The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-16
How Mr.. Mimpbleuf Kept House,

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mot much to do, did you say, my
dear?n remarked Mrs. Mimpbleuf paus-
ing before her liege lord, and gazing at
him Indignantly.
EYES," growled the gentleman. "Its
q mystery to me what women have to
grumble about; especially you, nay
love, with a small house, and only four
children to attend to. Whereas, we
meB have an intolerable burden resting
upon our shoulders, and when we re-
turn weary and perplexed to our homes,
expecting to find rest and quiet, we are
greeted with the old, old story-'so
much to do, tired to death, children so
troublesome and a thousand other
complaints
Mrs. Mimpbleuf turned away to hide
two pearly tears which rose to her large
blue eyes, and rolled slowly down the
fair, round cheeks, and made no reply,
while her husband lighted his cigar
and walked leisurely up to his office.
He was somewhat astonished at noon
10y his wife's announcing her intention
of leaving the house in his care, and ac-
cepting an invitation to spend a few
weeks with her cousin in the country.
"You need little rest, jeremiah, and
while l am gone you can close your
office and stay at home, with only a
few household duties to attend to-" de-
clared Bellina, kindly.
Mr.. jeremiah Elijah NIimpbleuf
scowled
"Do you mean to say that 1 am to de-
vote my whole attention to household
matters? Why, madam, l can easily
do what little there is to be done, and
see to my business also"
"But the children ," suggested his
wife.
'You will take them with you, of
course" he replied, indifferently.
''Oh, no! 1 couldn't be bothered
with Them" answered Bellina, stiffiy.
Mr.. Mimpbleuf looked somewhat
blank at her declaration, but, noticing
the least perceptible twinkle in her
eyes, he fastened to say:
"Very well; leave them at home.
Four children are nothing to look after,
and shall manage beautifully"
Now" thought our hero, the morn
ing Of his wife's departure, "Pll begin
by Strengthening up the dining-rOom,
and washing the Dishes"
Two plates, one saucer, and the china
tea urn were broken in clearing off the
table; but he was not discouraged, and
congratulated himself that it was no
worse. The fire had gone out in the
Kitchen stove, so that he was obliged to
use cold water in washing the dishes,
which only hardened the grease with
out removing it, and he was in a guam
Diary; for jeremiah was a very fastid-
ious person, and abhorred a plate that
was not perfectly clean. So he rubbed
and rubbed, with no success; and, to
make matters more serious, he found
himself completely drenched in greasy
water. His handsome dressing-gowu
was ruined, and his new embroidered
slippers wet and soiled.
He built a rousing fire at noon, anC
put the meat directly over to broil
Then he rummaged around for half al
hour to find cookbook, and, after ac
complished this feat, joyfully announced
his intention of having biscuits for din
ner. He accordingly got all the tin
ware upon the table, and succeeded il
dirtying some half-dozen pans, three
cups, and six or eight spoons. WheI
they were at last made, he referred one
more to the cookbook.
at says, bake i'm a quick oven, ,
unused Mr.. Mimpbleuf "I wonder i
ours is quick oven? 1 guess it is, fo
Bellina always has first-rate biscuits, 81
here they 60" and he showed in tn
pan.
A flame suddenly burst out all arount
the gridirOn, and, removing it, h.
found that, after getting we'll smoked
the meat had burned to a crisp on tn
side next the fire.
Now, if there was one thing mor
than another that Jeremiah was partic
ular about, it was his steaks being rare
and he remembered certain occasion
when he had risen from the table il
disgust, and left the house in a rage, be
dause the meat was cooked a little to
much-two of the children being i'll
and his wife without a servant. Still
this was no excuse in the austere eye
of Jeremiah Mimpbleuf, and he shove
his great displeasure by slamming tn
front door forcibly after him, and ab
senting himself from home for thre
days. Yet, here was the same thin
happened to himself, and what shoul
he do?
He went into the dining-room to sc
the table, and returned just in time t
smell the biscuits burning. Hurryin
TO the stove, be found them unfit to ea
burnt to a cinder. He was in despair
Three o'clock, and no dinner. Break
fast at six, on account of his wifes de
parture, and himself and family on th
verge of starvation.
His dressing-gown was in a deplol
able state, between the grease and
. thick coating of flour on the elbows
but he was too desperate to care for az
pearance, aud determined to buy a SUI
ply of bread and cakes at the bakery
He therefore locked the children all U
in his study and started, running a
the way.
In the meantime, Sammy, age
seven, amused himself by manufactul
ing kite out of valuable manuscriI
that lay in the desk, while Bolivy toI
a beautiful steel engraving out of one
his fathers choice volumes to ornameT
said kite, and Jenny, pretty, brown
eyed sprite of three summers, in reacf
ing up for the bottle of mucilagt
knocked off the ink-stand, which brok,
leaving a great black stain on th
handsome blue-and-drab carpet. Th
chair on which she stood slipped, anC
in hastening to get down, she droppe
the bottle of paste, which fell in littl
shattered heap at her feet, making a
additional blemish on papa's carpet.
Mr.. Mimpbleuf had always reprove
bis wife for calling the children mi.
chievous, for he never saw anything q