The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-17

IL lB uOuDtIul II tDe Judge WOuiC
have felt as much surprise to hear hi:
wife say sbe was going to make 8
voyage to Europe, as to hear her say
she was going to make soap! They
bad not been very long married then,
and the Judge was not yet conversanr
with the full catalogue Of that thor.
oughly homemade womsn's accom-.
plishments. She had been one of the
Eve daughters of q widow, left while
her children were wee bit girls, in
very strsitened circumstances. The
way the mother reared them up to
true and useful womsnhood was q
marvel of perseverance, industry and
economy. She managed to have
them we'll educated for the times, and
saw them all married into the best
circles, and occupying positions Of
responsibility and influence. Judge
Manotte's wife was the youngest of
the widows daughters, and it was
thought she had made the best match
of the Eve. The Judges home was
one OF the pleasantest in the thrifty
village, which has since assumed the
more ambitious name of city. He
bad been gently born and raised,
went esrly to college, and from
thence to bis profession as a lawyer.
Manual toll was q stranger to him,
yet be was man of industry, 10 no
sense given to profuseness Of expend-
iture. He approved and admired his
wife's general prudence in house
keeping. and spoke with pride to bis
guests of the excellent food with
which his board was spread, as the
work of her own hands. Mrs. Man
otte might have kept servants. /
think the Judge would have been
better satisfied if she would have had
q girl-sll the ladies of her position
bad one or more-but she declared
with decision, pretty early in their
welded lite, that she would not be
bothered with servants as long as she
had health to do her own work. The
exercise was no more than she need.
ed for her own health
Mrs. Manotte had will and way
Of her own, as the tale will bear
abundant evidence. The Judge
made the discovery pretty early. He
could doubtless make moving plea
in q court room, but be was aware
be could make no plea to move his
wife when she was bent on a certain
course.
Bot yet when Mrs. Manotte, over
the breakfast table on a fair April
morning, announced her intention Of
making 9 barrel of soft soap, the
Judge looked as if stricken with q
sudden palsy. l doubt if he would
have worn . more rueful face had
bis best Law suit gone against him.
"And hope you will help me all
you csn," added the earnest woman,
on thoughts of economy, ashes and
grease intent.
Indeed, can render ycu no as.
sistance whatever ~ returned the
Judge, in sharper tones than bis wife
had ever heard him speak before.
Her calm blue eyes surveyed him
with unruffied composure. but there
wac not 10 look or bearing one symp.
tom wsvering from her purpose.
Then / must 60 to the job alone,
she said.
II beg you will do thing Of the
kind" continued the Judge, some
thing very like frown contracting
his brow Il am perfectly willing to
buy oil tie soap we need, and VIVA,
use should We have for a vile, sloppy
stof the rough-scuff use 7"
"Soft soap was good enough for
my mother. and it is good enough fol
her daughter returned Mrs Man
otte, with q dignity approaching
sternness.