Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-12-04
The Wife's Mistake.

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fly ever dared to buzz within her dainty
walls. No cat purred upon her hearth
stone. Plants were tabooed because
their leaf cts would fall. Canary birds
were ruthlessly excluded lest they
should scatter seed. Sunshine was re-
garded as an arch enemy. g 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. Hop
good. As 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. ...
"I've got a dining-room as nice as
anybody's," said Mrs. Hopgood, with
a real carved oak side-board, with a
marble top, and silver, polished till it's
better than any lookine-glass; but
where's the use of turning things oil up
side down, just for ones own family 2
Common crockery waro and good bone
handled knives are just as good for
everyday use." .J.
Mamma" said Elsie Hopgood, q
cherry-cheeked girl of sixteen, "I should
like 10 sit in the parlor sometimes.
Mrs. Montfort and her daughter use
theirs every evening, and it looks so
pretty and pleasant there"
&C Ck,,H .-l ,,oncanoav, coli Me-
Hopgood, sharply. II keep house my
self, after my own fashion, and leave
others to do the same"
"But, mamma" pleaded Elsie, "I
was thinking how I should like to in
vite all the girls here some evening,
and have tea, and afterward little
dance. I've been asked out so many
times, without ever responding, that
I'm really ashamed to CO." ,a.. .
"Then you had better stay at home, :"
said Mrs. Hopgood, polishing vigorous
ly way at the stem of her silver card
receiver. IT think !. see myself, with
all the young folks in town, dancing on
my Brussels carpet, and cake crumbs,
and melted cream daubed over every
thing" h n@f :
Elsie made no answer, but her coun-
tenance fell. ...
eel wish mamma was like any one
else" she said to herself, the tears OBJ
securing her eyes. I" I wish she was like
Kate Pricketts mother, who lets her
have company every Thursday evening.
John Elton wants me to marry him. If
I was married could have house of
my own and do as pleased"
Mother" said Mr.. Hopgood, q
week or two afterward, with troubled
face, sis it true that our Elsie is out
walking with John Elton, evening after
evening? He is worthless, dissipated
fellow, and no fit associate for any girl. )"
:. Mercy upon us! don't KNOW
said Mrs. Hopgo0d, with perturbed
face. "I supposed she was with Kate
Prickett or Clara Montfort. I'm great
deal too busy with pickling and house
keeping to run at giddy girls heels
the whole time. But I'm going to CON-
mence cleaning tomorrow, and then I'll
warrant I'll give her enough to do, to
keep her out of mischief" 4,. a..se.
i Mother, said Isaac Hopgood, grave-
ly, sometimes think that if We made
home little more attractive to our
children" ,...a.. ... q
go, nonsen ser petulantly interrupt
ed his wife. 'tI suppose you'd like us
to have tableauG, like Mrs. Montfort, or
q magic lantern, like the little Micfords.
Our children haven't been brought up
that way" ~ 4'
And Mr.. Hopgood said do more.
Mrs. Hopgood was, to use her own
expression, "i iii the thick of house,
cleaning" the next day, with the carpets
rolled into heaps, the floors spattered
with soap-suds, and her head tied up in
a pocket-handkerchief, when the door
suddenly opened. ...,,-..,
"TaEs care of my pail Of soapsuds
and sodar cried she, shrilly. 80!
it's you, is it AllyY' -
Yes, mother, it's me. said Elexan-
der, her eldest son, who had just gone
into business as junior partner to his
father. at say--do leave of 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 dinner"
"To dinneri" almost screamed Mrs.
Hopgood, dropping her brush in her
condemnation. Alexander Hcpgood,
are yon crazyp OF course i can't have
him to dinner. just look at the confu-
sion the house 10 in"
so, he won't mind that. mother.
Ryerson is O thoroughly good fellow.
Just let him sic down TO pot-luek with
the rest of rs, any,
II shall do nothing Of the sort.
Alexander, /" said Mrs. Hopgood, severe
ly compressing her lips. /" You know
I do not approve Of your inviting com
pany at any time. still less at suen :
period % this. II You have been fooi
enough to ask him, jon can get out Oh
the scrape the best way you cant
&C. "But, mother-- "A