The Republican journal., 1883-04-19
"I'll sit down and keep watch O these
j l..

Matters said he.
inquired the time of day.
"Just going to strike ele ven," said he
"There's a good many things to do in
an hour" said l.
'That's fact" said he, 'I'd better
keep moving"
He went into the back bnttery to skim
the milk and when he ca me back said
the cat had saved him the trouble of
skimming one pan.
~ suppose the buttery door has been
left open ever since YOU got the baby's
milk said |.
"You have toto look out about that
cat p said he.
"No," said |, "about the door | have
to stop and set chair against it every
time | come out"
This touched him in tender spot for
if had asked him once td get that latch
mended, had twenty times.
Sick as felt, | thought should die
a-laughing to see the manWuvres in that
kitchen the last hour before dinner. |
think about every dish and pan in the
house was brought out, and set down,
some in chairs, some on tables, and one
or two on the floor, to make room for the
ironing cloth. John is a piucky fellow.
He was determined to do everything that
was on the list. He flew round like a
top. running here and there, fetching and
carrying, and asking questions He spat-
TED the butter, he peeled the potatoes
and doused them in, he rushed after the
meal bucket,-fo the mush-be went
like dart to fetch the ironing cloth, tax
ing mighty quick steps for person that
felt in no hurry, and mighty long ones,
two Of them took him across the kitch-
en-and on his tiptoes part of the time,
because | lay back with veil over my
face and he thought was asleep. But
wasn't, was laughing. When the water
boiled away again, | heard him mutter,
'Oh, you have to look out about that"
He filled the pot so full it boiled over.
"Oh, you have to look out about that"
he muttered again. In ironing the baby 5
flannel petticoat, he scorched a place,
and saw 10y the motion of his lips that
he was whispering, "Oh, You have to
look out about that" He emade the same
motion when the spoon handle slipped
into the mush and when the baby-baby
was out there in his high chair-grabbed
the buttermilk basin; and when the fire
went almost out again, and especially
when some of the clothes pins dropped
off the line and let the clothes drag on
the ground. The words were spoken
out loud then, and had another word
joined to them that sounded almost like
Il "swear word" | asked him when he
was going to bake his pie. He asked
if didn't think We could do very well
without pie for one night, and said, Oh
yes, if he could. So he picked up the
rolling pm out of the clothes basket and
the rolling board from behind the door,
and carried them away.
The children came home from school
and had to wait half an hour for their
dinner. John let them eat as soon as it
was ready, but said he believed he would
quiet down a little before he took any
thing into his stomach, or he should have
the dyspepsia.
That evening, after the children We're
in bed, and the house was still, John sat
by the fire for long time very quiet, as
il engaged III meditation. At last he
broke out with
II could have done every identical
thing on that list-if there had been time
enough and done them well-only for
having to keep up such continual look
out, | don't see how the -cOOkStOve 4
YOU manage to think forwards and back
wards and all round and carry on SO
many things at once. And you do a
great many more things than did,
make clothes and mend them and wash
"a II h.ll ale Il
see to the children, and tend baby night
and day and there seems to be no end,
no let up; there's something for every
hour and every minute.'
Il shouldn't mind that 50 much, said
|, ''if there were only hours and minutes
enough for the work. But sometimes
when | wake up in the morning and
think Of what must be done that day and
OF yesterdays work left undone, and
of to -morroW's which is sure to come. |
own do now and then feel discouraged
and particularly when baby has had a
WorrysOme night soon brighten up
though, and take lots of comfort doing
things for you and the children. But
sometimes think that even for her fam
ily's sake, woman ought to have time
to eat"
"Why, Elinor.' said he, "what do YOU
mean You always come to the table
regular"
"Nes," said |, "but if woman hurries
through the forenoon and feels tired, and
worried and tremulons like, she doesn't
feel like eating, and besides, her food is
apt to disagree with her, especially if she
has to go on hurryng right after eating
and if this sort of thing is kept up good
while, why, of course, she gets all run
down, and can't do for her family as she
otherwise would"
Upon This John went into another fit
of meditation. Once during the time he
muttered to himself, without stirring,
mo mornings, no evenings, no rainy
days" Afterwards he turned in his
chair, rested his chin Oh the back, and
muttered the same thing, "No mornings,
no evenings, no rainy days"