Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-08-07
A BARREL OF SOFT SOAP

j "Hain't you put that rack in tn
cellar yet, to hang that er dried bee
on ?" asked Mrs. Stutson.
mo, Judy, I thought mebbe 'twoul,
rain in day or two, and then Jab
could be spared to help little abou
the house, for Unjust get my worl
ketohed up while we have goot
weather"
eyes, there's allus something yC
can't do if it don't rain, and ye can't ii
1t does; I declare for it; I'd like to
know what on arth would become on
us all if 'twant for me to look after
things"
"Come, come, mother, don't fret any
more; we don't want cloud in the
kitchen when there amt none outside"
oval, I've got something else to do
beside peekin' at the weather; and if
you amt it's time that you had"
Giles Stutson was farmer-a man
of good habits, honest in his dealings
with his fellow men-who in his youth
had married Judith Mcintosh. "a
smarter girl never trod shoe leather"
So said the elder Stutson on the morn
ing Of their marriage.
They had by the closest economy |
acquired small fortune, in the shape |
Of a farm, located about two miles
from the village of NJ. Only one
child had been given them to brighten
their home, and this was a daughter,
who at the time of our story had
reached the age of 20 years.
Mrs. Stutson, as you will observe by
this conversation, was one of that
peculiar type of women whose very
life seemed to depend upon scolding
and working, all at the same instant; J
and the more she fretted and scolded. t
The more work she accomplished. /
The whole family had become so I
accustomed to this that its effect was. j
IS Mr.. Stutson once said, at went in
me ear and out 'tother." d
oval, Giles, there's Jest this much
bout it; if that ar rack amt up by e.
en- o'clock, I'll git some nails and n
rive up, to hang that beef on myself.
We got to clean the cheese room to-
ay' and want that pile of beef out ca
Z my way" BIZ
So saying she went into the milk yc
'om, to strain the mornings milk. yc
ats no use arguing" said Mr.. tn
utson to Jabe, the hired man.
When Judy gets sot on anything WI
ell have her way, and if she saws
ell do a thing, she'll do it every so
ne. 1 guess that cheese-room won't "
lie If faint cleaned to-day, and the fat
Of is well enough where it is; I can't
Their with it to-day, anyhow" 8
Having thus expressed his opinion, the
followed Jabe to the field, leaving n n
'rtha Ann to clear away the break g
y emit
Having cared for the milk, Mrs. va
tson appeared and exclaimed, part q
% herself and partly to Martha: inc
Whoever see SIGH men folksP They lool
Tx a woman can git along any way, clar
matter how. Here is billed dinner here
1t, them starch clothes to iron, pies and
make, cheese-roOm to clean, and nott
sy knows what, don't. Yes, and thin
e's the donation party to the par tber
lge tonight. Was ever a woman kind
ut to it to know what to do fust ? tina
yer was, Wal, I sha'nt go to the her
=, that's one sure thing" 90
WY moCner' OF course youth 60" if 20
# course I sha'nt gol I've got vou't
'thing else to do beside going sky helm
ng round nights. There will be oB
sn on Gun "ltnout me. Let them Judy
lat hain't got so much to do as 1 that
Here, Martha, you 60 into the &c
and behind the door git me some so wi
and out on the wood pile and leadir
me the Ratchet, and I'll see what cause
do" 80 80
things now ready, Mrs. Stutson. thing
Ratchet, nails and beef in hand. "W
d for the cellar, stopping on the going
air to tell Martha to ''be sure and "Tb
the greens clean, and not be a. Won q,
8 out the winder to Tom Ryder" 80 tbs
mas Ryder was the son of a Won "a
boring farmer, who had at sun here =
mes shown Martha Ann some two r
Ion at apple bees and candy sorane
these incidents being sufficient Amt
ress the mother with the great was kr
sibility which devolved upon oft an
keep a watchful eye upon Mar wont
st Tom, whom she deemed I'M paner I
the prize, should rob them of Ate
recious treasure. stutsor
eaching the cellar she found a rel wit
9 place over the pork barrel when
to her mind the beef would be spatteri