Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-03

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 de-
pressed, and often fretful. Now. il you
saved your strength you would feel
bright and cheerful in the evening.
Women who work as you do wear oui
before they reach middle age, or else go
insane. And it makes such difference
to man whether his wife is glum and
cross Or"
"It seems to me, interrupted Emma,
"tbat Jack has great deal to say late
ly about wives. I 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 blood to his face.
"Your eyes ought to tell why not"
answered Emma. "Their house is
forever Uttered up with all sorts of
trash. Books, newspapers, birds and
plants scattered all around the best
parlor, ami no attempt to systemAtizs
the work."
"The family is large" said Jack,
"and of course the girls can't keep
things in such order as you do. But
they are all amiable aud full OF fun
it's treat to go there"
LESS fun and more work would be
better for the house." said Emma. W
don't mean to say that I ever saw soiled
curtains there or rusty knives, but there
seems to be no system about the work.
Now, I should have each girl perform
certain duties on certain days"
"In short make herself into patent
machine to go by regular windings," !"
interrupted Jack. "Perhaps, Emma, 1t
is as we'll to tell you now as any time
that am engaged to Fannie Hopson,
and we are to be married in May"
"Jack u
It was all Emma could say, 80 shocked
was she at this piece of news.
"of course you pity me from the
bottom of your heart" said Jack, "but
no machine woman for mel I have
enough Of systems, and should hate
Fannie If she followed me around to
wipe up the tracks I made on the
kitchen floor, or made point of wash
ing the windows ct certain hour on
certain days of the week."
With this parting shot Jack walked
out of the room slamming the door
behind him.
The first thing Emma did when the
door closed, was to set jacks chair in
its own particular place against the
wall, the next to remark to her husband
that she hoped Providence would inter
pose to save Jack from the certain
misery which would be the result of a
marriage with girl who had no system
about her work.
One Monday morning Aaron rose as
usual at aybreak and went out to at
tend to the chores. He left his wife
asleep, as he supposed, and was glad
that she she uld have the rest, for she
had complained Of 9 severe headache
the night before. he expected, how
ever, to find her at work IN the kitchen
when he came in with the milk; but
she was not there and no preparation
had been made for breakfast. Surprised
and alarmed he went upstairs to the
bedroom.
"Are you sick, Emmap he asked,
going to the bedside.
She turned restlessly on her pillow,
an anxious expression on her face.
Don't throw away those soapsuds, "
she said. "I want them to mop the
floor when get these clothes out"
Even in her delirium she knew the
day OF the week, and washed as usual.
But the washings were done without
her for many weeks to come. 1t was
Fannie Hopson who took charge of the
house, claiming it as her privilege to
do 80, and Jack and Aaron were very
glad to have her instead of an ignorant
domestic. It is to be feared that the
stove was not polished quite so often as
it had been under Emma's reign, and
the kitchen floor was not quite so white,
but Jack and Asrcn we're made thor.
oughly comfortable every way.
At last Mrs. Raynor was pronounced
out of danger, but it was long before
she was we'll. There had to be months
of weary convalescence more trying
than her dangerous illness had been
days when she could not hear q door
closed without pain, and hour upor
hour when she wept over the slightest
iar to her quiet She had ample time