Connecticut western news., 1885-08-05
A BARREL OF SOFT SOAP

A BARREL OF SOE"I SUAP "Hain't you put that rack in the cellar yet, to hang that CT dried beef nP" asked Mrs. Stutson.
 ':No, Judy, I thought mebbe 'twould rain in a day or two, and then Jabe could be spared to help little about the house, for must get my work ketched up while we have good weather"
 @Yes, there's allus something ye can't do if it don't rain, and Ye can't If it 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 ain't none outside" "Wal, I've got something else to do beside peekin' at the weather; and if you ain't it's time that you had"
 Giles Stutson was a 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 home, and this was 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; and the more she fretted and scolded, the more work she accomplished.
 The whole family had become 50 accustomed to this that its effect was. as MT. Stutson once said, 'it went in one ear and out 'tother."
 "Wal, Giles, there's jest this much about 1t; if that ar rack ain't 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 I want that pile of beef out of my way"
 So saying she vent into the milk room, to strain the mornings milk.
 'Its no use arguing" said MT. Stutson to Jabe, the hired man. "When Judy gets sot on anything she'll have her way, and if she says she'll do thing, 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 1t to-day, anyhow
 Having thus expressed his opinion, he followed Jabe to the field, leaving Martha Ann to clear away the break fast.
 Having cared for the milk, Mrs Stutson appeared and exclaimed, part ly to herself and partly to Martha:
 "Whoever see sich men folksp They think woman can git along any way no matter how. Here Is billed dinner to git, them starch clothes to iron, pie to make, cheese-room to clean, an( .massy knows what, don't Yes, ant there's the donation party to the par Bonage tonight. Was ever a woman 80 put to it to know what to do fust' Inever was, Wal, I sha'nt go to tn party, that's one sure thing"
 "Why, mother, of course you'll go.
 @Of course sha'nt gol I've go something else to do beside going sky larking round nights. There will b enough on lem without me. Let ther 20 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 wha I can do"
 All things now ready, Mrs. Stutsor with hatchet, nails and beef in hand started for the cellar. stopping on th top stair to tell Martha to ''be sure an wash the greens clean, and not be { gaping out the winder to Tom Ryder.
 Thomas Ryder was the son of neighboring farmer, who had at sur dry times shown Martha Ann son attention at apple bees and cand pulls, these incidents being sufflcier to impress the mother with the gre' responsibility which devolVed upc her to keep watchful eye upon Ma tha. lest Tom, whom she deemed u worthy the prize, should rob them their precious treasure.
 On reaching the cellar she found suitable place over the pork barr' where W her mind the beef would Y