Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-09-05
A Plot that Succeeded.

"Well, Vincent, and what does she
say"
Mrs. Morrison asked the question
with conscious pride. She was quite
certain that the impending verdict
would be in her favor. How, indeed,
could it be otherwise?
She sat there in the cool shadow of
her jessamine-covered porch, in a dress
Of pale-green muslin, strewn all over
with coquettish little bars of rib
bon, book in her lap, a lily fastened
into her belt. Her housekeeping tab
lets were on the bamboo stand beside
her, anda a recipe for "snow pudding"
was half copied on its last leaf.
The fact was that Mrs. Morrison
had just taken the helm of her house.
hold, and that she took a true woman
" delight in its management. And
his soft summer day had been espec
ally sanctilied and set apart by the
TACT that her husbands mother had
made her first visit on it.
1t had been little embarrassing,
100. Young Mrs. Morrison had scarce
y known what to say. She had only
tsked the elderly lady's advice about
his, that, and the other thing. She
1ad deferred to her opinions, and writ
.en down one or two infallible recipes
n the tablets as to moth-eaten furni-
;ure, fermenting preserves, and cheese
,loth bed comforters.
The dinner had been very nice.
Bridget had not committed single
;Olecism in waiting, and Mrs. Morrison
could not think of a single flaw in the
lays entertainment. So that now,
when Vincent had returned from driv-
ng his mother in a little basket phae-
on to the depot, she claimed her need
)f praise with eager smiles.
"What does she say, Vincent?"
Mr.. Morrison laughed, and kissed
ihe fresh, upturned face.
"She says, Polly, that you are nice
little woman" he responded.
Nonsense " said Mrs. Morrison.
you know very well that that isn't
what mean at all, Vincent. About
ihe house, you know, And the dinner,
and all that"
"She thinks, my DEAR" said the
young husband, a little awkwardly,
that you do very well, considering
your ineXperience."
"Oh, considering my inexperience "
said Mrs, Morrison, with somewhat of
pout "Well, what else?"
"But she suggests that you ought
not to keep but one girl added Mr..
Morrison, bluntly.
"Why not?"
"Oh--hum-har' ~ hesitated Morrison.
'1'he family is small, you know, and
my mother thinks-that is, it has
always been her experience
"Well, go on" cried Polly inpatient
y.
"That every housewife ought to un-
lerstand practically the workings of
her own household machinery"
"But l don't comprehend" said
Polly, arching her brows. "Does she
mean that 1 ought to black my own
stoves, and scrub my own kitchen
Goor. and wash my own dressesY"
81 suppose So" said Vincent. "And
really it's a capital idea, when one
comes to think of it. So l told her.
Polly" rubbing his hands a little
gdiltily, "that we would send Bridget
away and get along with little Betsey.
Betsey is very quick ana handy, you
know; and, as my mother says, there's
no reason why strong, healthy young
woman like you should sit with folded
hands doing nothing"
"Oh !" said Polly.
"Now don't 60 to getting vexed,"
said Mr.. Morrison, with a laundering
sort of a perception that all was not
right. "Because, of course, you must
see that there isl good deal of sense in
this view of affairs"
"Does your mother think that l dc
nothing at all9" cried Polly, with q
rising lump in her throat.
"Well, she thinks, don't you see? that
every woman ought to have practi'
cal knowledge Of"
"Pshaw " cried Mrs. Morrison; ant
she jumped up and went into the
house.
Vincent looked after her, with low
whistle.
"Now she is angry" said he to him
self. "And the right of the matter is
so evident, too. Women are queer p
But presently Polly came back, tht
smiles returned to her face once more
Forgive noe, DEAR" she said. 81
lost my temper for just one half-quar
ter of second. It's all right now