The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-08-05
THE WIFE'S MISTAKE.

Mrs. Hopgood prided herself on being
one of the best housekeepers. She was
one of those rapid housewives who pur.
sue an atom of dust as q hnatassau1Ft ~
pursue stag. No bOld-natured fly ever
dared to buzz within her dainty walls.
No cat purred upon her hearth-stone.
Plants were taboOed because their leaf
lets would fall. Canary-birds were
ruthlessly excluded lest they should scat.
ter seed. Sunshine was regarded as an
arch enemy. "It brings flies, and fades
the carpets" said Mrs Hopgood.
AS for Mr.. Hopgood and the children,
they lived mostly in the kitchen.
81 can't have the boys muddy boots
tramping over the carpets, and the girls
sewing in the parlor," said Mrs. Hopgood.
GAS for Hopgood, he don't care where he
sits. One place is as good as another
where he is concerned"
The Hopgood family also took their
meals in the kitchen.
"Pve got dining room as nice as any
b0dy's," said Mrs. Hopgood, "with a
real carved oak side-board, with mar
BILE top, and silver, polished till it's bet
ter than any looking-glass; but where's
the use of turning things all upside
down, just for ones own family? Com
mon crockery ware and good bone
handled knives are just as good for every
day use."
"Mama," said Elsie Hopgood, cherry
checked girl of sixteen, 81 should like to
sit in the parlor sometimes. Mrs. Mont
fort and her daughter use theirs every
evening, and it looks so pretty and
pleasant there"
"Stuff and nonsense !" said Mrs. Hop
good, sharply. 81 keep house myself
leave to do the same"
"But, mama," pleaded Elsie. "I was
thinking how should like to invite all
the girls here some evening, and have
tea, and afterwards little dance. I've
been asked out so many times without
responding, that Pm really ashamed to
CO."
"Then you had better stay at home,"
said Mrs. Hopgood, polishing vigorously
away at the stem of her silver card-re-
ceiver. "I think see myself, with all
the young folks in town, dancing on my
Brussels carpet, and cake crumbs and
melted cream daubed over everything"
Elsie made no answer, but her colln-
tenance fell.
"1 wish ma was like any one else," she
said to herself, the tears obscuring her
ewes. 81 wish she was like Kate
Pickett's mother, who lets her have
company every Thursday evening.
John Elton wants me to marry linn. If
l was married, could have house of
my own, and do as pleased"
Mother" said Mr.. HopgOod, week
or two afterward, with troubled face,
sis it true that our Elsie is out walking
with John Elton, evening after eve
ming? He is worthless, dissipated fel-
low, and no fit associate for any girl"
"Mercy upon us don't know" said
Mrs. Hopgood, with perturbed face.
81 supposed that she was with Kate
Pickett or Clara Montfort. Pm great
deal too busy with picking and house
keeping to run at giddy girls heels the
whole time. But Pm going to commence
cleaning tomorrow, and then I'll war
rant III give her enough to do, to keep
her out of mischief"
"Mother," said Isaac Hepgood, grave
ly, sometimes think that if we made
home little more attractive to our
children"
80. nonsense !" petulantly interrupted
his wife. 81 suppose you'd like us to
have tableaua, like Mrs. Montfort; or a
magic lantern like the little Mickfords.
Our children haven't been brought up
that way"
And Mr.. Hopgood said no more.
Mrs. Hopgood was, to use her own ex-
nf hA
cleaning" the next day, with the carpets
rolled into heaps, the floors spattered
with soapsuds. and her head tied up with
a pocket handkerchief, when the door
suddenly opened.
Take care of my pail of soapsuds and
soda ~ cried she, shrilly. go! it's you,
is it, Allyw
eyes, mother, it's me-" said Alex
ander, her eldest son, who had just gone
into business as junior partner to his
father. "I say-do leave off washing a
minute, and attend to me Ryerson's
in town-my old chum, you know-Only
for one day, and I've asked him to din
ner."
"To dinner!' almost screamed Mrs.
Hopgood, dropping her brush in con-
sternation. "Alexander Hopgood, are
you crazy? Ofcourse / can't have him
to dinner. Just look at the condition
the house is in"
80, he won't mind that, mother.
Ryerson is thoroughly good fellow.
Just let him sit down to potluck with
the rest ofus, any"
II shall do nothing of the sort, Alex
ander," said Mrs. Hopgood, severely
COMPRISING her lips. "You know / do
not approve ofyourinviting company at
any time, still less at such period as
this. If you have been fool enough to
ask him, you may get out of the scrape
the best way you can"
"But, mother"
"I don't want any more discussion on
the subject" said Mrs. Hopgood, dab
bling away with the brush.
And Alexander went out, slamming
the door.
"By Georgei" quoth Alexander Hop