The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-12
WAS HECTOR RIGHT?

I'm afraid she's poor, feeble cree
tur'," said old Mr.. Bayliff shaking his
head. "Ten o'clock Monday morning, and
the washing amt out yet. 1t amt the way
your poor mother used to keep house.
Hector. EhP Where ye going now9
Hector Bayliff had left the ox-yoke
he was mending, and crossed the green
door yard with rapid step, to take the
heaped up clothes basket from the hands
of a pretty slender young woman who
had just emerged from the kitchen door
The old man uttered an audible snort
of disgust. "Well, I never" he said. Ill
Hector hain't left his work to wait on
that wife OF his'nl It amt mans work
to carry clothes out no way you can fiz
it. II you do it once, you'll be expected
to do it twice and Hector's wife is clean
spoiled already. 1t amt the way 1 man
aged matters when L was first married
to Hector's mother. What ye been doin'?'
sharply as the young man returned to
his work.
"That basket was too heavy for Gym
thia to carry" said Hector, curtly. II
wish could afford to keep girl for her. y
ga girlp' Mr.. Bayliff's voice betrayed
mingled establishment and contempt. A
girl Your mother
"Yes, I know, father" interrupted
Hector, "But things have changed
since then, and perhaps mother wonld be
alive now if the housework had not worn
her out before her time"
"That's downright flying in the face
of Providence" said Mr.. Bayliff, redden
ing to the roots of his stiff iron gray hair
'It was the Lords will that your moth
or should be took away, and there AIM
no sort of doubt but that she's better off
And Cynthia won't never stand in hel
shoes, no way you can look at itP'
Hector Bayliff made no reply, but tool
up his ox-yoke and went across the
fields with it.
"Father may say what he pleases,
said he to himself, "but mother died Of
over-work and under care and nothing
else. The household duties are toe
heavy for Cynthia, and must see what
can be done to Tighten them. No woman
shall be drudged to death under this ROOT
now"
Cynthia Hough had been pretty
young factory girl when Hector Baylif
married her. She had been ignorant Of
the details OF housekeeping, but she had
exerted herself diligently to learn. OLD
Mr.. Bayliff, however, was an exactine
critic, and the Bayliff farmhouse was &
big, rambling, announcement place, where
one might work hard all day and have very
little to show for it at the end. And the tir
ed look in her eye and the weary flush OF
her cheek went to Hector's heart betimes
"My darling" said he, ~ wish could
make things easier for you
"Oh, they are easy enough" said Gym
thia brightly. ats only that 1 am too
stupid to manage as 1 ought
Hector shook his head. He knew tina
something was lacking, but he did no
quite comprehend what. But she droop
ed SO that he saw some rapid change wa
necessary.
Cynthia" said he, ''this won't dc
You must go and stay with your mothe
a week or two, and rest"
"But what will you do, HECTOR"
"We1I keep bachelors hall, fathe
and l." said the young man cheerily
"What does it signify to us little incon
venience, SO long as you are bene6tted?'
So, rather unwillingly, Cynthia went
Old Silas Bayliff shook his head fore
bodingly.
"If this is the way you're goin' to ba
by that wife o. yourn, Hector" he said
you'll have her plsyin' sick the Who'll,
time. 1 don't hold to lettin' womel
think themselves too important. Nov
we shall be obliged to hev Mary Jenkinl
here to do the chores and cook, and it'll
cost us dollar and half week, at tn,
very least. 'Taint what call economi
cal housekeeping.
''That depends upon what one call
economy said Hector, quietly.
When his neighbor, Luzon Perkine
drove past that afternoon with his wife
Hector called them in, secretly rejoicing
that old Silas was down in the SWAMI
lot, capturing a refractory calf.
you're not in a hurry, Luzon, ar
you?" said he. "Sit down a minute.
want to ask your wife's advice"
"a pretty thing to do" laughed Mrs
Perkins, "when you have got a wife 0
your ownP
sits about her that 1 want to consul