The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-04-12
Mn. DARlNeEa's uersr.c1nAsrse.

Il
things, and she didn't believe that Aris
tarchus was much better, and il was
better TO have some enc around whc
could manage. The young people, how
ever, felt very confident that they had
by numerous consultations and many
well-laid plans, reduced house-cleaninn
to perfect science, system that had
never yet been attained by any other
housekeepers, and they were all impa-
tient to get at work and clean the whole
house, from garret to cellar, and have
all the pictures back ON the wallis and
carpets nailed down again before dark.
They were disgusted at the way other
p'soPle cleaned house, and Olivia thought
it WAS perfectly wonderful how Aris-
tarchus could have such beautifully
lucid and systematic ideas on matters
of which NEST men, aud she would sny
most women as well, were SO deplorably
stupid and ignorant.
The stirring notes Of the alarm clock
dragged Mr.. Baringer out of bed at 3:l5
A. NJ, and he thought he felt intcle,ably
sleepy for i've o'clock, but he didn't look
st the clock until he was dressed, and
then he was too mad to swear. He
merely woke Mrs. Baringer up to tell
her that he'd bet a thousand dollars
some stupid had changed the alarm after
he set it, and then he Topped down on a
lounge to sleep till daylight. He awoke
at half.past seven o'clock, the hour at
which, by their pre-arranged system aud
calculations, the two upstairs bedroom
carpets were to have been beaten and
ready to put down as soon as the floors
were dry. Then the kitchen fire went
out twice, and they finally sat down to
breakfast at halfpast eight o'clock, Mrs.
Baringer's mother beguiling the time
during that matin meal by asking Olivia
if she minded how she used to be half
through her house-cleaning by nine
o'clock in the morning. But Mr.. Bar
niger bore up very well under it, and
Immediately after breakfast he took up
the bedroom carpets. 1t was slow
work, jerking the tacks out one at
time. Some timfs they few up into his
face; some times he pulled the head off
and left the tack in the floor and when
they got to be rather thiclzly scattered
around the room he put his knee down
on one occasionally and talked in
manner abont certain mill
privileges in connection with house
keeping which Mrs. Baringer couldn't
understand. At last ho noticed that
By lifting up the edge of the carpet,
gentle pull would bring up half dozen
tacks in rapid succession. Happy
shoughtl He rose to his feet, grasped
The bound edge of the carpet in both
hands, gave a mighty lift and tremen-
ious pull--k-r-r-r-r-r-tl an9 when the
lust settled little, Mrs. Baringer and
ler mother were discovered standing in
he door, looking in speechless horror at
Mr.. Bavinger, who stood like an image
IF despair, holding carpet with fringe
n one hand, and long line of carpet
binding in the other.
Chow did you do itP shrieked Mrs.
Baringer.
How erer did you do it 2" echoed
Mrs. Baringer's mother.
Then they both said something about |
he general incapacity of man, and |
Mr.. Baringer endeavored to explain
hat in going across the room for the
.aek hammer, he had caught his foot in
he edge Of the carpet with the result |
Is above. And at the conclusion of his |
Mrs. Baringer's mother
yaye sniff that blew dust out OF T., .
.arpet, and there was a general expires !
ion Of incredulity on the faces of the
1t was long time before they got !
he carpets down in the yard and on |
he line. Then Mr. Barringer APP
,roached and smote the first carpet with
! long stick, and the next instant he
vas feeling his way out of a dense
loud of dust, coughing, sneezing and
norting, and wildly gasping for air.
1e went around on the other side, and
S he aimed a terrific swipe at the car
'et, he struck the clothes prop, and his
arm stung and tingled to his
eek, while his wall was heard down to
be city building. Then he got at it
gain, and found that his stick was too
ght, and he took another one. A few
trokes suffced to convince him that it
Tas too heavy, and he took lath
hat broke in two at the first blow, and
q tried an apple switch, but that was
90 timber. He finally gave up the idea
+ beating any more, and called to Mrs.
3aringer that the carpet was ready to
re shaken. Mrs. Baringer, with her
lead in an apren, came out. They
athered the carpet, and Mr.. Baringer
,ot the start of her and shook a roll
lear down to her hands, exploding in a
oud snap and a volcano of dust nj her
ace. Then she dropped the carpet and
neez...i and nr}ioate,s.
"You shook too quick, deary," she
aid.
"But you said you were ready,
weety," replied Mr.. Baringer.
"But you shouldn't be so rough,
ovey," she protested.
''Well, 1 have to shake hard to get
he dust out, ducl1y," he insisted.
"Well, you needn't be so cross about
t, deary," she said.
''oh, WELL" he said, '.you must ex-
'ect hard work house-cleaning days,
nd you mustn't lose your temper,
"It isn't me that gets cross and jerks
,eople around, lovey," she said, 'it's
on"
81 never jerked you around" he re-
orted
"Why, Aristarchus BaringerP ex-
laimed his wife, making very large