Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-05-18
NELL'S JELLY.

"YOu are one woman Of a thou
sand, Nell--you are, by JOve . and
| am proud of you. Come when |
may find the house as band-box
and my little wife as fresh as a
rose. / like that, Nell. I've al
ways thought that if anything
could put me out Of temper with
the woman I loved il would be to
come home and find the house top
sy-turvey and my wife IN a soiled
wrapper and with rough head
Little woman, you're treasure and
Pm proud OF you"
And Edward Hastings kissed his
pretty bride until her cheeks glow
ed like the red June roses out IN
the sunshine.
She was very happy, very much
pleased and tlattered at her hus-
bands praise.
They had just been married six
months, and Nell was pattern for
all housewives.
She arose with the birds that
made their nest in the great apple
tree, and did her hOusework in the
early morning hours.
Come when he might, her hus-
band always found his little home
in order, the cupboard stored with
something good to eat, and his
wife dressed in a fresh wrapper,
with a flower IN her hair and a
smile of welcome on her fair face.
"If there is one thing more likely
to provoke a fellow than another"
he went on, lingering a moment In
the sunny pOrticO, his arm around
her waist, ''tis to bring a friend
home to dinner or luncheon and
find everything out of sorts. Now
there's Gravesley his wife's a dne
woman when you see her Out-a
shOwy woman, always well dressed.
" ell, Gravesley invited me to lunch
that day when we went out tOgeth-
er. | went, but | was sorry enough
for it. Such house as we found
all heels.Over head, and | caught
sight OF the mistress disappearing
up the stairs in curl papers and
slippers. She was indispOsed and
could not see rs, the girl sald. We
lunched on bread and cheese, and
Grayesley, poor fellow, though he
said nothing, looked exceedingly
annoyed. | should have been an
cry. think a wife should make
1t her duty to keep house and per.
son in presentable order, so that
her husband, come when he may,
may find her ready to welcome
him"
$50 DO l." said Nell, smiling up
into his face. "YOu need never be
afraid to invite a friend home with
you, Ned. No matter if | don't
know, l shall be ready to receive
YOU"
Ned gave her aringing kiss.
every well, little woman, shall
try you one ofthese days-and now
| must run. GOOd-by."
She watched him out of sight
with happy eyes, and then went
back to her pretty sItting-roOm and
her work table.
a month later the summer was
on the wane and the fruits we're
we'll ripened.
"Jane," said Mrs. Hastings one
bright morning, returning from the
garden gate, where she had parted
with her husband, 81 have just
looked at the currants and they are
quite ripe. We must make our
Jelly at once. Now, Mr.. Hastings
won't be home till late to-day. |
want to spend the day with moth
er tomorrow, and | should very
much like to get the job off my
hands to-day. What do you say ?"
81 can soon pick the currants,
ma'am."
"All right; suppose you begin.
We won't clean up now. Let the
house stand, though it is dreadful
ly out of order. Perhaps we may
find time to straighten up when we
get the fruit cooking. Hurry, now,
and pick as fast as you can, and
III step over to Browns and order
some sugar and jars"
Jane obeyed, leaving the break
fast-rOOm unswept and the front
steps unwashed.
1t was high noon before the first
kettle of juice was got in cooking
order.
Making currant jelly was rather
more of an undertaking than Mrs.
Hastings imagined.
She had seen it made at home
under her mothers supervision,
and making 1t herself she fancled
would be quite as easy.
"Dear me, how the time flies
Do hurry, Jane. What a lot there
is yet to strain But we must get