The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-03-20
THE NEAT WIFE,
-AND--
THE CARELESS HUSBAND.

MFRS. JAMES SMITH was an active,
lVl industrious, bustling little woman,
with the organ of order largely develop
ed. She was perfect pattern of neatness,
and nothing in the pale of berauthor-
ity was long allowed to remain out of
place. Every chair, lounge and foot
stool retained the same position they
had occupied for wonderful length of
time, while each book and fancy article
upon the marble-top tables, instead of
being mixed together in elegant confu-
sion, were carefully separated, and plac-
ed at measured distances from each other.
1t was surprising how she ever managed
to put the same number and fullness of
folds into each curtain. But SO it was
The drapery was arranged with the most
studied precision, and to displace it in
the least, or imprint finger mark upon
the shining panes of glass, was sufficient
to disturb the equanimity of Mrs. Smith.
We do not think this was affectation
on the part of Mrs. Smith, but owing
merely to the nicely of her organization.
Where she comfortably ensconced in an
easy chair, and her lap filled with work,
it was not possible for her to remain
quiet and see a solitary thread lying up
on her nicely swept carpet. No: the
work was laid aside, and the offending
thread Immediately consigned to the
fire.
The appearance of visitor who was
lacking in this desirable "bump," was
sure to make the lady nervous. Why
could he not seat himself properly, in
stead of drawing the chair into the mid
die of the room, then tipping back, to
the imminent danger of its demolish-
ment? Sure enough, say we. And
why couldn't he look at books, if he
wished, and then replace them, without
disturbing everything in its vicinity p
throwing them down at angles, and as
likely as any way, exactly on the top of
some choice and frail 6Vou. 1t was GER
tainly great annoyance, and had she
not been gifted with large share of pa
tience, she would have been afflicted
with nervousness, a great part of the
time.
1t sometimes happens that opposites
in character, disposition and habits are
brought together. 1t was so in this case.
Mr.. Smith was something of a literary
character, and unfortunately possessed
but very little of his wife's method and
system. We say unfortunate, because it
is obvious that it must, at times, have
been cause of difficulty, and called for
forbearance on both sides. He could
never be convinced that it made any es-
sential difference whether his hat was
left upon the tree, chair, or table; in
his estimation it amounted to the same
thing, provided he could find it when
wanted, which last was not always the
case, as his better half" took a mali
cious pleasure in depositing it in unheard
of places, in order to cure him of his
"abominable carelessness." Mr.. Smiths
little study, situated in the third story,
was the only room in the house where
he felt perfectly at home. There he did
not hesitate TO scatter books, papers and
manuscripts about the floor, nor once in
a while to divert himself by smoking q
cigar while reading the evening papers.
But even this room did not entirely
escape the renOvating hand Of Mrs.
Smith. AS a precautionary measure
against the disarrangement of his pa
pers, the husband usually locked the
door and put the key in his pocket, when
he went out for any length of time. But
this did not prevent his wife from occa-
sionally taking advantage of his tempo
rary absence to g dust up little" "
But now something must be done.
The room was getting terribly dirty, and
owing to the unceasing vigilance of Mr..
Smith, neither broom nor brush had per-
formed its office for long time. Things
were growing desperate, and Mrs.
Smith experienced greater degree of
nervousness, every time she thought of
the subject. After much deliberation,
she concluded that as fair means would
not work, she would try stratagen.
Mr.. Smith sat before large table, en-
deayoring to concentrate his wandering
thoughts sufficiently to put them upon
paper. The door opened, and his wife