The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-09-23
MANAGING A HUSBAND.

take my word for it, Miss Atherton."
ssDo you think SOP" said the lady ad-
dressed, quietly looking up from her
embroidery.
.sThink so? know it. You cannot
have forgotten hew his first wife Jared.
So gentle and lovely, too, as she was,
yet the poor Woman never dared say
her soul was hey own-neverl If she
had had different husband, she would
undoubtedly have been alive to-day
Every likely, Mrs. May"
Sand yet, knowing all this, you are
going to take her place.
.Major Flint will find me very diff
ferent person from his first wife," said
Miss Atherton, composedly. However,
as T do not wish to anticipate sorrow,
we will, if You please, dismiss the sub
ject."
This was not the first remonstrance
Miss Atherton bad received on the sub
iect of her approaching marriage, but
she had made up her mind, it appeared,
and was now occupied in making prep
arations for the wedding.
What had been said respecting Major
Flint and his first wife was unquestion-
ably true. He was domestic tyrant
very slight esteem, considered that the
wife ought, in all respects, to be subser-
Went to the husbands will.
His reason for marrying again was
principally from the fact that he found
no housekeeper who would be sufficiently
snbservient to his whims and caprices.
Having lost one after another, he came
to the conclusion that he needed wife,
49, %Or, 10a. h. 10
Grace Atherton, who had been q warm
personal friend of his lost wife. We
will not analyze her motives for accept
ing his proposal, though probably a
regard for Mr.. Flint's two helpless little
children, who resembled their mother
rather than their father, Influenced her
as much as any other motive. How
ever that might be, the marriage soon
took place, and. after brief journey
Miss Atherton returned as Mrs. Major
Flint, to take the place of mistress of
the household.
"show his hand" Now, however, that
their married life had fairly begun, he
thought it quite time to do SO.
''I have given Mrs. Burns a weeks
warming" he remarked, at the breakfast
BdDlG, Luc mOEuluR dltcT tnCII ASbuLAs
Mrs. Burns had been housekeeper and
maid of -all-work, the entire duties OF the
household devolving upon her.
"And why have you given her week 8
warning?" said the lady, composedly.
care you not satisfied with her?"
SIT is not that, madam, said the Major
deliberately.
ANY difficulty about the wages?"
ol, 10 R.yif
''No," said her husband, feeling some
what embarrassed. ''The fact is, Mrs.
Flint, there is not very much work to do
in our small household, at least no more
than one pair of hands can easily do. My
| first wife always did her own work, and
with ease, though she was not a very
| strong woman.
did she not die very young?" said
wife number two, slipping her coffee com
| posedly.
"Why, yes, said the obtuse Mr.. Flint,
| little disconnected. "You know the
young die as we'll as the aged.
$50 have heard" returned his wife.
Major Flint was a good deal puzzled
by the matter fact manner of his new
wife. Her cool self-possession awed him
in spite of himself II she had stormed
he would have felt better prepared to
| meet the emergency.
''I shall permit my children to remain
where they are at their mothers, until
you get accustomed to the house little
In the course OF a week" he added, "you
will get an idea of the extent of the work
| by observing Mrs. Burns"
Rising from the table, he was about tc
leave the room, when his footsteps were
arrested by the simple address
"Maior Flint!'
''Well?' said he.
s'It appears you have been making
arrangements without consulting me"
Major Flint was astonished.
You, madam! Why should consul
you about my arrangements"
Because I may not approve them.
Mrs. Flint, said the major, sit il
your duty to acquiesce in whatever plan
/, as your husband, see fit to FORM
Indeed, never took that view of thu
matter" said Mrs. Flint.
"Then the sooner you take it the bet
ter" was the reply.
DO you expect me to perform all tn
labor required in this establishment"
Exactly SO, madam.
ST believe you are considered ricl
man, Major Flint?
81 am accounted SO, madam" he re
piled complacently.
"And you are quite able to hire do
mestic service, are you not?" :
'sYes, if it were needful."
Suppose say that it is needful?"
ST should take the liberty to doubt il
madam, he replied.
"very we'll, Mr.. Flint, since you fore
it upon me, may as we'll tell You frs
as last my decision upon this point. Yo
offered me the position of wife, not tina
of maid servant. On this understandin
accepted you. Yet, if your circum
, stances ever become such as to requir
, it, shall not hesitate for moment t
conform myself to them. I only objee
to assuming a burden which, from you
own account, appears to be quite need
less. I am very willing to superinten
the household arrangements, as COZ
, slider that duty which devolyes upo
: me rs your wife,
) II have listened to your argument,
Mrs. Flint, and they are weak. They
not weigh with me. madam
IT is to be regretted"
: ."The first Mrs. Flint better understoo
her duties as wife" he returned .,
! citedly. sBut it is quite useless to di
! cuss the point with you, madam. How
, ever, this day week Mrs Burns leay,
. ms. and I expect you to assume he
, duties"
Mrs. Flint smiled. Major Fiji
L.. l. L