Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-28
The Sturp Tel1er.
PRECEPT AND PRACTICE
BY AMY SHELTON.


---- s..
All quiet; the Goals cracking in gossippy
sort of way behind the bars of the CRATE; the
pussy cat purring sleepily on hevelvet hearth,
rug the clock ticking, like silver drops OF
water, upon the mantelself; and Mrs. Ives
needle glancing in and out of her work like a
small ray of lightning. The children were all
tucked snugly up in bed, for Mr.. julius Ives
liked to be quiet when he came home from
business, and Mrs. Ives was the most devoted
and obedient of conjugal partners. 1t was an
exquisitely neat room-a room where the
sweet home element predominated in every
nook and corners room to which the tired
business man might look forward all day, as
haven of rest and peace. .-, ,
The clock struck eight; pussy stretched
herself drowsily before the fire. and Mr.. Ives
laid down the paper with a preparatory
"Ahem p
"And now, Melissa" he said, authoritative
", "you may bring me the tradesmen's bills" }"
Poor Mrs. Ives started in her chair as II a
on-ball had thundered ominiously into
the silence of the cosy little apartment. How
much she dreaded the weekly recurrence OF
this domestic ukase, was only known to her
self! 1t was the skeleton in her closet-th
one embittering element of her happy home
life-the haunting ghost that no diplomacy
had yet enabled her to exercise Yet, like
well-trained wife, as she was, she brought the
tiny packet of bills, and sat down meekly at
her husbands side.
She was pretty woman, tall and graceful,
with straight, regular features, rosy cheeks,
and soft wistful eyes, that looked like brown
velvet; woman whose hands always were
white and delicate, and whose dresses always
seemed to fit by magic.
Nor was Mr.. Julius Ives q disagreeahle
specimen of mankind to look upon. He was
large and fnely-formed, with dark hair,
strongly disposed to curl at the ends, and
bright black eyes. Yet nevertheless, there
was certain curve in Mr.. Ives upper lip
that savoured somewhat Of the imperative
mood.
"Butter again! That's five pounds we've
used within the week" moaned Mr. Ives,
checking off the various items Of the grocers
bill With the little gold pencil that hung at his
watch chain. "My dear, does Bridget grease
the kitchen pans with butter?"
Mrs. Ives cheek glowed.
"Now, Julius, what is the use of talking in
that sarcastic sort of way? You don't seem
to reflect that family like ours cannot sub
sist on air-aud you like to have all the cook.
ing very rich, you know"
"Rich should think So Ham-cod6sh.
By the way, Melissa, Jones says they only
buy meat three times a week-haVe it cold
every other day. Jones' wife knows how to
economic. I suppose you haven't the least
idea of what becomes of the joints after they
leave the table"
81 have no doubt of Bridget's perfect hon
esty, julius"
"Oh no-of course not. But [ do think.
Melissa, it is wife's duty to pay some sort OF
attention to her husbands pocket"
"Our bills are not disproportionately large,
julius"
"They must be, my dear-they must be.
Positively it's enough to frighten one, just to
run over these items in the house keeping &C.
counts observation-disclosures! Me-
lissa, do 1 keep restaurant? If not, where
do all these things goF
Mrs. Ives was silent.
"Bread-steaks- -joint-two tons of coal
Upon my word p
Still Mrs. Ives maintained complete taci-
:turnity.
Melissa" said her husband, placing the
bills rather emphatically on the table, eve
must turn over new leaf-we must, posi-.
lively. Can't you retrench?"
"Howf'
"In thousand ways, my dear. Why, my
mother never spent half the money you con-
trive to spend, and there were twelve of u.s.
"Your mother lived on farm, Julius.
The milk, butter, cheese, and vegetables were
from her farm and dairy-that meat and
poultry were within her own barn-yard and
pasture. / do not think it fair to institute a
comparison between her expenses and mine. ="
"Oh, that's the way you women all talk,
said Mr.. Ives, impatiently. "All 1 know is
that there must be a screw loose somewhere.
You must economical"
"But, julius"
"My love, don't you see I'm just lighting
nv cigar? 1 never can smoke when my
mind is in any way disturbed, Suppose we
dismiss the subject. l am quite sure that |
have stated my wishes on the subject with
sufficient distinctness!"
Mrs. Ives bit her coral lip, and sewed away
vigorously at her work. But if her thoughts
cold have descended in a shower bath of
words on Mr. Julius Ives devoted head, how
they would have started him from the calm
complacency of his mood
Eyes, I'll economic" thought Mrs. Me-
issa, vindictively dragging the thread through
the seams. "Why will a man relinquish his
dignity so far as to interfere in matters he
cannot possibly understand. wonder if he
thinks nine people can live on a pint of milk
and two baked potatoes day? | wonder ii
he knows that l make all the puddings and
pies, and give out the tea and coffee, and su-
perintend everything myself. He might know
it, if he would take the trouble to inquire, in'
stead of indulging in such sweeping denun.
Citations I wonder if he ever suspects that
trim my own bonnets, and my own dresses
aud make the little ones clothes, to save un-
necessary outlay. It's almost enough to make
a woman wish she had never got married"
But then Melissa thought Of the rosy little
ones fast asleep up stairs, and concluded, on
the whole, there were some sunbeams in her
lot.
"Halo, Elmer! Why, surely this isn't
you?" ,
"Well, don't know whom else it can be-, u
coolly remarked the handsome, bronzed-look'
ing gentleman, who had lounged into Mr.
Ives office; "and I've brought Harry La
marque with me-you remember him don't
your
"Remember him-I should think so. And
we haven't met before since our college days
Well, declare, this is a curious coincidence
You'll both of you promise to come and dine
with me to-day at five, won't you? Come
Il