Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-05-29
The Young Wife's Confusion.

"You are one woman of thousand, Nell
you are, indeed and I'm proud of you.
Come when | may, | find the house as neat
as bandbox and my little wife as fresh
as rose. | like that, Nell. I've always
thought that if anything could put me out
of temper with the woman | loved it would
be to come home and find the house topsy-
turvy and my wife in a soiled wrapper and
with rough head. Little woman, you're
treasure, and I'm proud of you
And Edward Hastings kissed his pretty
bride until her cheeks glowed like the red
June roses out in the sunshine.
She was very happy, very much pleased
and fiattered at her husbands praise.
They had been married just six months,
and Nell was pattern to all housewives.
She arose with the birds that made their
nest in the great apple-tree, and did her
housework in the early morning hours.
Come when he might, her husband always
found his little home in order, the cupboard
stored with something good to eat, and his
wife dressed in fresh wrapper, with flower
in her hair and smile of welcome on her
fair face.
"If there's any one thing more likely to
provoke fellow than another" he went on,
lingering moment in the sunny portico,
his arm around her waist, "tis to bring a
friend home to dinner or luncheon and find
everything out of sorts. Now there's
Gravesly; his wife's fine woman when you
see her out, snowy woman, always well
dressed. Well, Gravesly invited me to
lunch that day we went out together. |
went, but was sorry for it. Such a house
as we found-all heels-over-head, and |
caught sight of the mistress disappearing
up stairs in curl-papers and slippers. She
was indisposed and could not see us, the
girl said. We lunched on bread and cheese,
and Gravesly, poor fellow, though he said
nothing, looked exceedingly annoyed. |
should have been angry. / think wife
should make it her duty to keep her house
and her person in presentable order, so that
her husband, come when he may, may find
her ready to welcome him."
$50 do l." said Nell, smiling up into his
face. "You need never be afraid to invite a
friend home with you, Ned. No matter if |
don't know, shall be ready to receive you" "
Ned gave her ringing kiss.
"Very WELL little woman | shall try you
one of these days-and now | must run.
Goodbye"
She watched him out of sight, with happy
eyes, and then went back to her pretty sit
| ting-room and her workable.
| A month later the summer was on the
wane and the fruits were well ripened.
"Jane," said Mrs. Hastings one bright
morning, returning from the garden-gate,
where she had parted with her husband, 81
! have lust looked at the currants, and they
are quite ripe. We must make our jelly at
once. Now Mr. Hastings won't be home till
late to-day. | want to spend the day with
mother tomorrow, and l should very much
like to get the job off my hands to-day
What do you say?"
81 can soon pick the currants, maam.'
"All right; suppose you begin. VIZ
won't clean up now. Let the house stand
though it is dreadfully out of order. Per
haps we may find time to straighten W
when we get the fruit cooking. Hurry, now
and pick as fast as you can, and I'll stel
over to Browns and order sugar and jars"
Jane obeyed, leaving the breakfast-roon
unswept and the front steps unwashed.
1t was high noon before the first kettle o.
Juice was got in cooking order.
Making currant jelly was rather more o
an undertaking than Mrs. Hastings i'm
agined.
She had seen it made at home under he
mothers supervision, and making it herself
she fancied, would be quite as easy
"Dear me, how the time flies ! Do hurry
Jane What lot there is yet to strain
, But we must get it done. | dare say it won
, take the juice long to thicken. Mamm
, used to make it in no time. What are W
| to do about dinner | wonder We can
| cook the ham-there's no room on the fire
. We must have makeup dinner when W
b. have finished. Mr.. Hastings Will torglv
us, I'm sure"
A And, arrayed in her Holland apron, witt
| l. ,a,J 40 oil he
Q sleeves tucked above her elbows, Nell worke
away with all her might, picking, boiling
straining until her cheeks were flushed an
her head ached.
"Why, Jane, this juice won't jelly, an
o it has boiled so long. What can be tn
= matter?"
= "There's something you put in to max
6 it Jelly, l think, maam."
, "Oh, dear, no. Mother never did, II
o sure, III add more sugar and let 1t boil a
l. hour longer. Dear me | thought "
It should have had our last kettle on by tn
l. time We shall be so late, and I'm tired
J. death now. wish had done as moth'
d said. She advised me TO send the curran
6 over there and let Hannah make the jel
7. but was sure could do it myself"
a The steaming kettle boiled another hou
e. The summer sun hung above the gree
70 summit of the poplars
a Surely it will be jelly now, jane" sal
d, the weary housewife, pouring some OF Il
r hot, red liquid into cold water.
But juice it remained for all the cookir
and stewing it had undergone.
"Oh, what shall do2 Surely, the stu
must be bewitched. I've great mind
ir pour it all away" cried poor Nell, ready
at cry with vexation.
IL al tell you, ma'am, you put something
r. to make it jelly" persisted Jane.
IT "Oh, Jane, hush You know nothiI
IN about it. tell you, you don't put in an
or thing. What must ] do 2 Cook it mort
N il is burning to the kettle now, and L
ID wasted ever so much sugar Jane, II
es over 10 mothers and ask Hannah 10 ST.
or over, will you Z She'll know in minu
OF what to do. DO pray be quick; its drea
Nj fully late"
a Jane departed.
ID "lf cooking will do I'll make jelly of
NJ before Hannah gets here" she said.
lg But instead OF boiling to jelly, the curra
OH Juice boiled over in great foamy, red wav
The fire hissed, and dense smoke anC
pungent scent of burning sweets filled
20 kitchen.
"a Spattered from head TO foot with the
no LIQUID, one hand scalded and her pretty ia
oi besmeared, Nell retreated to the door in ut
despair.
yo "Oh, wish l had never"
or The sentence was never finished.
Sha ntond 1nmh with horror for rOmi