The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-02
tFrUm the Home Journal.l
ONLY TWO OF US.
BY MRS. ROBINSON.

BY MRS. ROBINSON.
81 VI made IN engagement for YOU to
spend day ont this week." Observed
Squire Crosby, as his wife was placing
dinner On the table.
Have You? I'm sorry, for fear |
shall be too busy to fulfil it, she re-
joined, in slight tone of regret.
BUSY about what?' testify exclaimed
the speaker. IL would respectively i'll
qmrc, for somewhat less than the hun
dredth time, what you can possibly find
To do? Ii seems to me that you must
really suffer for want Of exercise.
IL do. undoubtedly" said Mrs. Cros-
10y. dryly.
ut cant he otherwise. continued the
squire. decidedly. 1T lisa comparative
~ idle lite for a woman to attend to few
household cares"
"A few household cares"
YES, my dear Mrs. Crosby. and the
washing put into the bargain. What
laboriuus business Squire Crosby
looked very wise and spoke with slight
degree of irony.
''Iou talk like one who is unacquaint-
cd with his subject, Int ut the same time
l am willing 10 allow that YOU know as
much about il as the generality Of men:
and that can't he construed into COM
pliment to the sex by any means"
"But isn't the fact a sclf-evident one,
l see-Observc-loOka about mc-comprc-
bend - demanded the squire.
''I"u might, without doubt; but
Tin.fI ..R. II,
joined his wife. "Be that as it may,
however, | am satisfied that | can find
enough TO do to kccpme out of idleness."
When there's only two of us?"
"Only two Of us, added Mrs. Crosby,
quietly; for il is Just rs necessary that
two should eat as four"
"Wrll. II certainly must he a great
undertaking To cook little food, wash
few dishes and lay the table three times
day Why, | could accomplish the
Who'll" III less than two hours -
"Thusc duties You have named do not
comprise the whole Of housekeeping,
Mr.. Crosby"
Perhaps not: shouldn't mind throw
ing III a little busting and sweeping,
once IN Il while. But il certainly APP
pears laughablc to hear a woman COM
plain of tine work when there are only
tw" III the family. | verify believe it's
nothing hut habit" quoth the squire,
wit: iycoming gravity.
Suppose you try it for one day, ="
proposed Mrs. Crosby, with like serious
Ness. "I'l go to the Office and do your
work, and you can remain at home and
do mine"
ITS rather a novel proposition, and
don't at this time recall To mind any
celebrated men who have done house
work. / haven't the least objection To
trying it, Notwithstanding, AMI presume
1t will he the easiest days work | shall
have this year, reioined the husband.
Both being agreed, the next day was
selected for the exchange of employ
mcnts. a quiet smile lurked upon Mrs.
Crosby mouth, and the squire evident
ly thought it good joke; one which
would afford him Il large fund of merri-
ment, and he the means Of proving to
his wife that hOusework was nothing
more than pleasant amusement.
The deluded woman thought her time
was fully occupied i'll keeping a good
sized house occupied, and i'll devising
new means of gratifying the palate of the
squire, who, strange to say, liked good
food, and abundance of it. lie seemed
10 think that this jumped upon the table
ready cooked, and that Mrs Crosby (Or
some other person, had bnt to utter a
few magical words, and all was done
BIT to hear these tritling duties termed
enormous, when there were "Only two of
them to look after, seemed n great
absurdity to Squire Crosby, and he in
wardly resolved to write an article on the
subject, and let the sterncr sex know
how much they were imposed upon.
While rejecting upon this laudible de-
termination, Mrs. Crosby had occupied
herself i'll jottine down ii list of the duties
which demanded attention the next
morning. THIS she folded, and quietly
handed 10 her husband, requesting him
to make out similar paper, so that no
lnismanagcment might ensuc
"The list is no longer than usual, "
said the lady, smiling at the earnestness
with which he surveyed it. 81 go
through withthe same performance every
day. 1t is necessary, for they cannot be
omitted. But don't he frightened; yOu
can take your time, she added, i'll bant-
ering tone.
Fcignimg the utmost Indifference to the
results, hc remarked that he should
probably "make quick work of it, and
placing the paper III his pocket, return
ed To the Office.
The liegc lord of Mrs. Crosby prac-
tised law in Il suburban town, and had
acquired considerable property by the
same, His wife had independence enough
to do her own housewOrk, but could not
help thinking that she deserved some
credit for so doing. She had no particu-
lar desire 10 he praised; "justice where
Justice IL due" was her motto; and our
readers will perhaps coincide with her
III the belief, that it was rather hard to
work busily whole morning, and then
bc told that :" she had done nothing
comparatively" II was not encourage
ing. to say the least, and she awaited the
experiment Of the next day with much
interest.
Morning came, and the squire aroused
his wife and informed her i'll IA significant
TONG chat il was quite time TO dress and
make fire." Mrs. Crosby did not wait
for second bidding, but remarked, M
she left the chamber, that he might
put himself in readiness to see about tho
breakfast
Our heroine had taken the precautioI
the night previous 10 prepare the kind
lings, and in short time had brisk
fire. She allowed herself to do just what
her husband had been in the habit 81
doing, and nomOre He usually left the
coal dust and cindcrs for her to sift anc
clear away, as well as the remnants o.
pick zap; and she didn't feel inclined t.
limit his privileges at this time. The
dining table stood III the middle of thu
room, also covered with books, papers
writing materials and articles used the
evening before. These she did not mo
lest, and without pulling mp the shades
or putting back the chairs, she took {
newspaper and began to read.
The squire mad evidently completed
his toilet quicker than common, but j
was nevertheless nearly an hour befor,
lac madc his appearance. 1t was some
thing novel to sec his wife reading befor