Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-15
MRS. RAYNOR'S SYSTEM.


most desperate by her system. that he
would buy farm for himself, and never
again take any of his brother. .in-law s
land on shares. But once when he spoke
about it while haying in the field, Aaron
seemed to feel so badly that he promised
not to make the contemplated change for
some time, anyhow.
"Poor Aaron" thought Jack, when
he saw how troubled was his brother-in. 9.
laws face: /" he is worried at the bare
idea that might go off and leave him to
that rigorous system of Emmas. For
his sake I'll wait awhile; | owe him
some consideration, for if it had not been
for me he would never have met Emma.
Aaron Raynor was very quiet man,
and never had much TO say on any sub
ject it was seldom, indeed, that he gave
vent to his views on anything but the
farm work, but he thought great deal,
and if Emma had only been able to read
his thoughts she would have been sad
dened, perhaps, by their desponding and
regretful tendency. He was, however, a
faithful. kind husband, who did all in his
power to tighten his wife's burdens, and
had he not lived in an atmosphere of fault
finding, would have been both genial and
atfec!iohate.
The unhappiness and regret which per-
vaded the atmosphere of the Raynor home
had It's rise in the system, that terrible
tystem which was the one law which
governed Emma's life. She ate. drank,
and slept by it, and never guessed that
she made the lives of her husband and
brother unhappy by her strict adherence
to it.
Every Monday morning the washing
was done, rain or shine, and frequently
on rainy day Jack and Aaron coming
into the big kitchen. wet and tired, and
longing for seats by the fire. found the
stove surrounded by chairs, all filled with
the damp clothes from which steam
rose slowly, while across the room were
stretched ropes on which hung the small
pieces 1t wasn't very cheering, GER
tainly, but Aaro1 never complained, be-
cause it wasn't his way 10 complain about
anything; and Emma never took any no.
,ice when Jack found fault.
On Tuesday the ironing was done, and
well done. too. Every towel, no matter
bow old and worn, was faithfully smooth
"a and folded evenly; the shirts were
iruned on both sides and the neighbors
often remarked that the linen worn by
Jack and Aaron would have done credit
10 a Chinese laundry.
On Wednesday the baking and ehurn-
ing were done; on Thursday the house
was thoroughly swept and cleaned from
garret 10 cellar on Friday the mending
and little jobs were scrupulously attended
10 and Saturday was devoted to baking
and cleaning generally. Delicious bread,
cake and pies came forth from the capa-
cious oven to be stored away on the pan
Try shelves and the kitchen and hall
floors were made marvelously white and
clean by vigorous securing.
No matter what happened the system
went on as usual-nothing whatever was
allowed TO interfere with that.
Aaron never thought of such thing
as coming into the house without first re.
moving his boots in the little entry by
the kitchen door and putting on his slip
pers, which were always in readiness in a
neat bag, and submitted 10 his wife's rule
of retiring precisely at 9 o'clock without
a single word of rebellion.
If Jack, in his careless indifference,
sometimes crossed the white kitchen floor
in his muddy boots, his sister, much to
his annoyance, followed close behind him
with a cloth in her hand and carefully
wiped up his tracks, with an expression
upon her face which spoke volumes, and
distressed him more than good round
scolding would have done.
+ Emma was unaware that her system
was rapidly destroying her good looks.
She had been pretty, pleasant girl in
her days when Aaron had courted her !;
little prim and precise perhaps, but not
given TO lectures on neatness and order.
She lived with two maiden aunts, who
had taken pains with her bringing up,
and thoroughly imbued her with their
their system of housekeeping.
Mrs Raynor would not have servant,
for servants were so "slack and disorder
; ly" and she preferred to see after her
household affairs herself, unconscious that
her voice was from much fault finding
becoming a fretful, querelous whine
: that lines were marring the beauty oI
of her white forehead and crows fee,
= gathering around her eyes; that her en-
;, ergy and elasticity were growing les:
with every day, and that she was deteri'
Grating both physically and Intellectually
: "If ever marry" said Jack, one eve
ming, suddenly dropping on the floor the
newspaper he had been reading by th'
y centre table, Il shall insist upon m,
e wife's keeping a stout girl to help her
o You don't seem to be aware of it, Emma
but you are working yourself into th
T. grave"
y Mrs. Raynor rose from her seat to picl
y up the newspaper, folded it neatly ant
u laid it on the table. Then she took u
her mending again, saying as she did so
Is 81 could not endure hired girl in tn
lie house, Jack. They are all so slovenl
); and neglectful. Mary never could re
D. member to rub off the kettle in the morn
RS ing when she filled it; Bridget alway
l. forgot to hang up the broom, and Han
IS nah used to upset things over the stove
p tried all three thoroughly, and decide
'e- never to have another girl"