The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-04-25
misccl
Managing n Man.

best, and dearest little girl in Hilsburg and
when Tom Carter fell head over heels in love
with her, nobody blamed him in the least
And when the parson gave his blessing, and
they went to commence housekeeping in a
cosy little house on the south side of the
town, everybody prophesied all sorts of hap.
piness for the pretty bride. And, truth to
tell, Nellie Carter was very happy. 1t is q
pleasant thing to go to housekeeping for the
first time, with every thing new and shiny
and if you have somebody you love very
much for a 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 tidi-
ness, and Tom was the most careless fellow
alive. He kept his person neat and nice
but his personal belongings 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 over
coat. 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, but Tom
invariably tossed everything in some other
place. Now little Mrs. Nellie was only
human, and TOMS slovenly ways annoyed
her exceedingly. She was resolved not to
spoil the peace of her cosy home by scolding,
but how to cure him she could not tell She
bore it with the patience of an angel, until
one morning, after he haG gone to his office,
she went into the parlor, and there lay Toms
heavy shawl right across the table, ruthless
ly crushing beneath it the pretty trifles which
lay upon the marble table.
"New can't stand this and l won't p said
Nellie, as she carefully raised the shawl from
the delicate treasures and discovered the
ruins of a favorite Bohemian vase.
81 don't know what to do, but this / won't
have!" she continued, while the little bit of
wifely snap which every good wife must
have if she expects TO get on at all with that
occasionally unreasonable animal-a man.
"Some way must be discovered to cure Tom
of such performances as this!' went on Mrs.
Nellie, as she removed the ruins of her vase,
and all that morning she went about the
house with scarlet lips closely compressed
and little flash in her brown eyes, which
argued well for Master Toms domestic SUBJ
lection.
And when determined woman says
"must" and shall" masculine insubordina-
ton might as we'll surrender at once.
Before Mrs. Nellie closed her bright eyes
that night she had arranged her plans for the
campaign against her liege lord, who slept
the sleep of innocence at her side.
But she meant 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 gently said, tom, dear,
hadn't you better put your slippers in the
passage of the bedroom"
mo, let 'em alone; they'll be handy to.
night" said Tom.
"But Tom, dear, they look so untidy."
"Why no, they don't. A thing looks as
we'll in one place as another. What's the use
of man having home if he can't keep
things where he wants to?" said rebellious
Tom.
whats the use of keeping wife and SER
want on their feet all day to pick up things
after you ?" asked Nellie, without the least
show of temper.
Don't pick em up at all. Just let 'em
alone, and then can find 'em when want
EN-" declared Master Tom, as he gave her O
kiss and took himself of.
And the moment the door closed on him
Nelie's red lips compressed again and heI
brown eyes wore the same look they had
worn yesterday.
"War 1t is, then ?" she said TO herself
"Now, Master Tom, we shall see who wins.
She set quietly about the usual mornings
work of mistress of house where only ONE
servant is kept, and when Tom came tt
lunch everything was in its usual goot
order.
1t remained so, and Nellie busted hersel
with her needlework until nearly time fol
Tom to return to dinner.
Then she rose to "open the campaign"
First she put Toms slippers where he al
ways 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 chars and on the sofa
Her furs reposed in Toms own especia
arm chair, and her best bonnet kept Toms
slippers company under the sofa, while hel
own slippers lay upon the chiffonier. Ant
then, thinking that female ingenuity coult
make no greater sacrifice than her Sunday
bonnet, she took piece of crochet work ant
sat down.
Presently the door opened and in walked
Master Tom. .....
He gave low whistle of surprise as he
glanced at the unwonted disorder, and a
Nellie sitting calmly in the midst with hel
Haven't been putting things to rights
mo, no. Whyr" said Nellie looking ur
in sweet Inconsistencies.
II thought maybe you had been, that's all,
remarked Tom drily, as he looked for a place
to sit down.
Nellie quietly pursued her work.
Presently Tom said, Paper come THU
evening.
"Not yet" answered Nellie.
Tom gave half sigh.
"Nellie, met Granger just now, and hi
said he would call around this evening"
"Very well; probably he won't come be
fore dinner. 1t will be ready soon," sale
Nellie, working away in demure innocence
Hadn't you better put things little tc
rights, before he comes ?" said Tom, glanc
ing uneasily about the room.
"Oh, no. just let 'em lie," answered Mel
| lie, sweetly
"But they look 80 bad" said Tom.
ooh, no, they don't, said Nellie, as sweet