Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-12-31
MRS. STUTSON'S SOFT SOAP.

MRS. STUTSON'S SOFT SOAP.
"Hain't you put that rack in the
cellar yit, to hang that er dried beef
on?" asked Mrs. Stutson.
mo, Judy, thought mebbe 'twould
rain in day or two, and then Jabe
could be spared to help a little about
the house, for l must get my work
ketched up while we have good
weather"
Yes, there's allus something We
can't do if it don't rain, and ye can't
if it does; | 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 a cloud in
the kitchen when there amt none
outside"
wall, 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 Il 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 farm. located about two miles
from the village of M. Only one
child had been given them to brighten
their little country home, and this was
a daughter, who at the time of our
story had reached the age of twenty
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;
and the more she fretted and scolded,
the more work she accomplished.
The whole family had become so ac-
customed to this that its effect was, as
Mr. Stutson once said, "that it went
in one ear and out 'tother."
"Wall, Giles, there's jest this much
about it; if that ar rack amt up by
ten o'clock, I'll git some nails and
drive up, to hang that beef on myself.
I've got to clean the cheese-room to-
day, and L want that pile of beef out
of my way"
So saying she went into the milk
room, to strain the mornings milk.
'It's no use arguing" said Mr.. Slut
son to Jabe, the hired man. "When
Judy gets sot on anything she'll do it
every time. | guess that cheese-room
won't spile if 'taint cleaned to-day,
and the beef is well enough where it is;
can't bother with it to-day, anyhow"
Having thus expressed his opinion,
he followed Jabe to the field, leaving
Marsha Ann to clear away the break
fast.
Having cared for the milk, Mrs.
partly to herself and partly to Marsha:
''Whoever see sich men folks? They
think woman can git along anyway,
no matter how. Here is billed dinner
to Git, then starch clothes to iron, pies
to make, cheese-room to clean, and
massy knows what, | don't. Yes, and
there's the donation party to the par
sonage to-uight. Was ever woman
so put to 1t to know what to do fust?
never was. Wall. | shan't 90 to the
party, that's one sure thing"
'Why, mother, of course you'll CO."
''Of course | sha'n't 90! I've got
something else to do beside going sky
larking round nights There will be
enough on 'em without me. Let them
90 tnat hain't got so much to do rs
have. Here, Marsha, you 90 into the
shed, and in that box behind the door
cit me some nails, and out on the
wood pile and fetch me the hatchet,
and III see what | can do"
All things now ready, Mrs Stutson,
with hatchet, nails and beef in hand,
started for the cellar, stopping on the
and wash the greens clean, and not be
agaping out the winder to Tom Ryder
Thomas Ryder was the son of
neighborng farmer, who had at sundry
times shown Marsha Ann some atten-
tion at apple bees and candy pulls,
these incidents being sufficient to i'm
press the mother with the great respon-
sibility which devolved upon her to
keep watchful eye upon Marsha, lest
Tom, whom she deemed unworthy the
prize, should rob them of their pre-
ciouS treasure.
On reaching the cellar she found
suitable place over the pork barrel
where to her mind the beef would be
''out OF the way of rats, and yet be
handy to get at, as she afterwards
told MIR. Stutson. Having armed her
self with hatchet and naas, she
mounted the barrel and prepared to
drive the first nail when the barrel
cover slipped, and splash she went
into what?
1t seemed that Giles and Jabc had