The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-19
SLIPSHOD WAYS.
BY MRS. ANNIE A. PRESTON.

Mark and Jane were to be married
in a week. Dropping into the Taylor
sitting room n evening, Mark found
Aunt Mary assisting Jane about some
Of her elaborate and mysterious bridal
preparations. Aunt Mary was always
considerate and sympathetic in her
words and ways, and Mark liked her.
He sat down by her now in unwonted
silence, and with a clouded brow.
Jane looked at him f%urtively from
behind the clouds of white lace and
muslin in her lap, as he mechanically
poked over the multitudinous triffesin
her dainty work-basket, making as
vague and unsatisfactory to
her numerous questions as if he were
guessing conundrums. After ten
minutes had heen spent in this rather
stupid way, Aunt Mary asked, sud
denly
..Well, Mark, what is it,
The young man started and looked
up at her with a smile, as bright as if a
heavy log had been lifted off his men
tai horizon, as he said
Il declare, Aunt Mary, | didn't mean
to speak of it, but | am as nervous as
a girl over-over-neXt Thursday not
the ceremony itself, mind you | shall
really enjoy the display in the church
but ! refer to all the life that is to
follow"
Marriage is indeed the most i'm
portant event of a life time, and the
outlook to every reflective mind must
be a serious One," said the sweet faced
old lady ''but may l ask what has
brought up the subject so impressively
before you tonight !"
''The fact is, Aunt Mary" replied
Mark, hesitatingly, 81 have just come
from Cousin Henry's. AS l was pass
ing the gate on my way here l heard
the woodshed door open, and Susan's
voice call out 'Supper's ready The
pleasing vision of a neat dining-room,
a cosy tea table, and two happy, con-
tented young souls enjoying the nicely
cooked, tastefully served evening meal
rose up before me, and l could not re-
sist the impulse to turn back and take
a look at them. l ran in unceremoni-
ously, as is my wont, announcing
myself, as l opened the sitting-room
door, by a hearty Good evening"
There was no fire i'm the room. but
plenty Of dust and disorder.
"'Come right in here shouted out
Henry, ard followed his voice through
O1lC AOoll, III CASCpU Nv
the far away warmth Of the kitchen
fire. A large basket of rough, un-
folded, and unirOned clothes was
turned bottom upwards on the extern
sion table, an immense clOthes-hOrse
filled half the room, and every chair
was loaded with coats, hats, cloaks,
and shawls.
"'We just use the dining room as a
sort of 'tgangway" in the winter said
Henry, 'and den up here, except when
we have company. If anybody runs
in upon us they must take us as thew
find US This was not an over cordial
welcome, but l went along into the
kitchen where Henry was seating him
self at the tea table, which, if YOU will
believe me, Aunt Mary, was their little
hanging cooking table covered over
with a strip of oilcloth. A few odd
pieces of crockery were scattered upon
it without regard to order.
"The little bit of a kitchen was un-
tidy, the stove dirty and rusty. There
were memories of Saturdays baking
in the shape and appearance of flour.
dough, and grease on the floor, table.
and door latches, and a salt Goldfish.
with a cotton string tied around its
tail, was hanging to the knob of the
SASoCt Jul . lIil DIS IOIpn
and frowsy, and her gown was torn
and soiled. Dear me, who could have
imagined that such a state of things
was so soon to follow their great and
expensive wedding! What a picture
of loneliness the bride was They
might as we'll hire two or three rooms
In a flat to den up in as to W that
large, elegantly furnished house and
not use it, or to SO misuse it,
This scene rather discouraged me.
Were Jane and | to deteriOrate in that
way | think | would rather have every.
thing stop just where it is. | believe
1t would save us a world OF trouble.
and we would go on looking at mar
ried life, as we would have made II
through oSe-colored glasses :" and
Mark moved %uneasily. got up nery-
ously, and going around the table.
seated himself by James side and ten,
derby kissed the pretty, r@eproacbful
face she raised toward him. while
Aunt Mary was CONSIDERABLY LOOKING
another way.
perhaps Henry is not altogether
blameless in the premises" said Aunt
Mary, coming back to the table with q
red face after an energetic hunt for
shears did he fix himself up for
tea 2"
"Oh, dear, no." replied Mark. she
sat down and ate his bread and milk
In his shirt sleeves, cOllarless and era
vatleSs, and with unbrushed hair and
WhiakerS Ha would ~ ~