Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-09


All latter breakfast make the beds
and sweep all the principal rooms. and
got the children ready for school. Then
on Mondays wash; Tuesdays l iron j
Wednesdays bake and clean; Thursdays
1 do up fruit, pickles and tomatoes Fri
days clean, and Saturdays I bake again
and get ready for Sunday, for viii always
invites friends to dine with him on Sun
days, and it is the busiest day in the
week. And besides this, 1 have all my
own clothes and the children's to mend
and make; Willis shirts to cut and make;
spring and fall cleaning to do. rag carpets
to sew and weave. and"
"Oh. stop, stopl" cried Clara, lifting
her hands as if in terror. II don't wonder
Alice"
"You don't wonder at what ?" said
Mrs. William Field, in some surprise.
THAT Wills first wife died at twenty
six. and that you at thirty-six are follow
ing as rapidly in her footsteps as can be-"
cried Clara. you were made of iron
and India rubber you ceuldn It accomplish
sll this druggery without being worn out.
I'm going directly home to abdicate my
position as reigning sovereign.
And the spirited young wife. leaving
Mrs. Will Tapped In amazement hurried
away.
John Field was standing at the old we'll
in his working costume, drinking from
the bucket, as Clara tripped up the path.
He locked up with smile.
well. pet" said be. "where are you
going ?"
ITO pack my trunk, said Clara, wit b
mischief sparkling In her deep, soft eyes.
five been investigating matters and l
don't like the situation"
"What situation ~
"That of maid-of -all-work, laundress,
cook, housekeeper and lady, ali rolled into
one, at the salary Of my clothes and
food"
.Rnt my dear. " said John with Q puz-
zled face, ''y0u are talking nonsense
Nobody expects that of any woman"
"Don't thoy, though ?" said Clara.
There's where you are mistaken. 1t is
precisely what Wills present wife has been
doing for him all these years, what his
first wife wore herself out in doing, and
what you are preparing yourself to de-
mand:of me. Aunt Kezlah advises me to
take Willis wife as model. But I shall
do nothing of the sort. l had q deal
rather 60 back to teaching"
II never heard such talk Ia my life."
said Aunt Keziah, who from the kitchen
threshold, had overheard Mrs. John Fields
declaration Of Independence.
VERY likely" said Clara. "You see
I've no idea of committing suicide, what.
ever Wills wife's opinion may be. Oh,
John, how blind, how short-sighted you
men are. Look at poor, pale, worn-out
Alice, type of every farmers wife in tho
neighborhood. Look at her now, and
then try to remember her as she was when
first she came here. You may call it good
housekeeping. call it killing herself by
inches.
"Well," owned John, ''shs docs look
feeble"
'And do you wonder at 1t, when you
see all that she accomplished" flashed out
Clara. "Why Bluebeard himself never
killed off his wives more systematically
than New England farmer does. I'll
tell you what, john" she added, "if you
will provide me all the servants need.
and let me live in my home as its ruling
spirit. not as drudge, I'll remain here.
Otherwise, shall leave Hazlenut Farm
to-day"
"She's not far wrong" said Aunt Ke-
ziah. who had shrewd, rugged conscien-
tiousness of her own under all her preju-
dices.
s.She's right" said John Field. "Stay
with us, pot, and you shall see that we
know how to appreciate you as you de-
serve.n
So Mrs. John Field stayed, the head of
an efficient establishment of stout servant
girls, who ofticiated as hands to her own
active brain, and no place in the neigh
borhood lourished more than HaZlenut
Farm.
cts MISREPRESENTATION extrava-
gance - exclaimed Will Field, when he
heard of his brother 8 new administration
of affairs.
well see how the bills add up at the
end Of the year." said John Field, quietly.
At the years end Will was unable to
imagine how it was that his brothers. &C.
count had swelled to nearly third more
than his own.
"We have lived much more economic Il.
ly than you" said he. "We have kept no
lazy, wasteful, Sinking help"
.Ah ~ said Clara. "but you didn't count
tho doctors bills while poor Alice lay sick
30 long with rheumatic fever. brought on
by scrubbing her cellar floors herself, nor
the expense Of the nurse who took care of
i her. To be sure little Alice and Jane did
the work of the house between them while
their mother was ill, but neither of them
will be strong for year, 50 heavy was the
strain. And next year you Will probably
have an undertaker's bill to pay into the
bargain"
mo l won't said " i'll resolutely. "Ill
try Johns way. and see il it will brighten
Alice and the children up little"
"Call it Clara's way" said John Field,
laughing; for she is the originator of the
whole thing"
"It's . sensible way, anyhow" said
Will, "whosoever's it may be-"
For Clara had converted them BOTH
Nesu York Ledger.