Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-10-20

Mrs. Flint smiled. MAJOR E'llnC 1rOWneQ;
then taking his hat and cane, he excitedly
went from the room.
''Theres nothing like beginning right -
he said, mentally, planting his cane firmly
down upon the pavement. ''If Mrs. Flint
married me with the idea Of squandering
my money in silks, furbelows and things,
she'll find it difficult in my establishment.
don't intend to encourage female insub-
ordination II believe the husband was
born to govern-the wife to obey. If more
husbands had my firmness, my tact in gov
erning, things would be different at the
present day."
Mrs. Flint, left at home, summoned the
hOusekeeper.
II learn that my husband has given you
weeks warning. she said.
Eyes, ma am"
''Is it your wish to leave us?''
"Oh, no, Mrs. Flint. for I don't know
where I could find another place, and
have to pay my little girls board out OF my
wages.''
Il believe there is considerable work to
be done here?"
Eyes, Mrs. Flint; great deal. Then Mr..
Flint is so peculiar-he wants everything
just so. And that's why Pm sorry to go
just as you come I know you are easy to
please"
''How do you know that?"
"By your FACET looks 80 good-natured
Major Flint says, ma 'am,'' she continued
hesitatingly, THAT am to show you some
about the work. But if you try to do it
alone, unused to hard work as you are, it
will make you SICK"
81 think very likely it would Mrs. Burns.
But have not the slightest idea of doing
the work. At all events, you must not
secure another situation until you hear
from me again. am very confident" she
added, smiling, "that if Mr.. Flint sends
you away, Mrs. Burns, he will be glad to
take you back"
The week passed quickly.
''Mrs. Burns leaves tomorrow" said the
Major, at the tea-table.
"Then you have decided upon it ?"
Eyes, I believe announced the fact to
you some days ago."
81 thought it possible that my objections
might have weighed with you and induced
you TO change your mind.''
II never change my mind, said her hus-
band, loftily.
"But I warn you that 1 have little expe-
rience as cook"
s'You can learn"
perhaps may not cook to suit your
TASTE" she persisted.
THAT is my affair.""
Had he been aware of the plot forming
in the lady g fertile brain. he might not have
felt so confident in regard to the quality of
his bread and butter, and he retired for the
night all unconscious of the discipline to be
meted out him.
So the next morning Mrs. Burns receiv-
ed her wages and was sent off. At 10 o'clock
the marketing was brought home. at the
usual dinner hour Major Flint made his
appearance. The table was laid with more
than usual neatness. Major Flint congrat-
ulated himself upon this fact as personal
his part. But he hardly felt
80 complacent when the dinner came up.
The beef was terribly overdoDe, the vege-
tables, on the contrary, were not half
cooked. In short, there was nothing fit
to eat on the table. This Major Flint rath-
er angrily remarked on this.
81 dare say; lam not very good cook
said his wife.
With his appetite only half-satisfied he
arose from the table.
The following morning, breakfast was
delayed more than half an hour; and when
it was ready, it was scarcely eatable. Maj.
Flint was quite out of humor, but in reply |
to his remonstrances, his wife said
81 warned you that might not cook to |
suit your taste.'
And so matters deterioated rather than |
improved. The tea and coffee prepared by |
his wife were nauseating to him, while the |
bread was not only sour, but hard and
requiring considerable effort to
masticate it. And what rendered it all |
the more exasperating was that, no mat
ter how inferior in quality or distasteful
to himself, his wife professed her inability
to discover any fault in what was prepared
for the table, protesting that it just suited
her taste.
The following day Major Flint settled
himself at the dinner-table, his mind filled
with various emotions, He was growing