The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-07-08
Pon aTmE Unrox."
BACHELOR BoB's" COTTAGE.

earlier period of its history il had evi.
IDENTIFY boasted garden, but from ne
glect of former occupants, the fencing
had fallen into decay nhis had original
ly been Of pickets, but the inroads OF
time and pigs have necessitated precau.
tionary patching with old rails, decayed
boards, pieces Of brick and stone, OF
any material that would stop chink,
and was otherwise useleSs,) and tourist
pigs and relic hunting fowls, in their
predatory researches, had wrought de-
struction upon the beds and plants,
Sparing nothing TO remind Of former
floral glories, save rank growth oi
jimson jamestown weeds, and bur.
docks, that even hungry pigs and geese
pass. unheeding. by.
The main structure, built Of salmon
brick, consists of four apartments a
parlor and dining-room upon the first
floor, a bedroom and library over them.
II is called library because there are nc
books in il, being dedicated as a smok
ing saloon. The back building contains
4 kitchen, with servants quarters above
The cottage is completely furnished and
embellished with choice bric-a brac o.
the old shoe and blue yarn stocking
period, and adorned with rare chromot
and water-color sketches by the "olC
masters" IL % in thorough repair, bar
ring a dozen or so crippled window
panes and half that number of invalidec
doors. The unexpected floors were orig
inally decorated in walnut design, bui
from continued use have come TO feebl,
resemble faint yellow pine.
The furniture is tasteful and elabor
ate. much of il unique, and comprise:
lot Of split-bottom reception chairs
poplar sofas, (invidious women would
call them Se,tees,) red cedar etergare,
deal center tables, soft pine lounge.
brocaded, hickory tete-a-tetes in ere
tonne, oiled white pine dinner table
Windsor dining chairs. the whole ir
Louis XIV. style; the city clock, wher
running, for 4 time piece, and massive
cherry beadstead Of high post pattern,
with two straw mattresses, an heir loom
bought at auction for S..7s. /,
is an antique, whatever that may be
bu; that is what the auciioneer called il,
volunteering the information ",hat il
was dead low At the price" In addi
iion, the cottage is provided with every
appliance TO render it charming and
elegant home.
The family consists OF myself, the
cook Mrs. O'Flaherty, and her youngest
son, 4 child Of some IS summers who
possesses the happy faculty Clike women
Of always being somewhere else wher
specially needed. The cook, his moth
or, is Of an ancient Celtic family from
Southern France, though her vernaculal
seems surprisingly Irish. She is Of tbs
regulation pattern, in the aitenuateC
and Aeeiing style OF architecture. sharI
featured and vinegarish of mien, ad
dic;ed TO an old clay pipe and othel
FTcnchfssh;cns, and always. when called
answers ''yez eur" in pure Partisan di
alect.
Why she should indulge such plebeiar
fondness for tobacco smoke when sh,
has the sole use and benefit Of a slightl,
defective kitchen chimney that furnishe'
an unlimited supply Of the choices, Goa
fume, without cost or trouble TO herself
is an unsatisfied conundrum, unless he
prediction therefore is based upor
Hahnneman's theory that ''similia SINH
libus curantur." Still she never tres
passes upon my peculiar domain, anc
life at the cottage is quiet, peaceful and
happy.
No woman ever invades this sanctuar,
creeping noiselessly around, armed with
dust-pan and long-handlad broom
searching cupboards. corners and crew.
ces for timid, shrinking particles Of dus
or dirt that might therein have conceal
cd themselves; or industriously explor
ing, with her great staring blue eyes
the walls and ceilings, seeking som,
hermit spider that perchance had sough
refuge in an untenahted corner, ant
there built him a home or angrily
growing about what she delights to tern
"the dirty floors. broken and filthy win
dows, dusty tables and chairs, and ths
utter discomfort generally pervadinl
the premises" They all do il; il 4
their vocation: and debarred the solac,
of vigorously scolding, ceaseless faul
finding, and general discontentedness
n woman bewails her condition, as be
ref Of its dearest prerogatives. Thanl
Heaven I'm not the slave Of any wo
mans whims and caprices, am still
my own master, and master Of the cot
tage and appurtenances, with power e
dispose Of them at will without needing
to coax wife to unite in the deed.
No piercing voice Of woman shrek
ing out that "breakfast is ready and 1
is wash day." disturbs my morning
siumbers no whining lamentations thar
Mrs. Moneydrop's husband always give
her everything she asks for, and to-da,
had sent her that sss bonnet that sh'
(Mrs. Bob) had so set heart upon, Z,
rob my dinner Of its enjoyment n,
demands at supper time for money Z,
buy silk dresses, or seal skin sacques
or any Of the thousand extravagances o
which q woman Is forever imagining
herself pressingly in need no murder
ing sleep by considerably waiting unit
bed time, when my head, wearied ans
aching from a days hard labor, seek
relief upon the pillow, 20 crushingly in
form me that the coal, -four, sugar, col
fee and butter are out-they are Away
giving out when a woman manages thei
l6fsI,urosnu-addsnw fhe eonshsno intel