Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-03-16

In the kitchen Of an evening cannot
spare time to come in and hear him read
the Waverly novels aloud. And my feel
ached SO this morning after skimming the
cream that could not walk with him t.
the haying ground. But 1 am doing my
DUTY, and that ought to be reward enough
mat same afternoon, however, pool
Alice was forced to flee to her own room
with sick headche. and seek the refuge
OF her pillow. There Mrs. John Bonney
e cheerful little neighbor, found her.
"Sick are you ?" asked Mrs. Bonney.
II am not very WE'LL" acknowledged
Alice. +s7
"Ab,p said Mrs. Bonney, "Ithought
sol" ~ ra- ~--
"Wtiat do you mean ?" asked Alice.
"Why you we been killing yourself ",
inches!" said Mrs. Bonnay. ''as fast ass 5.
could. I've seen it ali. I'm not your next
door neighbor for nothingl"
"T'm trying to do my Duty pleaded
Alice, with filling eyes. 81 am trying to
be like nv husbands first wife,"
"Fiddlesticks said Mrs. Bonney "L'ke
Dorothy Perry, indeed WHY. she was
nothing on earth but household drudge,
and finally drudged herself to death, with.
out anybody being particularly sorry for
her. She never went out and saw the
progress of life's march around her. Any
machine could have filed her place.
MRS. Bonnev, you ought not to talk
So" said Mrs. Perry. uneasily.
"Its the TRUTH said Mrs. Romney.-
However, do as you please. It's privi
lege which people generally claim. As
have observed. kill yourself If you Ike
PERHAPS the third Mrs. Perry will be lit.
tie more sensible.''
So Mrs. Bonney put the bouquet Of tea
rose buds. which she had brought, into
water, and tripped laughingly home, while
Alice, ciasping her hands over her throb.
blng temples, tried to ask herself which
was right, herself or Mrs. Bonney. and IN
which direction her path Of duty really
and actually lay.
And it was at this .ical moment that
she heard the nasal, monotonous voice OF
her mother-in-law down stairs talking to
her husband, and uttering the sentence
which opens our sketch.
''She amt the same sort as your first
wife, Henry" said Mry. Perry, Senior.
"And she never will be, let her try as she
will. She hash It got the faculty you see. 81
She lay there quite still and quiet. with
closed ewes. She never opened them when
Henry Perry himself tiptoed into the room
and believing her asleep tiptoed out again,
mnttering to himself.
"Poor little daisy, she is entirely done
up"
The next morning, however. Alice arose
and dressed herself with care.
"Bless me!'' said Mrs. Perry, Senior,
where are you going AliceY"
ITO the village" answered Alice.
"What forp" cross-questioned the elder
matron.
''To engage dressmaker and seams.
tress first" said Mrs. Perry, Jr., land to
get strong girl to do the house work
next"
"A-qirl! ~ screamed the old lady
dorothy never
"No," said Alice; II know she never
kept servant. But Dorothy cleaned and
churned aud sewed herself out of the
world. I've no intention of settling ms
own career in that sort of way. I find
that l can't do the work of this farm my
self without breaking down my health
and shutting myself out of the world oil
books and science. do not think my
husband desires such sacrifice"
"Of course don't,' said Henry
promptly. 1.-The house has been as lonely
as convent since you buried yourself in
the kitchen and dairy. married you fol
companion, not drudge. Have half 8
dozen servants. if you like, Alice, only
let US have books and music and pleasant
woodland walks again." 9u.
'.Thank you, dearest, :" said Alice as she
kissed his forehead. a.
Mrs. Perry, Sr., rolled up her eyes and
clasped her hands. and declared in sotte
voce she didn't know what this world was
coming to.
+ Mrs. Bonney was feeding chickens al
her own door when Alice Perry returned
from her walk to the village.
''Are you better?" asked this young red
republican, smiling cordially.
''Thanks." Alice answered, 81 am mu Oh
better, havej just engaged a sewing wo,
man and stout Swedish servant girl to
do the house work at the farm. am No
longer ambitious to do as Dorothy did, .
And Mrs. Bonney waved her sun-bon.
net IN the air. and exclaimed:
bravo! "There will be no third Mrs.
Perry. after ALL
And the words we're prophetic. -Rural
Press. .4as