The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-19

himself to Susan in sI.ch a plight be-
fore his marriage, assure you.
Aunt Mary looked at the pretty
Susie's clock on the mantel. took cut
her gold pencil, wrote a little note, and
then said to the young man II wish,
Mark, dear, you would carry this Duet
owe to my nephew, Horace Alden's,
for me. They live in the east tene-
ment in the Rutherford Block. you
know, and on the strength of your
cousinship that is to be. | want you TO
run in without ceremony.
Mark came back in an hour with a
radiant face. Removing his hat, he
made Aunt Mary a low bow, saying
Il am very much obliged to YOU;
wouldn't surrender the opportunity
that may be gracefully given me of
helping made a home with Jane here
for any earthly consideration
Indeed" cred Aunt Mary in SEEM
ing surprise. perhaps you will be good
enough to tell us what has changed
your mind so suddenly"
"Well, you see," said Mark, Il ran
up the stairs and opened the door at
the top, as YOU told me, and such a
charming picture hat | saw. Aliving-
room, neither p%arlor, dining-room,
nor kitchen, but a happy combination
of the three, made attractive and
homelike by perfect neatness, order.
and good taste. Such a cordial vel
come that | had, to be sure. | was
heartily ashamed when 1t came over
me how we'll l used to know both
Horace and his charming wife, and
that | had not called on them before.
81 gave Jnlia your note, and she read
it with a little laugh, and insisted that
/ should take off my overcoat and take
tea with them. The cosy round table,
with its snow-white cloth and pretty
tea service, looked so inviting l could
not resist the temptation. Horace
does not get to the store till seven he
sees to the closing up, SO we have u
tea at half past seven,' Mrs. Alden said.
Julia's dress was plain, but tasty and
neat, set off by a dainty white apron,
and her simple toilet was completed
by a g~eranium leaf and a verbena bios
som in her shining hair. Horace, in q
handsome dressing gown and embrOld-
cred slippers, looked every inch a gen
tleman, as he is.
The situation made us confidential,
| and | asked Mrs. Alden how she had
managed to settle down into being
such a wonderful little housekeeper,
and she said Il used to be somewhat
inclined to be careless in my habits.
and | suppose my friends had some
misgivings as to my ability to keep
house. Among my wedding presents
was one from a great aunt of mine who
was wonderfully skilled with her
needle. 1t was this teapot mat, and
she held it up for my inspection. 1t
was a scallOped circle of scarlet broad
cloth, with a slipper run down at the
heel embroidered in it in black worst
ed. with the words, Meier get slip
sh0d.'
"'This has been a constant reminder
to me-, Julia vent on. Were | temp
ted to neglect any trifling duty for the
first time my eye would fall upon or
recall the words of Aunt Mites mot
to, and | would not only do what |
had thought of neglecting, but would
do it a little better, if possible. Horace,
too, has kept me from falling into
| slipshod ways by his own habits Of
neatness. He always touches up his
toilet for my sake before every meal,
as punctlliously as if we had company.
"'Of course, when he is so thought
full of me [ cannot be less regardful Of
him. All these little things take a few
of the precious moments of u fleet
ing lives, but we consider their OBJ
VI our bOunden and interchange
able duty. Since housekeeping is the
principal business | have in hand, [
want to do my best in that vocation :
to be conscientious and painstaking in
that as | would in teaching music or
any other accomplishment.