The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-03
MRS. srursoN's SOFT SOAP.
BY RENA RIvKRroN.

BY RsNA INVITATION.
 "Hain't you put that rack Ia the cellar yit, to hang that CT dried beef on ?" asked Mrs, Stusson.
 No, Judy, thought mehSe 'twould rain in day or two, and then Jabe could be spared to help little about tue house, for l 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 If il does {; dsc.zse !o. t I'd Ike :o sno~ 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 aint none outside !" "Wal, I've got something else 70 dc beside peekin' at the weather and if you ain't it's time that you had"
 "Giles Stu,sen was a farmer-a man of good habits, honest in his dealings with his fellow men-who in his you h had married Judith Mcintosh. "A smarter girl never trod shoe leather" So said the elder SIutson on the morning of their marriage.
 They had by the closest economy ac. quired small fortune. in the shape of a 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 vas daughter, who at the time of our story had reached the age of .~esiy years
 Mrs Siutson, as you will observe by this conversation, was one oi that pecu- liar type of women whose very life seemed to depend upon scolding and working, all at the same instant; and the rnoYe she fretted and scolded, the more work she accomplished.
 The whole family had become so ac- customed to this that its effect was, as Mir. Stutson once said, "that 1t went in one car and out 'tother"
 "Wall, Giles, there's jest this much about it; if that ar rack aint 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, aud want that pile of beef out of my way 7"
 So saying she went into the milk room, | to strain the mornings milk.
 "lts no use aIgulng." said Mir. Stut- son to abe, the hired man. "When Judy gets sot on anything she'll do it every time. l guess that cheese room won't spile if 'tain't cleaned to- day, and the beef is well enough where 1t is; can't bother with it to day, anyhow" Having thus expressed his opinion, he followed Jabe to toe field, leaving Marsha Ann to clear away the breakfast Having cared for the milk, Mrs Stul- son sppeaiei and exclaimed, partly to herself and partly 10 Marsha: Whoever see sich men folksp They think a woman can git along anyway, DO mater now. Here is biied dinneI to git. then starch clothes to iron, pies to make, cheese-room to clean, and massy knows what, 1 dont. Yes, aud there's the dona- ton parry to the parsonage tonight. Was ever woman so pu' to it to know what to do tus'2 l never was. Wall, shant go to the party, that's one sure thing"
 "Why. mother, of course you Il go." "Of course 1 sha'nt goi I've got something else to do beside going sky lsrking round nights. There sill be enough on 'em without me. Let them go that hain't got so much to do as have. Here, Marsha. you go into the shed, and in tha, bsx behind the door git me some nails, and out on the wood pile and fetch me the hatchet. and m see what can do"
 All things now ready, Mrs S,urson, with hatchet nails and beef in hand, stared for the cellar stopping on the top stair to tell Marsha to (" be sure and wash the greens clean, and not be az aping oui the winder to Tom Ryder"
 Thomas Ryder was the son of reigh- boring farmer, who had at sundry times  apple bees and candy pulls, these incl dents being sufficient to impress the mother .iih the great responsibility which devolved upon her 10 keep a watch. ful eye upon Marsha, lest Tom, whom she deemed unworthy the prire. should rob them of their precious treasure.
 On reaching the cellar she found sultabse place over the pork barrel, where to her mind the beef would De out of the way of rats, and yet oe handy 10 get at," as she afterwards told Mir. S,utson. Having armed herself with ha,chet and nails, she mounted the barrel and pre- pared to drive me first nail when the par rel cover slipped, and splash she vent into whatf
 :, seemed tha, Giles and Jabe sd been there before her, and ir gettiug oui some cider barrels, mad changed things about in sach a manner that me barrel of soft soap s.cod where the pork shosid stand 1; ] and she, in her has,e, not noting the change, had mounted the former
 Land O massy! What won't that man do next, I'd like to knovT'
 Making plunge for the top of the bar ] rel she tired to ex,ricafe herself buf each 1 successive attempt proved only failnre- l
 "What on arth's body going to do l in this fx? Marshal AaTsha Ann 7 What cad that gal be about that she !