Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-10-04
A Wife's Mistake,

Oulcs 14ODkOOu PlANCO h$ASNe
ing one Of the best housekeepers. She
was one of those rapid housewives who
pursues at atom Of dust as hunter
might pursue stag. No blood-natur-
ed fly ever dared to buzz within her
dan ty walls. No cat purred on her
hearth-stone. Plants were tabooed
because their leaflets would fall. Ca
nary birds were ruthlessly excluded
lest they should scatter seed. Sunshine
was excluded as an arch-enemy: 1T
brings flies and fades the carpets, said
Mrs. Hopgood. AS for Mr.. Hopgood
aud the children, they lived mostly in
the kitchen.
Il can't have the boys muddy boots
tramping over the carpets, and the girls
sewing in the parlor,' SAID Mrs. Hop
good. AS for Hopgood, L don't care
where he sits. Que place is as good as
another where he is concerned
The Hopgoud family also took their
meals ID the kitchen.
I've got a dining-roon as nice as
any5ody's.' said Mrs. Hopgood; with
real carved oak side board, with mar
BILE top, and silver polished till it's bet
ter than a looking-glass. But where's
the use turning things all upside down,
just for ones own family? Common
crockery ware and good bone handled
knives are just as good for everyday
use.'
Mamma said Elsie Hopgood, a
cheery-cheeked girl Of sixteen, Il
should like to sit in the parlor some
times. Mrs. Momfort and daughter use
theirs every evening, and it looks so
pretty and pleasant in there
Stuff and nonsenseI!' SAID Mrs. Hop
good, sharply. L keep house myself,
after my own fashion, and give others
leave to do the same
But, mamma replied Elsie, Il was
thinking how l should like TO invite all
the girls here some evening, and have
tea. and afterward some little games
Pye been asked out 30 many times
| without ever responding, and really l
am getting ashamed 10 co.
then you had better stay at home,
| said Mrs. Hopgood, polishing vigorous
IL away at the stem of her silver caro-
receiver Il think l see myself with all
the young folks IN town capering or
my orussc. els. cqJessss' tesnd cake crums apf
melted cream daubed over everything
Elsie made no answer, but her coun-
tenance quickly fell.
Il wish mamma was like any one
else,' she said to herself, the tears OBJ
scuring her eyes, L wish she was like |
Kate Prickett's mother, who lets her
have company every Thursday evening.
John Elton wants me to marry him. Ii
l married him could have house OF
nv own, and do just az 1 pleased
Mother said Mr. Hopgood, week
or two afterward, with troubled face
lis it true that Our Elsie is out walking
evenings with John Elton? He is a
worthless, disslpated fellow, and no tit
associate for any girl
Mercy on us /! don't know said
Mrs. Hopgood, with perturbed face.
Il supposed she was with Kate Prichett
or Clara Momfort. Pm great deal
too busy with picking and Housekeeping
to run at a giddy girls heels the whole
time. But l am going to commence
cleaning tomorrow, and then I'll war;
rant III give her enough to do to keep
her out Of mischief
Mother said Isaac Hopgood, grave
w., sometimes l think that If we made
home a little more attractive TO our
Children
oh, nonsense y quickly interrupted
his vile. Il suppose you'd like us to
have tableaux, like Mrs. Momfort or a
magic lantern like the Mickfords. Our
children have not been brought up IN
that way
Mr.. Hopgood said no more. Mrs.
Hopgood, 10 use her own expression,
was in the thick of house cleaning
the next day. with the carpets rolled
into heaps, The floors spatlered with
soap suds, and her head tied up in q
pocket handkerchief when the door
suddenly opened
Take care Of my pan of soap suds
and soda y she cried shrilly. oh, 1t is
you, is it, AllyT .
Yes. mother, it's me- said Alexan-
der. her eldest son, who had just gone
into business as Junior partner to his
father. Il say, do leave off washing q
| minute and attend to me ! Ryerson's
in town-my old chum, you know
only for one day, and have asked him
to dinner
To dinnerv almost screamed Mrs.
Hopgood, dropping her brush 10 con-
s,eination Alexander Hopgood, are
you crazy? OF course / can't have
him TO dinner look at the, confusion
this louse is in -AJ ~ 3J+ ipfl
| oh. he won't mind that, mother