The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-27

who took things SO easy. If any contre-
tempts happened, which of course they
would with such housekeeping, she only
laughed. And really believe there was not
a whole set OF anything in the house that
matched"
"a charming way of living" said Mr..
Taylor. az wonder Hazard wants to break
up"
well, it was a pleasant, easy sort of a
house too" continued their guest; "but Mr..
Taylor" she added, smiling, you can hard
ly expect us ladies to take the trouble to be
good housekeepers il you admire such an es.
tablishment Mr.. Hazards, 1t Is really
putting premium upon bad housekeeping,
and you would not find much comfort ia
that, | assure you"
'Ishould like to try 1t at any rate" he re-
piled with mixture of truth and playful
ness that Jared terribly upon his little wife's
feelings For must OWE" he continued,
that am heartily sick Of such housekeeping
Indeed, he added, with an expression Of
earnestness that startled Fanny, 81 am
seriously thinking of giving up this house
when the lease expires and going to board
ourselves"
sob, Charlesl" she exclaimed, too breath
less to say more.
"Why, Fannie" he replied. sit is more
for your sake than my own that l would
make the change. Your housekeeping is a
source of perpetual torment to you, | am
sure"
There are occasionally some annoyances,"
she said
''Occasionally?" he continued. "Wby, I
am sure 1t has been nothing but one contin-
ual string of complaints ever since we have
been married. Precious little comfort have
we had in Housekeeping"
Fanny was fairly frightened. She turned
pale. but tried to laugh, as she said, "And so
you want TO keep house like Mrs. Hazard,
and not have a whole set of china, nor a
dozen glasses that will matchTV
Rather that" he replied resolutuely,
than slave yourself and torment me as you
do with keeping everything so nice. If
must chose between happiness and order,
should certainly say happiness. Comfort
seems out of the question in either case"
Its to be hoped they are not incompati-
ble,' said the lady, laughing but seeing that
the conversation touched Mrs. Taylor deeply,
and that her voice faltered and she could
with difficulty keep from tears, she changed
the subject, and gave the history of some
wedding. the lengthy details OF which would
at any other time have interested Fanny
much. But now she could scarcely listen
with even decent attention. What her hus.
band had said had sunk deeply in her mind:
That he had had no comfort since he had
been married. words that might well weigh
heavily on any young wifes heart, and she
pondered them in silence, and wept pas
sionately over them when she was alone.
''I will go to Mrs Ashland" she said to
herself; "her housekeeping seems 10 go by
magic, and will ask her how she manages"
and so she went the next morning to Mrs.
AshIand, who was an old friend she had
known from childhood, and to whom, not
without tears, she laid open her whole heart
and all her troubles.
"My dear child" said her friend, smiling
kindly, you are very young housekeeper
that is all"
"Well, dear Mrs. Ashland" said Fanny,
tell me what | must do. How am l 10
manage? 1 want to make my husband
happy, but at the same time should like to
have something like order and comfort
around me. Do tell me how you do"
"In the first place, Fanny" said Mrs.
Ashland, ''if you take my advice you will
never tell your husband of any of your petty
domestic annOyances. He has his own bust
ness cares and troubles and wants to be en-
livened with cheerful conversation when he
comes home; and, from your own account,
it seems that you pour into his weary ears
all your little complaints which sound like
some thing quite serious to his already tagged
and faded spirit, when, after all, they are
out the merest trifies, which it would be
better for your own happiness if you dis
missed from your own mind; but to treasure
them up to repeat to your husband Is really
an act of more than folly"
'There is a good deal In that, to be sure"
replied the candid Fanny. But when ] feel
so annoyed and provoked as am bali the
time, 1 can not help letting him see 1t"
but, my dear" persisted her friend,
''you must not feel so. With youth, health,
means-though last, not least-a husband
that you dearly love, what right have
you to let trihes prey thus upon your happi-
ness?"
But your housekeeping goes on so quiet
ly," urged Fanny, "that iC is very easy for
you to say so; but if you had such plaques
as l have"
And, pray, what plaques have you," said
Mrs. Ashland, smiling, that L baye not?
Servants are of the same flesh and blood that
you and / are, Fanny-is not that all? You
surely can not expect perfection out of
human nature fer ten or even twenty dollars
a month"
But they are so ignorant and obstinate"
replied Fanny. III they would only mind,
would not care for the rest"
perfect obedience IS the most difficult
of human virtues, Fanny" returned Mrs.
Ashland. "Don't you think if we had the
reverse of the medal we might hear COM
plants equally bitter, and perhaps equally
Just. against mistreSses?'
Well" said Fanny, perhaps so. But
your house is always in perfect order-yet
you take everything easily. How do you
do it?"
"By not exacting too much" replied her
friend. by keeping general superintend-
ence, but not interfering too much with nay
servants. If they do their work faithfully
and we'll let them do it in their own way.
And, above all, Fanny, the little contre
temps we must all meet with easily. We
have real misfortunes and serious troubls
enough to encounter through the journey of
life, without creating them for ourselves in
disconnected tempers and unhappy house.
holds. The first object of good housekeep
ing is comfort, and comfort implies quiet
and ease. But above all, my dear child,
don't let little things loom into great ones
One must put I'D with much and pass over
much to get through the world happily"
Fanny took the advice, and has never re-
GREETED it,
The Incoming Wheat Crop.