The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-03
A STORY FOR HUSBANDS.

Never was young wife happier and
more disposed to be pleased with hel
new home than the little woman whom
Philip Birney, one bright, sunny morn
ing, introduced as mistress of the plain
brown house that stood at the entrance
of the village of Redfeld.
" is capable of being made lovely
little place." she observed to her hus-
band, after quick survey of the yard,
fence and exterior generally. " A
honeysuckle trained over that window,
and acoat of paint on the portico would
help it wonderfully. q! Phil, l shall
take such pleasure in making our home
attractive and pretty! 1 have an old
white dimity dress that belonged to
mother-made before they gored the
skirts, you know-and l mean to make
curtains out of it for the upstairs cham
bersr'
Don't be tearing up your clothes,
Kate, to furnish the house. I'm afraid
there wouldn't be much economy in
that" was Phillips laughing reply as
he led the way into the house.
Kate fitted from one room to anoth-
er, chatting gaily of her plans as she
found something desirable and conven-
lent in each apartments cosy corner
here to sew in, well-placed shelf there,
that cupboard for her dishes and this
one for the table linen-to all of which
her husband listened with a pleased
smile.
eyes, shall so napch enjoy keeping
it tidy and orderly,n she said agaic and
again, as the tour of the rooms was fin
ished. And the next day the pretty
bride began housekeeping in earnest
The furniture was cheap and plain, but
it was marvellous how CHEEKY the rooms
looked after Kate, with few graceful
touches, had disposed of numerous
small ornamental articles taken from
her trunk, which her nimble fingers had
fashioned before leaving the home roof
1t was wonderful, too, how much that
trunk contained. Almost every day
Philip was called on to admire some
new thing brought up from its depths
to add brightness and beauty to the lit
tie house, until it became quite mat
ter of course to inquire, whenever a
new tin pan or other kitchen utensil
was added to their stock, if i. tao, came
out of the trunk.
AS time sped by, our young house
keeper found full occupation for hands
and heart, and although her increasing
household duties, and the charge of the
little one that was born to them, left
their traces on her pale face and bowed
shoulders, she lost none of the enthusi-
asm and genuine delight in keeping the
house neat and pretty, which had char
acterized the beginning of her wifely
career. The lawn was dotted with
shrubbery, planted and cared for by hel
own hands. The well-kept strawberry
patch, the thrifty grapevinss and choice
young fruits were also the result of hei
industry, unaided save by the OCCASION
al help of the little ones, who were fal
Oftener hinderance than an assistance
And all this had been accomplished at
disadvantage, for Mr.. Birney was
man who cared very little for these
things, or at least did not value them a
their real worth. He relished the linz
cherries and berries that added so mucl
to their bill of fare during the season O
fruits, quite as much as any one, but h,
had only vague idea of the labor an,
care they cost his wife. He enjoye,
coming home in the evening to his clean
orderly domicile, where he knew al
ways that palatable meal awaited him
he realized dimly that the dooryard
with its borders of sweet alyssum an,
bright phlox, was one of the pretties
sights in the village, but he accepted i
all as matter of course.
His wife VaC a modal uyor,o,, L;
eyes, and when he sometimes noticed
as the truth does force itself on ever,
mind, that she looked care-worn an,
too old for her years, it never occurre
to him that little thoughtfulness O
his part would save her many wear
steps. He had not learned that lesso
so many husbands need to learn, ths
by exercising little care wife S labor
may be materially lightened.
Philip Birney would have resente
the imputation fiercely had any one sal
he was cruel to poor Kate, and yet I'll
habit of carrying in a rim of mud G
his boot, to be ground into the sitting
room carpet, for his weak-backed wi
to sweep out again, deserved no mild,
term.
A hat-rack was part of the hall flu
niture, but so far as Mr.. Birney was co
cerned it might as well have been
Jamaica. A coat thrown over the bat
of chair, or hat tossed ON the flo,
was the invariable rule with the he,
of the house, and the fact that the orde
ly Kate would Immediately leave h
work to put them in their proper plac
did not cause Mr.. Birney to mend h
ways.
40, Philip, how could youP" she sa
one day on returning from visit, al
finding her husband had been MAXI
his toilet in the parlor, leaving, as
delicate souvenir of his presence /
soiled linen and pair of socks in t
middle of the floor. Did this roc
look this way when Mrs. Jamison W