The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-03-12
MRS. STUTSON's SOFT SOAP.

tNvs SouJ tHouSut meDOe tWOulu ram In
day or two, and then Jabe could be srared to
help little about the house for must get
my work ketched up while wc have good
weather.
Yes, there's alus something ye cant do if
it don't rain, and ye can't do if it does de-
clare for it, I'd like to know what on nirth
would become on us oil if want 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 outsiIe
Wal, I've got something else to do besides
peekin' at the weather. and if you ain't it's
time that you had y
Giles Stutson was fsrmer-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 morning of their
marriage.
They had, by the closest economy acquired
small fortune in the shape Of a small farm.
located about two miles from the village Of
NJ.
Only one child had been given to them to
q daughter, who, at the time of our story. had
just reached the age of twenty year'.
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 accustomed
to this that its only effect was, as Mr.. Stutson
once said, that,
1T went in one ear and out tother
WAL Giles, there's just this much about it
II that ar rack amt up by ten clock, I'll git
= some nails and drive up to hang that beef on,
myself I've got to clean that cheese-room to-
day, and want that pile Of beef out of my way
So saying, she went into the mlk-room to
strain the mornings milk.
IT'S no use arguing. said Mr.. Stutson to
Jabe, the hired man; when Judy gifts sot on
anything shell have her way, and if she says
she'll do thing, she'll do it every time. But
] guess that cheese-room won't spile if faint
cleaned to-day, and the beef is we'll enough
where it is can't bother with it to-day, any
how
g
lowed .Tabc TO the.e Id leaving NIafShs Ann to
clear away the breakfast.
Having cared for the milk, Mrs. Stutson ap-
peared, and exclaimed, partly to herself and
partly TO Marsha:
Whoever did see sich men folks? They
think woman can get along anyway, no matter
how. Here is billed dinner to get, them
starched 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
sonagc, tonight Was ever woman so put to
it TO know what to do fust: | never was
Wal shan't 60 to the party that's one sure
thing"
why, mother Of course you'll go, said
Marsha.
OF course shant 60. I've got something
else to do, besides going skylarking round
nights. There will be enough of EN- without
me. Let them go rs hain't got SO much to do
as have. Here, Marsha, you so into the shed,
aud from that box behind the door git me some
nails, and 60 to the wood-pilc and fetch me the
hatchet and I'll see what | can do
All things being now ready, Mrs Stutson,
with hatche, nails and beef in her hands,
started for the cellar. stopping on the top stair
I, tell Marsha to
BE sure and wash them greens clean. and
not be a-gaping out the winder to Tom Ryder
Thomas Ryder was the sen of neighboring
farmer who had at sundry times shown Marsha
Ann some attention at npplc-bces, and candy
pulls these incidents being sufficient 20 impress
the mother with the great responsibility which
doyn1y 1ycIu n her N kcrn nj
Marsha, lest Tom, who she Thought was un-
unworthy Of such n prize, should come and
rob them Of their precious treasure.
On reaching the cellar, she found a suitable
place over the pork barrel where to her mind
the beef would be
Out of the way Of rats, and handy TO get
at, ms sic afterwards told Mr.. Stutson.
Having armed herself with hachet and nails.
she mounted the barrel, and prepared to drive
the first nail, when the barrel cover slipped
and splash she went--into what?
1t seems that Giles and .Iabe had been there
before her, and in getting out some cider bar
rels, had changed things about in such man
ner that the barrel Of soft soap stood where the
pork should stand and she, in her haste, not
noticed the change, had mounted the former
Land o massy. Whit would that man do
next, Id like TO knew
Making plunge for the top Of the barrel,
she tried to extrcatc herself. but each success
sive attempt proved only complete failure
What on nrths a body going to do in such
fix? Marsha Marsha Ann. What can
that gal be about that she don't come when |
call her? Hanging on the fence, | warrant, n
talking TO that Tom Ryder | will Tom Ryder
the hull lot If ever git cut of here
Just Mt that moment Marsha came through