The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-11-12
SELECT STORY.
A WIFE'S MISTAKE.

ml8nt pursue u stag. No toiA-HathIeN
fly ever dared to buzz within her dainty
walls. No cat purred upon her hearth
stone Plants were tabooed because
their leaves would fall. Canary birds
were ruthlessly excluded lest they should
scatter seed. Sunshine was regarded as
an arch enemy. aft brings flies, and
fades the carpets" said Mrs. Hopgood
As for Mr.. Hopgood and the children,
they lived mostly in the kitchen.
al can't have the boys muddy boots
tramping over the carpets. and the girls
sewing in the parlor." said Mrs Hop
good. "As for Hopeood, he don't care
where he sits. One place is as good as
another where be is concerned"
The Hopgood family also took their
meals in the kitchen.
"I've got a dining-room as nice as
anybody's," said Mrs. Hopgood; with a
real carved oak sideboard, with mar
BILE top, and silver, polished till it's
better than any looktng-glass, but where's
the use of turning things all upside
mon cTockery-ware and good hone hand
led knives are just as good for every day
use."
Mamma" said Elsie Hopgood,
cherry-cheeked girl of sixteen, ] should
like to sit in the parlor sometimes. Mrs.
Montfort and her daughter use theirs
every evening, and it looks SO pretty
and pleasant there"
"Stuff and nonsenser' said Mrs. Hop
good, sharply, II keep house myself af-
ter my own fashion, and ] give others
leaves to do the same"
"But, mamma" pleaded Elsie, 81 was
thinking how should like to invite all
the girls here some evening. and have
tea, and afterwards little da nee. I've
been asked out SO many times, without
ever responding, that I'm really asham-
ed to 60"
"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 all over every
thing"
Elsie made no answer; but her coun-
tenance fell.
81 wish mamma was like any one else"
she said to herself, the tears obscuring
her eyes. ar wish she was like Kate
Prickett's mother, who lets her have
company every Thursday evening. John.
Elton wants to marry her. II / was
married, could have house Of my own
and do as pleased"
~"Mother," said Mr.. Hopgood, few
weeks afterwards, with troubled face,
~"is it true that our Elsie is ont walking
with John Elton. evening after evening?
He is a worthless, dissipated fellow, and
not fit associate for any girl"
"Mercy on us! I don't know" said
Mrs. Hopgood, with perturbed face.
supposed she was with Kate Prickett or
Clara Montfort. I'm great deal too
busy with picking and housekeeping, 10
run at giddy girls heels the whole
time. But ! am going to commence
cleaning Tomorrow, and then I'll war
rant I'll give her enough to do to keep
her out of mischief"
"Mother," said Isaac Hopgood. gra We
ly, Sometimes think that If we made
our home a little more attractive to our
children"
30. nonsensep petulantly interrupted
his wife: II suppose you'd like us to
have tableaux, 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
expression, "in the thick of the house
cleaning" the next day, with the carpets
rolled into heaps, the floor spAttered
with soap-snds, and her head tied up in
a pocket-handkerchief, when the door
suddenly opened.
"Take care of my pail of soap-suds
and sodap cried she, shrilly. 20! IT'S
you is it, Ally
.Yes, mother, it's me-" said Alexan-
der, her eldest son, who had just gone in
to business as junior partner to his faith
er. IL say-do leave off washing a
minute, and attend to mel Ryerson's in
town-my old chum, you know-only
for one day; and I've asked him to din
ner."
'sTo dinnerl' almost screamed Mrs.
Hopgood, dropping her brush in her
CONSERVATION. Alexander Hopgood,
you are crazyl Of course I can't have
him to dinner. just look at the confu-
sion the house is in"
30, he don't mind that, mother. Ryer-
son is thorou ghly good fellow. just
let him sit down to pot luck with the
rest of US, any"
az shall do nothing of the sort, Alex
ander," said Mrs. Hopgood, severely
COMPRISING her lips. "You know / do
not approve of your inviting company
at any time, still less at such period as
this. If you have been fool enough 10
ask him, you may get out Of the scrape
the best way you camp
"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 GeorgeF' quoth Alexander Hop.
tony home. there's at least the alterna'
tive Of inviting him to hotel. never
did such thing before, but ] don't sec
how else can manage"
So Alexander entertained Mr.. Ryer
son at the hotel, and gave an unlimited
order for champagne and dessert, ant
the upshot Of it all was that Alexander
Hopgood was brought in at II o'clock a
night bv Two of the walters, hOpelessll