The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-09-11
A Domes,ic Mistake .

clever wife. Jeanette,
Tended the children and the house, and saw
that both ends met;
A happy couple; yet one night, when Van had
made a loss
He went into his pleasant well. just
little cross.
And, as II happened, on that day, from morn
ing until night,
Nothing in all her household work had gone
with Jeanette right;
She said she was $50 tired" and Van. IN his
rough, careless way,
Said he would like to do her work and rest
himself day.
She answered, as woman would for contra
dlction, he
three;
And so they argued I'LL they both agreed upon
this test:
Jeannette should tend the store next day, Van
do her work and rest.
She took his orders for the store, then said
"van, listen now,
You'll light the fire. aud while 1t burns you'd
better milk the COW;
Then make the boys their breakfast next, dress
Freddy when he wakes,
And boil the coffee, brown the hash and fry
dish Of cakes.
And after breakfast, IL the TorninR should
be clear and fine,
The washing that did to day hang up upon
the line,
You'd better let the starch alone you'd make
mess, no doubt
hut don't forget to feed the fowls and see the
cows turned out.
"Then wash the dishes, make the beds and
take up stairs the broom,
For always at this time of year both sweep
and air each room.
You'd better next 20 down to Jake's and buy
the dinners steak;
The stock is ready for the soup, the pies youll
have to make.
"At twelve the dinner must be laid, or else the
boys complain;
You know they must be back at school by one
O'Clock again;
Then build the fire up well and clear, so that
the irons heat,
while you wash up the dinner things and make
the house place sweet
"Then you may iron until i've, but when the
boys come home
You'd better send them for the cow, she is so
apt to roam;
And then you'll give the children each bowl
of milk and bread,
And little Freddy must be bathed and put into
his bed
BESIDES, there's many a little thing yOu'l
have to see done right,
Aud Fred must not moment he out Of your
call or sights
And IT neighbor should drop in TO borrow or
to call,
You need not growl; it's business, Van, to be
polite to all.
out for me,
For shall want bit of steak and good cup
OF tea;
Then HE away and lay the fire, and see the
doors secure,
And when its ten o'clock, Van winker, you'n
be rested sure
Jeanette went to the store next day, prepared
to do her part,
And yet her cNildren and her house lay heavy
on her heart
but she was bright. and kept the store with
business all alive,
And sold more dry goods In that day than Van
had done in five.
The clerk beneath her watchful eye put on II
civil way,
She heard the news and saw her friend, and had
a pleasant day;
But yet, mid all, she thought Of home with
tear and great dlstrust;
And there, poor Van by ten o'clock sat smok-
ing in disgust
He got the clothes upon the line, and then the
line gave way;
He put them back into the tubs then Fred
had got astray;
He found the boy, then smoked pipe and
called himself fool
The fire went out before he knew the boys
were home from school.
They got what dinner they could find; Van
stood II until four;
Them in a most repentant mood, he went down
to the store;
"I'm better now, Jeanette" he said and with
happy face
The wife went to the wretched home, and got
all things in place.
When Van went home at nine O'Clock the house
was still and clean,
| And wise Jeanette ignored the day as though
1t had not been;
But ever after, II Il man said but one thought
less word
About his busy wife at home, Van winkei
Rravely heard,
And answered thus: my stupid friend, I've
just one thing TO say
You'll change your mind IL you will try to dc
herwork one day."
NEW OYSTER SALOON.