The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-04

whose dyspepsia IS Dad-Anu MS wlies
drefA cook. But, as / said, the pump
kins can wait. Ada, can't you preserve
the pears, my dear ?'
This last question was asked in a
timid tone, as though negative reply
was the only expected one.
"Bother the pears" exclaimed the
young lady. "Let them rot! They're
not worth fifty cenis, and wouldn't be
in muss with them all day for three
times the money"
"Then can't 60, Amos" said the
mother with a sigh, "but do wish you'd
get somebody. Try this chicken salad,
dear. And this jelly-I know it's good"
chatting away and heaping dishes the
while.
"Mother, you'll make a gourmand
of me if you don't stop leading me
into temptation" and the son looked
into her face with gleam of well pleased
reverence in his dark gray eyes.
"Ofcourse you will" chimed in Ada,
who, being the baby ofthe household and
"sweet sixteen" was, in her own opinion,
amply able to suggest the proper train
ing for her brother, who was only
twenty-six.
81 believe Ada's more than halfright," !"
replied the brother, turning to his
mother as he poised a tempting morsel
Of jelly upon his fork, "for if / should
everget wife and she should prove un-
equal to you in managing q home, I
very much fear that the remembrance
and contrast would make me very miser-
able"
"Would make your wife miserable,
you'd better say ~ retorted Ada, giving
her head a savage toss that sent the rip
pies of her heavy, waving hair away
from her shoulders and settled it in a
great, careless wind-row along the region
of her spine. 'Td pity the wife of any
man whose mother has spoiled him as
you've been spoiled ~
"Well, my sister, very much fear
that your husband-if he ever comes
will have cause to rue the day when he
gave up his mothers cooking TO try
yours. But 'front.' you preserve the pears
tomorrow and let mother go to Mr..
Armstrong; ?''
you've had Armstrong on the heart
ever since you saw Matte at the last
party. 1 understand you, sir. And so,
to please you, will undertake my
mothers work. But plague take the
pesky housework anyhow ~ and the
young girl frowned and pouted.
'Pm sorry to hear. such language
from you, my dear" exclaimed the
mother reprovingly. "Housework is
very necessary and may be made very
profitable employment as well as very
agreeable If you will only be cheerful
aud methodical with it."
"Well, there's no pay in it, and that's
the principal reason why 1 desplse it"
was the willful reply. "Amos gets up
in the morning, milks Floss, feeds Selim
and pets Rover. This gives him keen
relish for his breakfast. Then he toasts
his shins and toes by the fire till break
fast is announced. OF this his lorship
partakes with fastidious criticism and
voracious appetite. Then, he toasts his
shins and reads Gum or Shakespeare,
as the whim may sieze him, till some
body with swollen-gummed baby or
a blistered finger requires his profess
sional services. Then my lord, the physi-
clan, walks out or rides out, according to
his desire or the distance, leisurely feels
the pulse, examines the tongue, looks
wise, administers potion, compounded
probably of dried potatoes and licorice
powder, eats good dinner, pockets his
fee of fifty cents or five dollars or fifty,
and comes home when he gets ready to
eat another good dinner, and descant
upon wOman's duties. Tomorrow am
to preserve a bushel Of pears besides at.
tending to fifty other tasks. The work
will be laborious, dirty, disagreeable
fussy and perplexing. But l wouldn't
mind all that, only nobody ever pay:
me anything for doing housework."
SIS it possible you have finished ?'i
queried the brother, as he helped him
self to the desert.
"DOn't mind her, Amos" said his
mother coaxingly. ."She always feels
better after having relieved her mind.'
81 am astonished," continued the
young man. 81 am more than that
am mortified and chagrined whenever !
note the growing dislike Of our young
women to all housewifely duties. There
is something wrong somewhere"
"Of course there is" said Ada. 'Oul
new neighbors over the way have Q
Chinaman. Every Saturday night they
pay that fellow seven dollars for what
labor he has performed during the week
l do as much as he does, and / hav,
never yet received dollar from any ont
except as a present believe I'll 60 on
to service"
"Your labor at home is a labor of love
my DEAR" said Mrs. Harding quietly
'T get my pay for what labor perform
in a quiet home and beautiful surround
ings. A contented mind is continue
feast, my child"
"But love never feeds and clothes any
body; never provides one with means o
travel or opportunity to gratify one
tastes. 1 want a piano. If 1 were 1
Chinaman I might hope to earn one
but, alas, I'm nothing but young girl
and all my labor goes for naught."