The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-01-24
THE YOUNG HOUsEKEEPER.


THE YOUNG HOJsEKEEPER.
"Do, Fanny, have some fire made, .
said Mr.. Taylor to his. wife, III am
almost perished."
Firel" she repeated.
Yes, fire." said he "I am sure it's
cold enough. My teeth are fairly chat
tering."
rather chilly" she replied. "But
the CRATES are cleaned, and the summer
blowers up. can't have FIRE made. !"
"Oh, nonsense l' urged her husband.
"What if the CRATES are cleaned7 Do
ring and order fire."
But the young wife never stirred as
she answered, "It's out of the question,
Charles. The chimneys are closed up"
Pshawp' said be, impatiently.
"What on earth did y have the Chin
neys closed for? Tom can take the fill-
ing out, though, suppose" he con-
tinued, as he moved toward the bell
"No, indeed, he can't, interposed his
wife, quickly. what are you thinking
of? he'll raise such a dust! And, be-
sides, I can't have q fire made, indeed.
The paint is still fresh, and the white
wash scarcely dry; and when things are
once cleaned, fires make such dirt"
"Then / do wish you would not have
things cleaned till the necessity for fires
is over,n said her husband, somewhat
vexed. But you are always in such q
hurry with your house cleaning" he
continued, pettishly. "I do detest the
sight of pail of water. ! am sure the
lo,,co ,-,o. ,l1o-, o,,0,,xl, hafora -
Cleanl" exclaimed his wife. "I
don't know what you call cleanl / am
sure was ashamed to receive visitor,
it looked so smoky and dirty. But you
men seem to have no perception of dirt, /"
she continued, almost contemptuously.
"And it's not so cold either"
"Then what are you wrapped in that
great shawl for ?" answered her husband.
"Oh, it is rather chilly, certainly. A
heavy rain like this makes it cold, of
course. We are liable to such storms in
midsummer" she replied.
"It's an absurdity to close up the
CRATES at this season" muttered her hus-
band.
at this season, Charlesl Why, it's
not cold. Only look at the peach blos-
soms," she continued. pointing to the
tree in the garden in proof of her asser
ton.
aWell, l wish 1 were a peach bios
son. he replied, off they are insensible
to the weather. Since can't have
fire, however, Pll put on my overcoat."
"Do,' she replied. And he left the
room, and returned presently, buttoned
up to the chin, as if prepared to brave
the elements on o pedestrian excursion.
He thrust his hands in his pockets, and
walked up and down the room; while
his wife, drawn up almost into knot,
seated in large chair and wrapped in a
heavy shawl, seemed quite as chilly as
himself. t
"Now this is too ridiculous, Fanny
You may have been ashamed to receive
visitor before things were cleaned, but
declare should be great deal more
SO to be caught Just now. How you look
in that great blanketl And l can't say
/ think this fustian coat particularly
becoming or suitable for house wear"
he said, stopping and looking at himself
in the glass.
"No one will come in such weather" !"
she replied, perfectly satisfied as to there
being no chance of their being caught
But scarcely had she spoken, when there
was decided ring at the bell, which
betokened something more than an err
rand-boy or postman, and, shuffling
was heard in the hall as of an umbrella,
ETC., and presently in was ushered a
visitor.
"Ah, Harrington!" exclaimed Mr..
Taylor, receiving his guest with great
cordiality, "when did you arrive?T
"Only this morning" replied the
other, "and wishing to see you particu-
larly, thought should find you at
home such a stormy afternoon as this.
Singular weather for May" he con.
tinued. "It's more like November"
at is, indeed" replied Mr.. Taylor,
somewhat embarrassed, and looking rue
fully toward the empty CRATE. "Fanny,
dear, think you might manage that
fireplace so that we could have a fire."
But Fanny looked annoyed, and hesi-
tatingly said, 81 am afraid it will only
make il smoke" Whereupon Mr.. Har-
rington protested with chattering teeth
that he was not at all cold, and begged
that no fire might be kindled on his ac-
count. There was no concealing the
fact, however, for the whole party looked
blue; and after a somewhat short and
decidedly uncomfortable visit. Mr.. Har.
rington took his departure.
He did not stay long at any rate" "
said Fanny
"No, indeed" replied her husband,
pettishly, "do you suppose he'd stay
and shiver here when he could get away
Poor devil! do believe he'd have got
an ague fit in fifteen minutes more.
declare, Fanny, was mortified"
"What on earth brought him here ?''
said Fanny, angry with the man fol
coming and being uncomfortable
"People have no right to visit in such
weatheri And what quantity of dirt
he has tracked IMP she continued, with
infinite vexation, "my beautiful new
mating will be quite spoiled. He
might at least have wiped his feet al
the doorl Dear mel and the hall, too
How his umbrella has dripped all ovel
it," and then ringing the bell, she or
dered the woman to bring flannel anc
pail, and wipe out all traces of the of
Tending stranger, which operation sh,
superintended herself, fretting the while
and feeling the whole as a great hard
ship.
It was happily through at last, how
ever; and as Mr.. Taylor sat opposite t,
his wife at the tea-table, somewha
thawed by his second cup, he said
"Fanny, | must ask Harrington t.
dinner"
"Must your" she replied, with a sor
of deprecating assent that implied tina
if the necessity were not very urgent
she would rather dispense with tn
pleasure.
Yes" he answered; +" have you an
objectionsP
"No," she replied, reluctantly. "Onl
] must take down the silver, and it's a