueror he had had the
asst word, after all, and that was victory
nough. Mary wouldn't try to feed him
With sour bread again, he was very sure
. Husbands should assert themselves some
ines" he informed himself on the wav 10
'usiness What would become of them if
hey didn't? Ile had been married two
ears, and housekeeping six months; whilr
hey were bonrding, everything was as
smooth as oil 1; hnt they hadn't more than
1ecome domiciled in their own house before
roubls commenced. The baby was sick
,nd the mother complaining Then Mary
'ad never been instructed in domestic mat.
'ers. She could sew. and crochet and EN-.
'roider; was very fond Of reading under
TODD music; was considerable of an artist
4 good deal of woman, and, with proper
and the exercise Of decent
,mount of tact, would have heen the hest
sife 10 the world fso she thought During
he days Of courtship, and the first few
months of married life, she was the subject
If unlimited potting Her will was her
husbands law; but, after the birth of the
baby, and the added responsibility of house,
keeping. everything changed, Mr. Penney
lid not, could not, take into consideration
that these cares had also made difference
in her that she was changed also she
could not feel wives never can--that there
was anything amiss with her; that the
cloud on her brow, and the nervousness Of
her manner, radiated magnetism unmis.
fakably repellant. Had Mrs. Penney re-
nained bealthiy sunny, bakers bread
would undoubtedly have satisfied Mr., Pen.
ley. Deprived Of the JOY he needed, and
rad been accustomed to, he turned, man
ashton, to finding fault with what, under
'ther circumstances, he never would have
considered for moment.
"You are not well, this morning, Mrs.
Penney" said the kind voice of the seam.
tress, as the lady nervously brought out
he material she wished made up.
mo; | am not very we'll, - she replied.
apparently more to herself than to her com
,anion "but | don't mind so much about
hat--I mean could bear ill-health very
didn't have other troubles"
The pale face Of the dress.maker lighted
~ wonderfully, as she met the tired eyes
# her companion.
"My dear Mrs Penney" said she, with
udien inspiration, will you allow me to
xpress my thought? Perhaps II may be
# service to you. | have had very hard
ile, and only by personal experience have
ever learned anything - experience Of the
ichest, and yet most agonizing description
E" wish you would tell me something"
epled Mrs. Penney, with a quiver of the
ensitve lip. Z" am doing the best can,
nd yet, Mrs. Harris, am failing utterly
n accomplishing that which is dearest to
ny heart the happiness of my husband,
nd the comfort of my home"
4 1T a a. ]