The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-11-24
K PLOT THAT SUCCEEDED

with conscious pride. She was quit
certain that the impending verde
would be in her favor. How, indeed
could it be otherwise.
She sat there in the cool shadow 0
her jessamine- covered porch, in dres
of pale green muslin, strewn all owe
with coquettish little bars of ribbon, ;
book in her lap, a lily fastened into he
belt. Her housekeeping tablets were
on the bamboo stand beside her, and ;
recipe for "snow pudding" was hal
copied on its last leaf.
The fact was that Mrs. Morrison had
just taken the helm of her household
and that she took true womanly de-
| light in its management. And this soft
summer day had been especially sane
tilted and set apart by the fact that her
husbands mother had made her first
visit on it.
1t had been a little embarrassing too
Young Mrs. MORRISON had scarcely
known what to say. She had only asked
the elderly lady's advice about this, that
and the other thing. She had deferred
to her opinions, and written down one
or two infallible recipes in the tablets
as to moth eaten furniture, fermenting
preserves, and cheese-cloth bed COM
forters.
The dinner had been very nice.
Bridget had not committed a single
solecism in waiting, and Mrs. Morrison
could not think of a single flaw in the
days entertainment. So that now,
when Vincent had returned from driv-
ing his mother in little basket pheton
to the depot, she claimed her need of
praise with eager smiles.
"What does she say, Vincent"
Mr.. Morrison laughed, and kissed
the 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 l mean at all, Vincent. About
the house, you know. And the din
ner, and all that
"She thinks, my DEAR" said the
young husband, a little awkwardly,
"that you do very we'll, considering
your inexperience."
"Oh, considering my inexperience ~
said Mrs. Morrison, with somewhat of
a pout "Well, what else?"
"But she suggests that you ought not
to keep but one girl" added Mr.. Nor
rison, bluntly.
"Why not3"
"Oh-hum-h !" hesitated Moifi-
son. "The family is small, you know,
and my mother thinks-that is, it has
always been her experience"
Wells so on" cried Polly impa-
tiently.
"That every housewife ought to I'M
derstand practically the workings of her
own household machinery"
"But l don't comprehend" said
Polly, arching her brows. "Does she
mean that l ought. Ito black my own
stoves, and scrub my own kitchen floor,
and wash my own dresses?"
q 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 little guilt
lily, that we would send Bridget away
and get along with little Betsey. Betsey
is very quick and handy, you know
and, as my mother says, there's no rea-
son, why strong, healthy young wo-
man like you should sit with folded
hands doing nothing"
"Oh !" said Polly.
"Now don't go to getting vexed, u
said Mr.. Morrison, with a laundering
sort of perception that all was not
right. "Because, of course, you mus
see that there is good deal of sense il
this view of affairs"
"Does your mother think that l dc
nothing at all?" cried Polly, with a ris.
ing lump in her throat.
"Well, she thinks, don't you see?'
that every woman ought to have prac.
teal knowledge Of"
"Pshaw p cried Mrs. Morrison anc
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 il
so evident, too. Women are queer !"
But presently Polly came back, tn,
smiles returned to her face once more
"Forgive me, DEAR" she said. 9.
lost my temper for just one half-quar
ter of a second. It's all right now
Did you say you had given Bridge
warning?"
"Well, yes. That is
every WE'LL" said Polly. "I'll g
and get some iced milk and pound cak'
for you. You must be dreadfllly tree
and thirsty after your drive. And, 'sh'
added, demurely, II dare say tina
there's a great deal of good sense il
your mothers advice"
you'll take it, then?" said Mr.. Nor
rison, much relieved.
III you say so, dear, lad the Obedl
ent wife.
But when Mr.. Morrison was smok
ing on the little porch after tea, Poll
sat down and wrote an affectionate
confidential little note to her husband
uncle, Commodore Chesson, who ha,
taken a fathers place to him since h
was ten years old. She wrote: