The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-01-24
o nicely put away in whitening and

why can LON Jake IL uOWH IN
quired her husband.
i" Because he can't" she replied. 81
never let any one go to my pantries bu,
myself No-if you must have him,
must do it myself"
Mr.. Taylor seemed annoyed at the
idea of giving her what was apparently
so much trouble, and yet more annoyed
at not treating his friend with hospital
ity, and he said, :" / do not see why you
can not let one of the servants do it."
Because l can't, Charles" she pur.
sued, with true woman's answer. III
YOU must have him, that's enough"
And so the subject dropped, though
the husband had sort of uncomforta-
BILE feeling that he was doing something
selfish in being still on hospitable
thoughts intent" in spite of his wife's
evident reluctance to it; while she on
her part felt as if there was world OF
trouble before her, and thought of all
her lamps with her fresh wicks, etc.
In fact Fanny took things hard.
Everything in housekeeping was labor
to her. She trusted nobody, she was
satisfied with nothing. Servants were
her natural enemies" flies her tor
ments, moth her corroding evil, and all
the minor ills Of life, miseries.
She had been married about two years
and wanted to be, and thought she was,
very good housekeeper-and SO she
was, if having everything as bright and
nice as labor and care could make it is
good housekeeping; but if the term is
meant to go little further and include
comfort, and as much of happiness as
depends upon domestic details, she woe
fully missed it. When her husband
came home of an evening, wearied with
the tolls and cares of the day, and
would gladly have refreshed himself
with little female gossip and lively
chit-chat, she generally greeted him with
a grave, anxious face, and long story
of some petty domestic annoyance, the
history of some housemaid who would
make up the third story before the
second, or use the brooms and pals of
either indiscriminately; and the man
servant, who, spite of all she could do
or say, had certain ways of his own of
arranging his pantries, that were a
source of bitter complaint.
Well, dismiss them," said Mr.. Tay-
lor impatiently.
Where's the use7" she answered
complainingly; "they are all as bad,
one as another. / Ispent week in 60
ing about making inquiries before / en-
gagged Tom, and he had frst-rate recon-
mendations-and yet you see what tor
ment he is. He is SO obstinate;" and
then followed such list of Toms moral
delinquencies, that the only wonder was
that Mrs. Taylor was able to keep him
for day.
If Toms story could have been heard,
it would probably have been quite as
earnest, and perhaps as reasonable; in
which Mrs. Taylor would have figured as
the most pertinacious and exacting of
housekeepers, interfering" as Tom
thought, "with what did not concern
her, for if he did his work well, he had
a right to do it in the way he liked best"
So no doubt silent struggle was going
on, on Toms part, as well as his mis-
tress's-for human nature is not all on
one side-nor perfection to be bought
for any stipulated sum, let it be what it
will, per month.
"Where is Mr.. Harrington" she
asked the next day, when her husband
returned to dinner.
"He was engaged to-day" he replied,
"and asked him for tomorrow"
"Oh, how provoking!" she replied /;
" / thought you meant to bring him to-
day."
"I did," he said. "But if the man
would not come, l could not make him,
you know. But what difference does it
make9"
"A great DEAL" she answered, evil
IDENTIFY much annoyed. az have had the
dinner-table set up stairs to-day, and
wanted to get through with it.
Well, and / wish you would have it
so every day, Fanny" said her husband.
You know hate the basement, partic-
ularly as you never will let me bring a
stranger down there"
CHOW, Charles" she said, imploringly,
how can you ask it7 During the win.
ter 1 am very willing, but in summer,
with the flies, it is out of the question" /"
"Then, when we have strangers, let
them dine down there" persisted her
husband.
"Oh! that will never do" she re-
piled; "the room is nice enough for us
when we are alone; but as to admitting
company there, it is impossible
1t is very hard" he replied, with
some vexation, " that am not able to
ask friend to dinner when / wish it"
az am sure, Charles" she said, the
tears starting to her eyes as she spoke,
81 never object to your having your
friends when you wish it. You are very
unjust"
"If you don't object, Fanny, in SC
many words" he answered, pettishly.
there's always such fuss made about it.
that it amounts to the same thing"
Fuss" she repeated, much hurt
81 don't know what you mean by fuss
l only want to know when you expect
company; and that, am sure, is rea
sonable enough"
But / tell you I don't always know
when myself" he replied, impatiently.
"Well, you need not be angry at my
asking" she persisted.
az am not angry" he replied, in {
voice that rather contradicted his words
Tears were now falling fast from hi
wife's pretty eyes; and, half-sorry, half
angry, he said, Now, what is the mat
ter, Fanny"
"You are very unjust, and very un
reasonable" she replied, weeping.
every unjust and very unreasonable
Fannyp he repeated, in his turn botl
offended and hurt. az really dom
know what have done or said to meri
such reproaches as these"
at is very hard" she continued, sob
bing, "to be called fussy and unkind
because 1 try to keep things in some
thing like decent order"
"1 did not call you either fussy or un
kind" he replied.
Something very like it," she per
sisted, "you said"
"I said" interrupted he, "that you
made a fuss with having dinner up
stairs, and all that, when we have com
pany; and that is all / said,' he con
tinued, decidedly, and with some temper
for you do make a fuss. But neve
said you we're unkind, for that you neve
are."
Fanny, in the midst of her tears, say
that her husband was in earnest, an
felt that she had BETTER not push tn