The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-09-30

to the argument. ''And, now that you
speak of the kitchen, how will it be
about washing and sweeping the stair
ways and entries?"
/ I'VE will take our turn, of course
butt suppose that as you have four men
| folks-for the boys are worse than men,
in respect of wear and tear and dirt
you would not object to doing about
| two-thirds instead of one-half the clean
ing, we having but one male person to
| three women"
ST will speak to Mr.. Prod about it."
was the faint and eYaslYe answer. $ 1t
seems reasonable, but my boys are very
clean and orderly, always scrape their
feet before they come in, andare careful
not to injure carpets, paint or paper"
81 am glad you have spoken about
that" proceeded the landlady, for it
reminds me Of what was going to ask
you-whether you pay much attention
to dress, as q general thing, or merely
dress tidily, or don't care much if you
| go slip-shod and anyhow. Some of the
best people, to be sure, go slipshod and
anyhow but Rebecca is very particular
l. about appearances, and think myself,
anu 80 uOSo Iii. AColllS, tllbt IL ~ UtSb
Tor people to be always respectfully
clad"
You will have no cause to be troubled
on that score, replied Mrs. Prod, with
a proud smile. ''As for James and
Samuel, they always dress as if they
we're going to -Sunday-school They
| take after my brother Joseph, who is
regular dandy. AS to my husband,
there is no end to the clothes he has
and for myself, this black silk dress
hasn't spot nor q rip In it, and yet it
is the meanest one / have. am very
| glad you spoke of that, for I was going
to ask you the very same question.
| whether you and your husband, and
your sister Rebecca, and your grand
mother observed neatness and the fash
ions; for it would be quite notifying
to us if you were not scrupulous in that
respect.
g Then we shall get along delightful
ly," returned Mrs. Fleshly, apparently
much pleased at this homage to dry
goods, "if we agree upon other things.
have known two families to live in the
same house for twenty years, and hard
ly know which family they belonged to,
if they had a good understanding with
each other and agreed upon all the lit
tie points.
"There is one little point I should
like to inquire about, said Mrs. Prod.
We are very happy family, and the
boys will laugh and talk, and Joseph is
great singer. He has splendid bass
voice, and when play and he sings, and
Mr.. Prod is telling funny stories to
James and Samuel, perhaps we might
disturb you.
~ am glad you spoke of that" ex-
claimed Mrs. Fleshly, for I forgot to
ask you if you made much noise. Now,
Grandmother Fleshly is pretty deaf, but
she is often in dread that the house is
on fire and if your brother Joseph has
very bass voice, she might hear it and
| think it was an alarm of fire, and it
might cause her death. We have to be
very CAREFUL about grandmother, as she
is 80 years Of age and we wouldn't wish
her to die prematurely. So don't you
think on her account, if not for Rebecca,
you would prevail upon Joseph to dis
pense with his singing, and induce Mr..
Prod and the boys to speak in low
tone and laugh mildly ?"
81 will speak to Joseph, and Mr..
Prod, and James, and Samuel about it, "
said the obliging Mrs Prod, "and per
haps they will.
"Mr. Fleshly is very fond of his
pipe" said Mrs. Fleshly, wishing to
suggest recompense for the sacrifice
required, "and perhaps your husband
and brother would like to pass the even
ings and smoke with him occasionally"
"Smoke Oh, no, indeed! Mr.. Prod
can't bear the smell of tobacco, and it
always makes Joseph sick Don't you
think-I am very glad you happened to
speak of that-that you could persuade
Mr.. Fleshly to give up his pipe?"
Gle always smokes down in the litch-
en-, ;" suggested the landlady, with look
| Of dismay.
"But that would make it still more
unpleasant to Mr.. Prod and Joseph, for
| the smoke would ascend and smell all
over the house."
perhaps Mr.. Fleshly might arrange
it so as to keep his pipe over the range,
and let the smoke go up the chimney;
or perhaps Mr.. Prod or Joseph might
be willing to bear what little scents they
got, till they were used to it. I think
that we will be able to overcome the an
noyance, Mrs. Prod, if we can agree
upon other things. And [ would like to
mention something about sickness. We
should hope you are healthy family.
My sister, Rebecca, is very much afraid
of contracting some disease, and if a
sicBly family should come into the house,
/ | should never hear the last of her COM
planning. Besides, she thinks doctors
visits unlucky."
fShe may rest her mind upon that
score, then, for if doctor waits till we
are likely to need one, it will be after
our lease is up. We haven't had doc
tor in our family since Samuel was
born"
elbow fortunater' said Mrs. Fleshly.
"And hope you are all pretty sound
in body, too.
81 thank you, we are extremely so,
because we are so careful. And now
there is another thing. May I ask how
you obtain your supphes-whether prin-
cipaily by good many errands daily,
| seeing that you nave TWO DoyS-Wnlcn
would cause much disagreeable goingto
and fro-or would your goods mostly
come by weekly, monthly or yearly re-
Punishment?
"Of course our fresh meat, milk.
bread and newspapers do not come year
ly, but by the day, "said Mrs Prod, with
blush and smile, under the close cat
echism "but Tn proud to say that Mr.
Prod has both the win and the way of a
good provide1, and buys his family
stores by the hundred and two, and
sometimes $500 worth I"
Mrs. Fleshly seemed overjoyed at this
piece of intelligence, as indicating some
degree of soidity in the family of her
proposed tenants bat still sho felt the
necessity of being cautious.
What were dry goods, provisions and
groceries, after all? What were health
and neatness What was everything
else, if manners should prove disagreea-
BILE? She felt the necessity of enlight-
eminent in that respect, and so cautiously
felt her way into the Prod family with
continued persistency.
"You will find plenty Of store room, I"