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

rest OF the Qay.
But when peoples tempers have been
rufled, and their spirits exhausted, it j:
not very easy always to recover theil
usual tone Immediately; and Fanny
spite of her efforts, could not be gay,
while she still heard the word "fussy
ringing in her ears; and Mr.. Taylor did
not forget at once that he had been called
unreasonable and unjust" So after
several vain endeayors at conversation,
sAe fell into a languid silence, and he
threw himself upon the sofa, in hopes OF
nap until the evening paper came in.
No further allusion was made to Mr..
Harrington or the basement-room. For
tunately friend or two came in during
the evening, and it passed off tolerably
cheerful, though Fanny still went to
bed with weight at her heart, the ex-
act cause of which she could hardly have
told, while the long breath she drew at
intervals sounded SO like sigh, that her
husband felt each as a gentle reproach
to himself.
Thus, with youth, health, means sufi-
cient, and not serious care upon earth,
our young housekeeper often contrived
to feel as sad and make her husband look
as gloomy as if some real misfortune
were hanging over them.
"The Hazards are going to break up
housekeeping" said some female gossip,
one day, while dining with the Taylors.
"Indeedp said Fanny. "What is
that?'
They are tired out" replied her
friend.
"I am not surprised at it" said Mr..
Taylor. There is no comfort in it."
Z" Not in keeping house as Mrs. Haz-
ard does" replied the lady. 81 never
saw house in such condition"
"AhW exclaimed Fanny to whose
taste this bit of gossip was peculiarly
suited. GLOW was itP'
ooh, she attended to nothing" re-
piled her friend. Everybody did just
as they pleased. The servants cleaned
when they liked, or left it alone. Mr..
Hazard brought in company at all times,
and if they had good dinner, SO much
the better; and if they had-net, they
did not seem to think it matter of any
consequence. / never saw people who
took things so easy. If any contretemps
happened, which of course they would
with such housekeeping, she only
laughed. And ] really believe there
was not whole set of anything in the
house that matched"
"a charming way of living" said Mr..
Taylor. "I wonder Hazard wants to
break up" =
Well, it was pleasant, easy sort of
a house too," continued their guest !;
"but, Mr.. Taylor" she added, smiling,
you can hardly expect us ladies TO take
the trouble to be good housekeepers, if
you admire such an establishment as
Mr.. Hazards. 1t is really putting a
premium upon bad housekeeping, and
you would not find much comfort in
that, assure you"
1 should like to try it at any rate"
he replied, with a mixture of truth and
playfulness that Jared terribly upon
his little wife's feelings. +" For l must
own," he continued, that l am heartily
sick of such housekeeping. Indeed" he
added, with an expression of earnest
ness that startled Fanny, ~ am seriously
thinking of giving up this house when
the lease expires, and going to board
ourselves"
"Oh, Charlesp she exclaimed, too
breathless to say more.
"Why, Fanny" he replied, "it is
more for your sake than my own that |
would make the change. Your house
keeping is source of perpetual torment
to you, am sure"
There are occasionally some annoy
ances," she said.
"Occasionallyp' he continued. "Why,
/ am sure it has been nothing but one
continual string of complaints ever
since we have been married. Precious
little comfort have we had in house
keeping"
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 dozen glasses that
will match?"
Rather that" he replied, resolutely,
ethan slave yourself and torment me as
you do with keeping everything so nice.
If l must choose between happiness and
order, should certainly say happiness.
Comfort seems out of the question in
either case"
"1t's to be hoped they are not incom-
patible," 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 hel
husband 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
wife's heart, and she pondered them in
silence, and wept passionately over them
when she was alone.
az will go to Mrs. Ashland" she said
to herself cher housekeeping seems te
go by magic, and 1 will ask her how she
manages" and so she went the next
morning to Mrs. Ashland, who was ar
old friend she had known from child
hood, and to whom, not without tears
she laid open her whole heart and al
her troubles.
"My dear child" said her friend
smiling kindly, you are very youne
housekeeper-that is all"
"Well, dear Mrs. Ashland" sale
Fanny, tell me what 1 must do. How
am to manage? Iwant to make my
husband happy; but at the same time
should like to have something like ordel
and comfort around me. Do tell mt
how you do"
In the first place, Fanny" said Mrs
Ashland, "if you take my advice, 70,
will never tell your husband of any o
your petty domestic annoyances. 81,
has his own business cares and troubles
and wants to be enlivened with Cheerful
conversation when he comes home; and
from your own account, it seems tina
you pour into his weary ears all you
little complaints, which sound like some
thing quite serious to his already fagge,
and jaded spirit, when, after all, the,
are but the merest trifes, which it woull
be better for your own happiness if yo1
dismissed from your own mind but t
treasure them up to repeat to your hus
band is really an act of more thai
folly"
"There is good deal in that, to b