Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-01-10
No Third Mrs. Perry.

Henry, said Mrs. Perry, with an ON.
inous closing of her upper lip over the
lower one.
Mrs. Perry called herself devoui
Christian. All through the country
she was held iu estimation as one o.
the salt of the earth, comforting beside
sick bed, efficient in a neglected
household, and welcome everywhere
And when Alice May came to the old
homestead, as her sons second wife,
she naturally looked up with reveren-
tial affection to the venerable, white
capped old lady.
Sweetheart y the young husband had
said, looking fondly into the eyes of bis
bride, as they stood under the blossom
ing boughs Of the ounce trees on the
soft May night when first he brought
her home, do you think YOU can be
happy here?'
oh, Harryp the young wife had re-
Piled, it is like a paradl.e.'
But Mrs. Henry Perry soon found
out that Lilac Farm was something
more practical than her ideas of par
adise.
Don't know how 10 churn" SAID
Mrs. Perry, Senior, in amazement.
why. Alice where were you brought
up? Henry's Grst wife thought nothing
Of churning twenty pounds of butter o.
morning, besides doing all the house
work and getting breakfast for foul
hired men,
Alice colored 10 tie very roots OF bel
luxuriant chestnut browE hair.
Il know nothing about the country,
dear Mrs. Perry she SAID, for she
was too shy 10 use The tender term
mother unless by the special invita-
ton which had not been accorded. j
was educated, you know, at board
ing school; after graduated l taught
school until 1 met Henry, and
4 dare say said Mrs. Perry, dryly
but if you are going to be a farmer:
wife it is high time you acquainted
yourself with some Of the duties per
tanning to your position. My sons frs
wife now was model
Alice looked eagerly up.
please, Mrs. Perry said she, tel
me what che used 10 do. Of course
have had DO experience, but
Well said Mrs. Perry, looking "
to the top fringe Of the curtains ant
touching the tips Of her fingers reflect
lively together 'she had a faculty, Do
rothy hld. She was famous cook
She baked fresh pies every day, tor M
one can be expected TO like stale pies
Her hot breakfast biscuits were lik'
flakes of snow, and we mostly haC
Wsffles for supper, with honey anC
fresh apple sauce. She always got VI
at four O'Clock Of a Monday morning t
do the washing. Henry's shirts bav'
never been the same since Dorothy wa
removed. And l wish you could have
seen her ironiDgs. The sewing circle
met here once month, and the tea
Dorothy got up were the talk Of th'
nelghborhood. And there was q Siste
Of industry meeting here once fore
night and Singers Symposium ever.
other Friday. She was noble-heartet
Christian, Dorothy was And then sh'
did all tue family sewing. She coult
not reconcile it to her own conscienc,
and her husbands income, she said, tt
hire such work done.'
And Alice who had committed the
enormily Of having dress made by {
dress maker, coloted scarlet and hun,
her bead.
Then al butchering time proceeded
relentless Mrs: Perry, senior, 'DOro
thy always made the tnpe and sausage
meat and corned the hams herself, ant
she cleaned house four times q year
She was a master-hand at quilting, ant
she always made her own bounets. 4
woman can save so much for her hus
band that way. AS for the butter ant
cheese, think, ii she hadn's died 81
suddenly poor thing that she could hav
beaten any record in lie country.'
Alice sighed deeply. How could she
slender, inexperienced woman @
twenty, hope 10 cope with these mar
yelous attachments
Henry never told me all this sale
she.
Il suppose he has thought Of it ma
ny q time said Mrs. Perry, senior
But perhaps he didn't like TO allude 4
it while you were playing on y our me
lodeon and reading your books. Dc
rothy never got any lime to read!
But If you will teach me- pleade
Alice; Il will do my best TO learn.'
She locked the melodeon, put ava
the books and porIfolico and her baske
OF fancy needle-work, and set berse
resolutely 10 work to ill The place 9
the departed Dorothy.