The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-02-18

and set myself up in business. I may
not get rich in year or two, but I
won't feel like beggar, sir; neither
will be compelled to submit to your
overbearing ways when 1 must have my
dues"
With this, Yours Truly left the room
and began packing her dry-goods. Once
out of sight of the governor, she in
dulged in a good cry that relieved her
vastly. But how was mother to get
along? Dear soul, she was neither able
to work nor employ servants, and how
was the establishment to be kept run
ming without Yours Truly?
After an hour spent in packing finery,
it was necessary to stop and get dinner.
The governor is very punctual about his
meals, and the hired men would be in
doors at twelve, to the minute. 1t did
look little mean to cut off their rations
without any warning; so Yours Truly
descended to the kitchen and hurried
up dinner fit for court.
"You may make much of this meal,
for it's the last you'll get from these
hands," said Yours Truly, holding her
digits to the light to show that one was
badly burned with boiling grease.
The governor didn't eat much dinner.
Mother was in bed, sick and weeping,
and her consort blew his nose freely,
though of course he wouldn't shed tears,
for that would compromise his dignity.
"You can wash the dishes, governor"
said Yours Truly. ''The train will soon
be in, and must go to the depot. I've
engaged a team to haul my trunks.
There's big churning to do, but the
creams all ready. put it in the churn
a-purpose. The yeast's up to make the
bread, and there's lot of butter to be
worked over in the cellar. The pickles
are soaking in the sink, and there's a
jar ready to put 'em in. The vinegar's
down cellar, in barrel. There's mince
meat ready for pies, and the mop-stick's
in the back yard. You'll have to clean
the floors, you know. And there's some
ironing to do, and some socks to darn.
If you have any spare time before sup
per, you can sew carpet-rags. The
chamber works all done for to-day.
And stay There's a jowl in the smoke
house that you must soak and wash and
have ready for to-mOrrow's dinner.
The souse- meat is in this crock. It's to
be boned and chopped and seasoned,
you know; and don't forget to renew
your yeast when you make the bread" +"
Mrs. D., you ought to have seen the
governor. Such a helpless, pitiable,
humble, abject object as he was, stand
ing there with arms akimbo, eyeing the
mountain of drudgery that every woman
performs daily, while man, who
"bosses" out of doors, imagines that he
Supports" her-such an object of pity
was he as he stood there, that Yours
Truly laughed till she cried.
''There's no sense in all this" said
the governor.
"Its all necessary" answered Yours
Truly. "You'd think the work wasn't
half managed if any of the particulars
were omitted by the women"
"I don't mean that ! Hang it all ~
"Then what do you mean?"
''That there'e no sense in your leav-
ing home"
Misrepresentation is the first law Of
nature, sir, and you refuse to pay me
for my work. 1 must have living,
and 1 must lay up something for rainy
day. How do I know but I'll marry
some incompetent mortal, and have
need of my earnings to support him ?''
The governor was determined he
wouldn't yield. He took off his coat
and laid it on a chair. Yours Truly saw
the sleeve lop over in q frying-pan, full
of greasy water, but she had reasons fol
saying nothing. Then he began to
stack the dirty dishes, and, per conse-
quence, dropped dozen plates on his
toes.
"THunder ~ he roared, desperately.
"Try again." said Yours Truly. at
is lucky you didn't break but foul"
"What shall do with the cold vict-
uals ?" he asked, as he eyed dish oi
baked beans with one side scOoped out
tureen of cooling cabbage with a
spoon sticking and backing in it, two
plates with solitary pieces of pie, two
ditto with bread, and yet others with
mashed potatoes, etc. etc, adhering tc
them in bulky fragments.
"Put them away separately, on clean
dishes, and use them judiciously in
working up subsequent meals, sir. A
good cook always plans ahead in this
way"
"Botheration p' yelled the governor,
as he cut his thumb with the butcher
knife.
"You're doing bravely," said Yours
Truly.
"Get me a rag and some sticking
plaster, quick P'
'I always help myself, SIR"
81 can't do this work ~ exclaimed
the governor.
"Why ?" asked Yours Truly
you've always said woman's worH
was nothing. You ought to do it, ant
not half try"