The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-05-24
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MANAGING A MAN.

dearest little girl in Hillburg; and when
Tom Carter fell head over heels in love
with her, nobody blamed him. And when
the parson gave his blessing, and they went
to commence housekeeping in cozy little
house, everybody prophesied all sorts of
happiness for the pretty bride. And, truth
to tell, Nellie Carter was very happy. 1t
is pleasant thing to go housekeeping for
the first time, with everything new and
shiny; and if you have somebody you love
very much for companion, it is still
pleasanter. Now Nellie did love that big
laundering Tom Carter with all her might
and main, and there was only one thing to
disturb her perfect peace. She was the
very pink of tidiness, and Tom was the
most careless fellow alive. He kept his
person neat and nice-but his personal be-
longings anything else. Tom would persist
in tossing his slippers under the parlor sofa,
to have them handy. In vain did she
gently suggest that the rack in the hall
was the place for his hat and overcoat.
Tom would fling his overcoat, damp or dry,
on her pretty, smoothly-made bed, and drop
his hat anywhere. In vain did tidy Nellie
make place for everything, for Tom in
variably tossed everything in some other
place. Now, little Mrs. Nellie was only
human, and Toms slovenly ways annoyed
her exceedingly She bore it with the pa
thence of an angel, until one morning, after
he had gone to his Office, she went into the
parlor, and there lay Toms heavy shaw,
right across the table, ruthlessly crushing
beneath it the pretty trihes which lay upon
the marble table.
"Now l can't stand this p said Nellie,
as she carefully raises the shawl from the
delicate treasures and discovered the ruins
of a favorite Bohemian vase.
II don't know what to do, but this |
won't have!" she continued with the little
bit of wifely snap which every good
wife must have if she expects to get on at
all with the occasionally unreasonable ami
mal-a man.
''Some way must be discovered to cure
Tom p went on Mrs Nellie as she removed
the ruins of her vase, and all the morning
she went about the house with scarlet lips
closely compressed and little fash in her
brown eyes.
And when determined woman says
"must" and 'shall'' masculine insurbordi-
nation might as well surrender at once.
Before Mrs. Nellie closed her bright eyes
that night she had arranged all her plans
for the campaign against her Gege lord,
who slept the sleep of the innocent at her
side.
But she intended to give him one more
chance.
So, after breakfast, when Tom drew on
his boots and gave his slippers their usual
toss under the sofa, she said tom, dear,
hadn't you better put your slippers in the
PASSAGE
"No, let EN- alone; they'll be handy to-
night said Tom.
''But, Tom, dear, they look so very I'M
tidy"
"Why, no they don't. A thing looks
as well in one place as another. What's
the use of man having home if he can't
keep things where he wants to ?"
''What's the use of keeping wife and
a servant on their feet all day to pick up
things after your" asked Nellie, without
the least show of temper.
Don't pick EN- up at all. Just let EN-
alone, and then | can find 'em when want
EN-" declared Master Tom, as he gave her
a kiss and took himself off.
And the moment the door closed on him
Nellie's red lips compressed again and the
brown eyes wore the same look they had
worn yesterday.
"War is it, then ?" she said to herself,
"Now, Master Tom, we shall see who
wins"
She set quietly about the usual morn
ing's work, and when Tom came to lunch
everything was in its usual good order.
1t remained so, and Nellie busted herself
with the needle work until nearly time for
Tom to return to dinner.
Then she arose to prepare herselfto open
the campaign.
First she put Toms slippers, where he
always left them, under the sofa,
Then she tossed her shawl upon the
piano and his best hat on the table.
Then she brought some of her dresses
and flung them across the chairs and on
the sofa.
Her furs reposed in Toms own especial
armchair, and her best bonnet kept Toms
slippers company under the sofa, while her
own slippers lay upon the chiffonier. And
then, thinking that female ingenuity could
make no greater sacrifice than her Sunday
bonnet, she took piece of crochet work,
and sat down.
Presently the door opened, and in walked
master Tom.
He gave low whistle as he glanced at
the unwonted disorder, and at Nellie sit
ting calmly in the midst, with her crochet
woFk,
"Haven't been putting things to rights,
Nellie ?" he asked.
"No. Why?" said Nellie, looking up
in sweet Inconsistencies.
81 thought maybe you had been, that's
all" remarked Tom, dryly, as he looked
for place to sit down.
Nellie quietly pursued her work.
Presently Tom said, "Paper come this
cyePipg?"
'iNot YET" answered Nellie;
Tom gave sigh.
'tNellie, met Granger just now, and he
said he would call around this evening""
every well; probably he won't come be,
fore dinner 1t will be ready soon," said
Nellie, working away in demure innocence.
"Hadn't you better put things a little to
rights before he comes p said Tom, glanc-
ing uneasly around the room.
sob, no: Just let 'em lIe,'' she answer;
ed sweetly.
'sBut they look SO bad said Tom.
HOh, no, they DON'T said Nellie, as
sweetly as before. ga thing looks as well
in one place as another"
sTom's face Redeemed"
II never saw your room look like this
before" he said hesitatingly. II should
not like to have anyone step in"
"Why not said Nellie. owe might as
well keep things handy. What's the use