The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-05-13

eSntt 80 sue brought down her foot again. j
"I'u have you to understand, sir,n she |
said, loftily, "that this delay is not the
fault OF Yours Truly, but of the sex that
by your showing never procrastinates."
'But you said you'd only tear up one
room at a time" said the Governor; .
''and here's a dozen in a state of prime
val chaos %
"Never mind him, dear" exclaimed
Yours Truly's adorable jim, who provi-
deutially appeared at this juucture
"the men have their part Of the work
well on the way now, and they'll have
it finished by tomorrow evening"
"Bat I can't get the carpets cleaned
and nailed, the window curtains washed
and up, and the pictures hung and
the beds and furniture in place in one
day, jim"
"Why not? ?' growled the Governor
''There's not an hours work in the
whole Of itr'
Suppose you Try it, then, and give
me chance 10 get bath and shed this
old toggery and rest myself aud relieve
mother Of the care OF the babies ~
The Governor did not eondeseeud to
reply to this gentle hint; but be limped
away on his gouty footsNit still makes
him furious to call it gout and
slammed the door after him.
What with beating carpets, washing
windows, running errauds for the paint
ers, driving tacks, polishing stair-rods
and andirons, cleaning picture frames,
arranging furniture, aud overseeing
everything, Yours Truly had her hands
full. Baby number one would dodge
every body's vigilance and dabble in
paint. and number two would catch
cold and cry with the collie; the China
man was too thick-headed to go on with
his regular cooking aud dishwashing
without great deal of spasmodic help
from Yours Truly, ard taken altogether
her work was harder much harder
than anybody but a woman would en-
dure for the sake OF living in peace and
cleanliness. But it was all over in q
week, Mrs. D., though (softly lie it
whispered) there was a terribly busy
Sunday thrown ia.
"Wonder what the women will find
TO make 'em happy for the year to come,
now the house-eIeaning's done ~ said
the Governor, when the long dining
table was spread on Monday morning,
with everything about it and in the
room as neat as a new needle.
, "We'll be having tie satisfaction oi
making our fathers aud husbands COM
Portable, and giving them less to grum-
ble about than they've had for a sea-
/ son % hotly answered Yours Truly.
"But where's your theory about clean
I ing one room al a time ," asked jim,
gently.
"Gone to the winds, with all my
, other pet fancies," replied Yours Truly.
b Theorists may write books on the art
D Of house cleaning till doomsday, but no
J theory will ever bring calciminers to
J time, or hurry paint in tile drying, OF
keep back the rain, or hang the wall
= paper, or beat and lay carpets, or bur
t nish siair-rods!'
P "Look at that! It's advice to house
keepers ~ exclaimed the Governor, as
he thrust a newspaper under Your.
s Truly's nose. "See how easily you
might manage your business if you'd
e be methodical like n man."
Baby number one kicked loose from
] his patent chair at this crisis, ant
; bumped his nose on the table, thereby
! upsetting the Governor temper through
e his lusty cries.
. Yours Truly believes she'd have hi
D somebody If she'd read that "advice tC
e housekeepers" before the men got away
q and permitted her TO quiet number on,
and cool her temper. Here's what sh,
s read:
II wives aad mothers would render tht
house-cleaning season endurable 10 their hus
? bands and fathers, they should rememberth
= it is very trying on their nerves and temper
-, 20 come home 10 an unsettled, disorder,
house. Let them when housc-cIeaning upse
only one room az time, leaving all the res
d in their usual order iii their separate turn
= come. Many a man has been driven Q,
4 drunkenness, or worse, by the discomiorts o
his home in house-cleaning season. Ladies
I never let your husbands know there is such
D season, If you would preserve their love an,
4 coustancy.
: Stuff and nonsense, Mrs. D! Your
8 Truly thought Of her weary days an,
: comfortless nights, Of her aching bones
q and her general discomfort ana annoy
s ance, OF which men know comparatively
= nothing. She looked with commisera
8 tion upon her worn and battered hands
r aud thought ruefully of the delays tha
u men had subjected her to in failing t'
b be on time with their part Of the work
end then, while the fit was on her, sa
T down In the chimney cornerand penneC
e the following advice to husbands anC
n fathers:
y Keep within your sphere. A little more
: modcsty wouldn't hurt you. House-cleauins
, is a thousand times greater trial 10 womef
- than to yourselves. The work is too hand fO
70 them, and in justice 10 them you should mar
e shal a small company OF men to do, not onll
2. the painting, papering and calcimining lth'
II easiest part Of 10 alD, but the scrubbing scour
ing. lining, carpet-beating, mailing, tacklng
, window-washing,c curtain and picture hanging
o emptying old barrels, washing bedclothes an,
e cleaning up back yards. Too much advice q
women, and too little help. is what's kiillu.
u.s. But, II you cannot or will not take th
&c above 10 heart and profit by It, you can, a
Il.