Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-15

her."
Jack smiled grimly.
"And Twill say this in my own praise,
pursued Emma. nobody could gather
teaspoonful of dust in my house after
had swept it, if they searched from gar
ret TO cellar"
True; it would be waste of time
to try" said Jack.
Emma paid no attention to her broth
er's sarcastic tone, but said:
"If you ever do marry, | hope your
wife will be orderly and neat. You have
no system about you, and if she is nc
better pity the house you live int
will always be at skies and sevens.'
Il would rather it should look like a
pig-sty than that Fanny wife-should
over work herself as you do in keeping
it clean and neat. Aaron, you really
ought to put stop to Emma's perpet-
ually trifling with her health and
strength
Jack had expected only smile and a
sigh from his bro,her-in-law, but to his
great surprise, Aaron spoke:
"rve spoken to her about it often,
he said. "but it will be necessary for
her to have a severe lesson before she will
learn common sense. | made up my
mind a year ago that | would say no
more to her on the subject
Common sense - said Emma; 81
don't understand you. Would you have
me sit with my hands in my lap and see
the dirt rot the floor through and the
stove go TO pieces with rust =
"No, but | would have you rest when
ever YOU are tired. would not have you
polish the stove every Wednesday and
no matter bow much else there
is to attend to and mop the kitchen and
hall floors at regular intervals, even If
suffering under a severe cold, which is
liable to be increased by any impru-
dence."
why, Aaron, never had severe
illness in my life
There is no surety that you never
will have one, Emma
"No. but I'm well enough always. !
have often fel, under the weather. Of
bu, have always managed 10
work it off There isn't lazy bone in
my body"
If YOU were taken sick the house
would be handed over 10 the tender mer-
cies of a servant. That fact, if no other,
should make you prudent and careful OF
your health" said Jack. "And another
thing; when we come in at night you are
tired out, and depressed, and often fret
ful. Now. if YOU saved your strength
YOU would feel bright and cheerful in the
evening. Women who work as you do
wear out before they reach middle age,
or else 90 insane. And it makes such a
difference to q man whether his wife Is
glum andcros Or
1T seems to me" interrupted Emma,
" that Jack has great deal to say lately
about wives. | hope he won't bring
home one of those Hopson girls and ask
me to welcome her"
And why not" asked Jack, with a
sudden rush of the blood to his face.
"Your eyes ought TO tell why not"
answered Emma. "Their house is for
ever Uttered up with all sorts of trash.
Books, newspapers, birds, and plants
scattered all around the best parlor, and
no attempt to systematic the work"
"Thc familyis large" said Jack, land
Of course the girls can't keep things IN
such good order as you do. But they are
all amiable and full of fun-it's trea,
to 90 there.
LESS fun and more work would be
be,ter for the house." said Emma. :"
don't mean to say that ever saw solled
curtains there or rusty knives, but there
seems to be no system about the work
Now, | should have each girl perform
certain duties on certain days
"In short make herself into a patent
machine to 60 by regular windings," in
,errupted Jack. Perhaps, Emma, it is
as we'll to tell you now as any time tha
am engaged to Fannie Hopson, and we
are to be married in May"
Jack"
1t was all Emma could say, so shocked
was she at this piece Of news.
"Of course you pity me from the bot
tom of your heart" said Jack, ," but NJ
machine woman for me. l have enough
of systems, and / should hate Fannie /
she followed me around to wipe up th'
tracks made on the kitchen floor, o
made point of washing the windows a
certain hour on certain days of tn
week"
With this parting shot Jack walke'
out of the room slamming the door be
hind him.
The first thing Emma did when tn
door closed, was to set Jacks chair /
its own particular place against the wall
the next to remark to her husband tina
she hoped Providence would interpose t
save Jack from the certain misery whic
would be the result of marriage wit
a girl who had no system about he
work.
One Monday morning Aaron rose q
usual at daybreak and went out to atten
to the chores. He left his wife ASLEEP
as he supposed, and was glad that sh
should have the rest, for she had con
planned of severe headache the nigi
before. He expected, however, to fin
her at work in the kitchen when he can
in with the milk but she was not the
and no preparation had been made f
breakfast. Surprised and alarmed !
went upstairs to the bedroom.
| xAre yor sicl Emma ~ he asked O,