Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-03-08

which devolves upon me as your
wife"
81 have listened to your arguments,
Mrs. Flint, and they are weak. They
do not weigh with me, madam"
"It it to be regretted"
"The first Mrs. Flint better under
stood her duties as wife," he returned
excitedly. "But it is quite useless to
discuss the point with you, madam.
However, this day week Mrs. Burns
leaves us, and [ expect to assume her
duties"
Mrs. Flint smiled. Major Flint
frowned. Then, taking his hat and
cane, he excitedIy went from the
room.
there's nothing like beginning
right" he said mentally, planting his
cane firmly down upon the pavement.
eff Mrs. Flint married me with the
idea of squandering my moGey in
silks, furbeIows and things, she'll find
it difficult in my establishment. I
don't intend to encourage female in
subordination. | believe the b75band
was born to govern-tEe wife to, obey.
If more husbands had my frmness, my
tact in governing, things would be diff
ferent at the present day"
Mrs. Flint, left at home, summoned
the housekeeper.
81 learn that my husband has given
you weeks warning" she said.
eyes, ma'am."
"Is it your wish to leave us ?"
"0h, no, Mrs. Flint, for don't know
where [ could find another place, and I
have to pay my little girls board out
of my wages"
81 believe there is considerable work
to be done here?"
eyes, Mrs. Flint, a great deal. Then
Mr.. Flint is SO peculiar-he wants
everything done just so. And that's
why am so sorry to go just as you
come; l know you are easy to please"
CHOW do you know that p
"By your face, it looks so good ma
tured. Major Flint says, ma'am," she
continued, hesitatingly, "that l am to
show you 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 l have not the slightest
idea of doing the work. At all events,
you must rot secure another situation
until you hear from me again. l am
V cry confident" she said, smiling "that
if Mr.. Flint sent you away, Mrs. Burns,
he will be glad to take you back"
The weeks passed quietly.
"Mrs. Burns leaves tomorrow" said
the Major at the teatable.
"Then you have quite decided up
on it?'
Eyes; IbeIieved I announced the fact
to you some days ago"
81 thought it possible my objections
might have weighed with you and
induced you to have changed your
mind"
81 never change my mind" said her
husband loftily.
'But [ warn you [ have little exper-
fence as q cook"
"You can learn"
perhaps may not cook to suit your
taste" she relpied.
''That's my affair"
Had he been aware of the plot form
ing in the lady's brain, he mi ght have
not have felt SO confident III regard to
L. 1--:ty &C La b-eed a-4Ad bpAtte1r 1;
and he retired for the night all uncon-
scious of the discipline to be melted out
to hina.
So the following morning Mrs. Burns
received her wages and was sent off, At
ten o'clock the marketing was brought
home. At the usual dinner hour Ma
jor Flint made his appearance. The
table was laid with more than ordinary
neatness. Major Flint congratulated
himself on this fact as a personal tri-
umph on his part. But he hardly felt
SO complacent when the dinner came
up. The beef was terribly overdone;
the vegetables on the contrary, were
not half cooked. In short there was
nothing fit to eat on the table. This
Major Flint rather angrily remark
ed.
Il dare say; am not a very good
cook" remarked his wife.
With his appetite only half satisfied,
he rose from the table.
The following morning breakfast
was delayed over an hour, and when
it was ready, it was scarcely eatable.
Major Flint was quite out of humor;
but in reply to his remonstrances his
wife said:
warned you that I might not
cook to suit your taste"
And SO matters decorated 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 clammy, requirir g
considerable effort to masticate it,
And what rendered it all the more ex-
asperating was that no matter how in
ferior in quality or distasteful to him
self, his wife professed her inability to
discover any fault with what was pre-
pared for the table protesting that it
just suited her taste.
The following day Major Flint seated
himself at the dinner table, his mind
filled with various emotions. He was
growing thin, he felt sure: not q de-
cent meal had he eaten for three days.
This woman will be the death of
me, as sure as fatel" he said to him
self, gazing at the food placed before
him.
Here was the rich, juicy steak that
he himself selected and sent home
from market, after all his instructions
as tosshow it should be broiled. shock
ingly overdone-In fact almost burned
to a crisp, his wife meantime partak-
ing of 1t with great apparent relish.
What q taste that woman must
have!,' he said to himself.
81 have made you an extra cup of
tea, to-day" said the lady opposite,
handing him the cup with his des-