Smyrna times., 1881-10-19
Mrs. Holmes Help.

No, sir!'' snid Farmer Holmes, as he
encrgetically knocked the ashes out of
his pipe, against a projecting stone of the
kitchen fireplace; mo sir! You may
marry the girl if you choose, for can't
prevent that; if you do, she or you shall
never find II home beneath my roof!
That's all I've got to say"
But father, once for all, what is your
objection 20 Miss WestOn?'
" Amt she oily girl, sir ir!-city born and
city bred:"
Granted. But is that crime or a dis
grace?"
Don't she dance and play the piano ?'
Eyes; but
Don't she wear her hair frizzed and
crimped over her forehead like our two
year old bull? and a waterfall, as you call
it (sneeringly, ON the top o her head. big
enough to hold one o mothers apple
dumplings?"
She dresses her hair az other"
And don't she wear flounUer, and fur
bellows, and fardingales, and lot o. other
nonsense, until she looks like our ruff1ed
pullet with the feathers turned the wrong
ways
Really, sir"
eyes, really, sir, you can't deny it:
And really, sir, that shows that she's nc
fitting wife for farmers household. Oh
what use would she be here, I'd like to
know? What can a city bred girl do but
paw the piano, and turn up her nose tc
everything good and useful! No sir =
Go and marry the girl, if you please; but
she shall never come here to idle about
and give herself airs, and be waited upon
like a princess. That's all I've got tC
say!" concluded the old gentleman, crush
ing down his hat upon his head, anG
stamping vigorously out of the kitchen tC
look after things in the barnyard.
All this discOurse-that is, of course the
matter of it, merely, sOftened and dOublN
refined-did Richard Holmes find him
self compelled to repeat to Clara WestoI
on his next weekly visit to the city. How
otherwise could he explain to her tn,
difficulty of the situation?
He was young country doctor, VIII,
had but recently received his diploma il
the city, where he had met with and be
came engaged to pretty Miss Weston
He had nothing but talent to begin on
for his father, though rich, was parsim
OniOus as regarded money. Yet, living a
home on the farm, as his parents desires
he should do, his expenses would be few
and he might soon get into good practice
Certainly he could not afford at presen
an independent home of his own to tax
his wife; and to wait from three to five @
ten years-pshaw! it wasn't to be though
of.
Clara did not look at all hurt or Offer
ded when told Mr., Holmes, seniors idea
the capacities of city girls. On the cor
trory, she laughed and seemed quit
amused.
$50 your father thinks l must be
mere doll? Do you know Richard, thi
papa calls me famous little housekeepei
and that it was who made the rolls an
cake we had for tea? and | who keep IL
parlors in order, and the housekeepir
accounts-and, in short-not to overprai
myself-attend to everything in the who
= house?"
"Youl is it possible, darling?" exclair
ed the delighted Richard.
And would wager you anything W
please tnat / could be of more use to yo1
mother than the most accomplished he
i, she can hire in the country" continue
the girl tossing her "frizzed" head with
y pretty air of mock vanity.
"Suppose we try that" suggested L
lover, with sudden bright idea. "A
parents have never seen you, and / q
= sure that it requires only that they shou
know you and your accomplishments
appreciate you as you deserve"
So they talked it over, and agreed
O little plan that was to effect this desil
|, BILE consummation the first step to whi
was a private marriage known but to M
~ Weston's own family.
Humph ~ muttered Farmer Holm
looking askance to the new help viii
- his wife had engaged, "humphl she do
look fit for much, with such hands a
such waist"
!" Fit? Why you haven't an idea of
IA she's done to-day y answered Mrs.
@ enthusiastically. She has swept
r. parlor carpet with q damp broom, dipl
in something or other--a little alum il
believe-and made the colors come
- as fresh and clean as when twas NJ
IL She tells me that If the brooms are dip
M in hot suds, once week or so, the
grow very tough, and win sweep BET