The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-11-21
A Barrel of Soft Soap.

A Barrel of Soft Soap.
''r1aIn you put THAT rack III rrrv-~e1-
lar yet, to hang that er dried beef on2''
asked Mrs. Stutson.
"No, Judy; l thought mebbe it would
rain in day or two, and then Jabe
could be spared to help little about
the house, for I must get my work
ketched up while we have good
weather."
eyes, there's allus something ye
can't do if it don't rain and ye can't if
it does; 1 declare for it; I'd like to
know what on earth would become oi
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 aim none outside. "
"Wal, I've got something else to dc
besides peekin' at the weather; and il
you amt it's time you had"
Giles Stutson was farmer-a man
of good habits, honest in his dealing
with his fellow-men-who in his youth
had married Judith Mcintosh. ga
smarter girl never trod shoe leather" "
So said the elder Stutson on the morn
ing of their marriage.
They had by the closest economy ac'
cumulated a small fortune, in the shape
of farm, located about two miles from
the village of M. Only one child
had been given to them to brighten
their home, and this was daughter
who at the time of our story had reach
ed the age of twenty years.
Mrs. Stutson, as you will observe b.
this conversation, was one of that pecu
liar type of women whose very life seem
ed to depend on scolding and working
all at the same instant; and the more
she fretted and scolded, the more worl
she accomplished.
The whole family had become so &C
customed to this that its effect was, a
Mr.. Stutson once said, cit went in ont
ear and out t'other."
"Wal, Giles, there's jest this mucl
about it; if that er rack amt up by Il
O'Clock, I'll get some nails and driv'
up, hang that beef on myself. I've 60
TO clean the chccsc-room to-day, AM
want that pile of beef out of my way ;
So saying she went into the milk-roon
to strain the mornings milk.
"It's no use arguing" said Mr.. Slut
son to Jabe, the hire man. "Wher
Judy gets sot on anything she'll hav
her way, and ifshe says she'll do a thing
she'll do it every time. I guess tha
cheese-room won't spoil if 'taint clean
ed to-day, and the beef is well enougl
where it is; I can't bother with it to
day, anyhow"
Having thus expressed his opinion
he followed Jabe to the field, leavin
Martha Ann to clear away the breakfast
Having cared for the milk, Mrs
Stutson appeared and exclaimed, partl
to herself and partly to Martha:
"Whocver see sech men folks? The
think woman can git along any way
no matter how. Here is billed Dime
to git them, starch clothes to iron, pie
to make, cheese-room to clean, ant
massy knows what, don't. Yes, ant
there's the donation party to the pal
sonage tonight. Was ever woma
so put to it to know what to do fust?
never was. Wal l shan't go to tn
party, that's one sure thing"
"Why, mother, of course you'll go.
"Of course shan't go! I've &C
something else to do besides going sky
larking round nights. There will b
enough on 'em without me. Let ther
90 that hain't got so much to do as
have. Here, Martha, you go into tn
shed, and behind the door git me som
nails, and out on the wood-pile an
| fetch me the hatchet, and I'll see whs
l can do"
All things now ready, Mrs. Stutsor
with hatchet, nails and beef in hane
started for the cellar, stopping on til
top stair to tell Martha to "be sure an
wash the greens clean and not be a gal
ing out the winder to Tom Ryder"
Thomas Ryder was the son of
neighboring farmer, who had at sundl
times shown Martha Ann some after
ton at apple bees and candy pulls, the!
incidents being sufficient to impress II
mother with the great responsible
which devolved upon her to keep
watchful eye upon Martha, lest Ton
whom she deemed unworthy the priz
should rob them of their precious tire
sure.
| On reaching the cellar she found
suitable place over the pork-barre
where to her mind the beef would
out of the way of rats, and yet be hant
to get at, as she afterward told M
Stutson. Having armed herself wi
hatchet and nails, she mounted the ba
rel and prepared to drive the first ma
when the barrel cover slipped, al
splash she went-into whatP
1t seemed that Giles and Jabe HI
been there before her, and in gettil
out some cider barrels, had chang
things about in such manner that t
barrel of soft soap stood where the po
, should stand; and she in her haste, n
! noting the change, had mounted t
former.
Gland o'massy What won't II
! man do next, I'd like to know?"
Making plunge for the top of
: barrel she tried to extricate herself, /
each successive attempt proved only
failure.
8 "What on airth's body going to
in this fxP Martha! Martha An
r + What can that gal be about that S
i don't come when l call her? Hangi
d on the fence, I warrant, talking to Il
Tom Ryder. I will Tom Ryder the h
lot if ever git out of her !"
lust at this moment Martha A
came through the hatchway.
"Where are you, mother ?"
"Where be I? should think yor
ask7 Go ask Tom Ryder! Mebbe he