Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-26
MANAGING A NAN.

sweetest, best, and dearest little
girl in Hillsburg; and when Tom
Carter fell head-over heels in love
with her, nobody blamed him in
the least And when the parson
gave his blessing, and they went to
commence housekeeping in a cosy
little house on the south side Of
the town, everybody prophesied all
sorts Of happiness for the pretty
bride. And, truth to tell, Nellie
Carter was very happy. 1t is a
pleasant thing to go to housekeep-
ing for the first time, with every
thing new and shiny; and il
you have somebody you love
very much for companion, it is
still pleasanter. Now Nellie did
love that great big laundering Tom
Carter with all her might and
main, and there was only one thing
to disturb her perfect peace. She
was the very pink Of tidiness, and
Tom was the most careless fellow
alive. He kept his person neat
and nice-but his personal belong
ings anything else. Tom would
persist in tossing his slippers under
the parlor sofa, to have them ham
dy. In vain did she gently sug-
gest that the rack in the hall was
the place for his hat and overcoat.
Tom would fling his overcoat,
damp or dry, on her pretty, smooth
made bed, and drop his hat any,
where. In vain did tidy Nellie
make a place for everything, for
Tom invariably tossed everything
in some other place. Now little
Mrs. Nellie was only human, and
TOMS ssloyenly ways annoyed her
exceedingly. She was resolved not
to disturb the peace of her cosy
home by scolding, but how to cure
him she could not tell. She bore
with the patience of an angel, I'M
til one morning after he had gone
to his office, she went into the par
lor, and there lay Toms heavy
shawl right across the table, ruth
lossly crushing beneath it the pretty
trihes which lay upon the marble
table.
"Now, / can't stand this, and l
wont" said Nellie, as she carefully
raised the shawl from the delicate
treasures and discovered the ruins
of a favorite Bohemian vase.
"I don't know what to do, bat
this / won't hayew she continued,
with the little bit of wifely snap
which every good wife must have if
she expects to get on at all with
that occasionally unreasonable ami
mal-a man.
"Some way must be discovered
to cure Tom of such performances
as this~ went on Mrs. Nellie as she
removed the ruins of her vase, and
all the morning she went about the
house with scarlet lips closely COM
pressed and a little flash in her
brown eyes, which argued well for
Master Toms domestic subiection,
And when a determined little
woman says "must" and shall, "
masculine insubordination might as
well surrender at once.
Before Mrs. Nellie closed her
bright eyes that night she had ar
ranged her plans for the campaign
against her liege lord, who slept
the sleep Of the innocent at her
side.
But she meant to give him one
more chance.
So, after breakfast, when Tom
drew on his boots aud gave his
slippers their usual toss under the
sofa, she gently said, "Tom, dear,
hadn't you better put your slippers
in the passage or the bed-roomY"
"No, let them alone; they'll be
handy tonight" said Tom.
"But, Tom, dear, they look SO
untidy"
"Why no they don't. A thing
looks as well in one place as an
other. What's the use OF mans
having a home if he can't keep
things where he wants to?' said re-
bellious Tom.
whats the uso Of keeping a
vile and a servant on their feet all
day to pick up things after YOU?
asked Nellie without the least show
Of temper.
''Don't pick 'em up at all. Just
let 'em alone and then / can fnd
'em when / want 'em," declared
Master Iom, as he gave her a kiss
and took himself oil.
And the moment the door closed
on him Nellie'S red lips compressed
agais and her brown eyes wore the
same look lbey had worn yoster
day.
'War it is, then,v she said tC
herself. CHOW, Master Tom, W.
shall see who wins the field"