Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-09-13
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 jeSsamino-coyered porch, in dress
of pale-green muslin. strewn all over
with coquettish little bars of rib
bon, book in her lap, lily fastened
into her belt, Her housekeeping tab
lets were on the bamboo stand beside
her, and 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 true woman
ly delight in its management And
this soft summer day had been espec
ially sanctifed and set apart by the
fast that her husbands mother had
made her first visit on it.
1t hal been a little embarrassing,
too. Young Mrs Morrison had scarce
ly known what to say. She had only
asked the elderly lady's advice about
this, that, and the other thing. She
hal deferred to her opinions, and writ
ten down one or two infallible recipes
in the tablets as to moth-eaten furni-
ture, fermenting preserves, and cheese
cloth bed comforters.
The dinner had been very nice.
Bridget had not committed a single
solecism in waiting, and Mrs Morrison
could not think of single flaw in the
days entertainment. So that now,
when Vincent had returned from driv-
ing his mother in a little basket phae-
ton 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 mean at all, Vincent About
the house, you know And the dinner,
and all that"
"She thinks, my DEAR" said the
young husband, little awkwardly,
"that you do very well, considering
your inexperienced
"Oh, considering my inexperience p
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..
Morrison, bluntly.
"Why not?'
"Oh-hum-ha p hesitated Morrison.
"The family is small, you know, and
my mother thinks-that is, it has
always been her experience"
"Well, go on" cried Polly inpatient
ly.
"That every housewife ought to un-
derstand practically the workings of
her own household machinery"
"But 1 don't comprehend" said
Polly, arching her brows. "Does she
mean that I ought to black my own
stoves, and scrub my own kitchen
floor, and wash my own dresses"
"I suppose so," said Vincent. "And
really it's capital idea, when one
comes to think of it. So I told her,
Polly" rubbing his hands little
guiltily, "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
10 reason why strong, healthy young
woman like you should sit with folded
hands doing nothing"
"Oh! !" said Polly.
"Now don't go to getting vexed,"
said Mr.. Morrison, with a blundering
sort of perception that all was not
right. because, of course, you must
see that there is good deal of sense in
this view of affairs"
docs your mother think that do
nothing at alp cried Polly, with a
rising lump in her throat.
"Well, she thinks, don't you see? that
every woman ought to have a practi-
cal knowledge Of"
"Pshaw p cried Mrs. Morrison; and
she jumped up and went into the
house.
Vincent looked after her, with low
whistle