The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-08-26
The Wife's Mistake.

Mrs. HopgOod prided herself on be-
ing one OF the best housekeepers. She
was one of those rapid housewives
who pursue an atom of dust as q hum
ter might pursue a stag. No bold
natured fly never dared 10 buzz within
her dainty walls. No cat purred up
on her hearth-stone. Plants were ta-
bOoed because their leaflets would fall.
Canary-birds were ruthlessly excluded
lest they should scatter seed. sun
shine was regarded as an arch enemy.
SIT brings flies, and fades the carpets"
said Mrs. Hopgood.
AS for Mr.. Hopgood and the chill
dren, they lived mostly in the kitch-
en-.
'I can't have the boys muddy boots
tramping over the carpets, and the
girls sewing in the parlOr,n said Mrs.
Hopgood. "As for HOpgood, he don't
care where he sits. One place is as
good as another where he Is concert
ed"
The HopgoOd family also took their
meals In the kitchen. Nf
"I've got dining room AS nice as
anybody's," /" said Mrs. HopgOOd, with
a real carved oak side-board, with 8
marble top, and silver-polished till it's
better than any lOOKing-glass but
where's the nse of turning things all
up side down, just for ones own fam
lily? Common croekery ware and
good bOne-handled knives are Just as
good for every day use."
Mamma" said Elsie Hopgood, a
cherry-cheeked girl OF sixteen, 81
should like to sit in the parlOr some
times. Mrs. MoDtfort and her daugh-
ter use theirs every evening, and it
looks so pretty and pleasant there"
"Stuff and nonsense !" said Mrs.
HOpgOod, sharply. 81 keep house my
self after my own fashion, and / give
others leave to do the same"
"But, mamma" pleaded Elsie. al
was thinking how should like to in
vite all the girls here some evening,
and have tes, and afterwards a 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 vigor-
ously away st the stem of her silver
card-reeeiver. 81 think I see myself,
with all the young folks in town, dane
ing on my Brussels carpet, and cake
crumbs and melted cream daubed over
everything"
Elsie made nc answer, but her coun-
tenance fell.
"I wish ma was like any one else, I"
she said to herself, the tears Obscuring
her eyes, "I wish she was like Kate
Pickett's mother, who lets her have
company every Thursday evening.
John Elton wants me to marry me.
II was married, could have house
OF my own, and do as pleased"
"Mother," said Mr.. HopgoOd,a a week
or two afterward, with q troubled
face, sis it true that our Elsie is out
walking with John Elton, evening af-
ter evening? He is worthless, dis
sipaled fellow, and no fit associate for
any girl"
"Mercy upon Us J / don't know,n
said Mrs. HopgoOd, with q perturbed
face. az supposed that she wss with
Kate Pickett or Clara Montfort. Pm
great deal too busy with picking
and housekeeping to run at q giddy
girls heels the whole time. Bat pm
going 10 commence cleaning to-mor-
row, and then I'll warrant pll give
her enough to do, to keep her out of
mischief"
mother" said Isaac HopRoot.
gravely, Sometimes I think that IL
we made home little more attractive
to our children"
80, nonsense :" petuIantIy inter-
rupted his wife. az suppose you'd
like up to have tdbledlIr, like Mrs.
Montfort or a magic lantern like
the little Mickfords. Our children
haven't been brought mp that way.u
And Mr.. HopgoOd said no more.
Mrs. Hopgo0d was, to use her own
expression, "in the thick Of the house
cleaning" the next day, with the car.
pets rolled into heaps, the floors spat-
tered with soapsuds, and her head tic a
uD with 3 pocket handkerchief, when
the door suddenly opened. [ II
Take care OF my pail Of soapsuds
and soda % cried she, shrilly. 80 /!
it's you is it, Ally ?"
"Yes, mother, it's me,n said Alex.
ander, her eldest son, who had Just
gone into business as Junior partner
to his father. 81 say-do leave of
washing a minute, and attend to me /!
Ryerson's in town-my old chum, you
know-Only for one day, and I've ask
ed him to dinner"
To dinner p' almost screamed Mrs.
HOpgood, dropping her brush in con-
sternation. "Alexander Hopgood, ARE
you crazy? Just look at the eondi-
tion the house is in"
80, he won't mind that, mother.
Ryerson is thoroughly good fellow.
Just let him sit down to pct-luek with
the rest Of Us, any"
81 shall do nothing of the sort, Alex
ander," said Mrs HOpgOod, severely
COMPRISING her lips. "You know
do not apprave of your inviting COM
pany at any time, stilI less at such q
period as this. II you have been fool
enough to ask him, you may get out
of the scrape the best way you can"
"But, mother"