South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-03-03
The Wifs's Mistake.

might pursue a stag. No bold.nature,l
NY ever dared buzz within her dainty
walls. No cat pur.ed upon her hearth.
stone. Plants were tabooed because
their leaflets would fall. Canary birds
were ruthlessly excluded lest they
should scatter seed. Sunshine was re.
garded rs an arch enemy. 1T brings
flies AMI fades the carpets" said Mrs.
llopeood. e'sst..
As for Mr.. IIopgoo6 and the children,
they lived mostly iE the Kitchen.
Il can't have the boys muddy boots
tramping over the carpets, aud the girls
sewing in the parlor." said Mrs. Hop
good. "As for Hop.ood, he don't care
where he sits. One place is as good as
another, where he is concerned
The llopgood family also took their
meals in the kitchen.
1--WE got dining-room as nice rs
anybody's," said Mrs. Ilopgood, with
real carved oak sideboaui. with mar.
BILE top, and silver, polished till it's bet
ter than any looking glass. but where >
tue use ofturning things all upside down
just for ones own family? Common
crockery ware and good bone-handled
knives are just asgooi for every day use"
"Mamma," said Elsie Ilop.ood. n
cherry.cheeked girl ofsixteen, Il should
like TO sit In the parlor sometimes
Ms. Montiord and her daughter use
theirs every evening. and it looks SO
pretty aod pleasant there"
stuff and nonsense ~ said Mrs. Hop
good, sharply. IL keep house myself
after my own fashion. ANA give others
leave to do the same
''Ent mamma" pleaded Elsie, 81 was
thinking how l 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 l am really ashamed TO
go"
"Then you had better stay ut home"
said Mrs. lopgood, polishing vigorous.
~ away ut the stem OF her silver card.
receiver. 81 think sec myself with all
the young folks in town dancing OH my
brussels carpet, AMI cake crumbs and
melted cream daubel over everything"
Elsie made no answer, but her coun.
tenance fell.
IL wish ma was like any one else"
she said to herself, the tears obscuring
her eyes. II wish she was like Kate
Picketts mother. who lets her have com.
pany every Thurs day evening. John
Elton waits me to marry him. IfIwas
married, | could have n house OF my
own, and do as pleased
Mother" said Mr.. liopgood. with n
icrtnrbcd face, ''is it true that our Elsie
is out walking with John Elton, evening
alter evening? lie is worthless, dis.
sipatcd fellow and not lit associate tor
any girl"
Mercy upon us! ! don't know" said
Mrs. riopgood, with troubled face.
Il supposed that she was with Kate
Pickett or Clara Montfort. I'm great
deal too busy with pickling anh house.
Keeping TO run at giddy girls heels
The whole time. But I'm going 10 com
nence cleaning tomorrow, and then I'll
give her enough to do TO keep her out
of mischief"
Mother" said Isaac 1opgood. grave.
~, sometimes | think that il we made
nome n little more attractive to our
children -
~ nonsense !" petulantlv interrupted
his vile. IL suppose you'd like us TO
have tableaux, like Mrs. Montrort; or
amagic lantern, like the little Mickfords.
Our children have not been brounht no
that way"
And Mr.. IIopgood said no more.
Mrs. llopgood was. to- use her own
expression, lin the thick OF the house.
cleaning the next day with the CARPETS
rolled into heaps, the floors spaltered
with soapsuds. and her head tied MP
with pocket handkerchief, when the
door suddenly opened
Take care OF my pail Of soapsu1s and
soda !" cried she, shfily. oh! lis
you, is it, Ally?"
Eyes mother. it IS me-" said Alexan.
der, her eldest son, wlI) hal inst zone
into business as junior partner To- his
father IL say-do leave Off washing a
minute, aud attend TO Inc. Rycrson's
in town-mv old chUm. you know-on.
ly for one day, and I've asked him to
dldner''
TO dinner y almost screamed Mrs.
ilopgood. dropping her brush in con.
sic patton. Alexander llopyool. are
you crazy? Of course I can't have him
10 diuner. just look ut tho condition
the house is in
"Oh. he won't mind that. mo her -
Eyerson is thoroughly good fellow.
just let him set down to pot.luck with
tie rest OF us, any"
Il shall do nothing Of the sort. Alex.
nndel," said Mrs. Hopgood. severely
pressing her lips. You know | do not
approve Of your inviting company ut
any time. still less at such n period as
this. IL You have been fool enough to
ask him, you may get out OF the scrape
the best way you can"
"But, mother"
IL don't want any more discussion
on the subject" said Mrs. Hopgood.
dabbling away with the brush.
And Alexander went out. slamminr
The door.
by George J" quoth he TO himself
III can't ask fliend 10 my home
there's at least the alternative Of inyit.
ing him 10 n hotel. / never did such n
thing before. but don't see how else I
can manage"
40 A ipvaudnr cnforfo;,ol II. D.