The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-05-03
A WIFE'S CONFUSION.

Nell-you are, by Jove! and I'm proud
of you. Come when may find the
house as neat as a handbook and my
little wife as fresh as a rose. l like
that, Nell. I've always thought that
if anything could put me out of tenn
per with the woman l loved it would
be to come home and find the house
topsy- -turvy and my wife in soiled
wrapper and with rough head. Lit
tie woman, you're treasure and Pm
proud of youw
And Edward Hastings kissed his
pretty bride until her cheeks glowed
like the red june roses out in the sum
shine.
She was very happy, very much
pleased and fiattered at her husbands
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 morn
ing hours.
Come when he might. her husband
always found his little home in order,
the cupboard stored with something
good to eat, and his wife dressed in
a fresh wrapper, with 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, '9tis to bring friend home to
dinner or luncheon and find every
thing out of sorts. Now there's
Gravesley; his wife's fine woman
when yon see her out-a snowy To-
man, always well dressed. Well.
Grayesley invited me to lunch that day
we went ont together. | went. but |
was sorry enough for it. Such a house
as we found-all heels-over-head. and
I caught sight of the mistress disap-
pearing up the stairs in curl papers
and slippers. She was indisposed and
could not see us, the girl said We
lunched on bread and cheese, and
Gravesley, poor fellow, though he
said nothing, looked exceedingly an
moved. / should have been angry. /
think wife should make it her duty
to keep house and person in presenta-
BILE order, so that her husband, come
when he may, may find her ready to
welcome him."
so do /" said Nell, smiling up in
to his face ..You need never to be
afraid to invite friend home with
you, Ned. No matter if don't know.
/ shall be ready to receive you.
Ned gave her ringing kiss.
Very well, little woman, Ishall try
you one of these 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 were well
ripened.
ssJane," said Mrs. Hastings one
bright morning, returning from the
garden gate where she had parted with
her husband. Il have just looked at
currants and they are quite ripe. We
must make our jelly at once. Now.
MIR. Hastings won't be home till late
to-day. l want to spend the day with
mother tomorrow, and should very
much like to get the job off my hands
to-day. What do you say?'
II 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 dreadfully 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 Ill step over to
Browns and order some sugar and
jars"
Jane obeyed, leaving the breakfast
room unswept and the front steps un-
washed.
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 il made at home under
her mothers supervision, and making
it herself she fancied would be quite as
easy.
Dear ME. how the time hies! Do
hurry. Jane. What lot there is yet
to straini But we must get it done. /
dare say it won't take the juice long to
thicken. Mamma used to make it in
no time. What are we to do about
dinner, 1 wonderP We can't cook the
ham-there's no room on the fire. We
must have makeup dinner when we
have finished. Mr.. Hastings will ex-
cuse us, I'm sure.
And, arrayed in her Holland apron,
with her pretty braids all pushed back
and her sleeves tucked above her ell
bows, Nell worked away with all her
might. picking, boiling and straining.
until her cheeks were flushed and her
head ached.
why. Jane, this juice won't Jelly
aud it has boiled so long. What can
be the matter?"
There's something you put in it to
make it jelly, | think, maam."
''Oh. dear, no. Mother never did,
Pm sure. I'll add more sugar and let
it boil another hour. Dear me!
thought we should have had our last
kettle on by this time. We sail be so
late, and I'm tired to death now.
wish / had done as mother said. She
advised me to send the currants over
there and let Hannah make the
jelly, but was sure could do it my
self"
The steaming kettle boiled another
hour.
The Summer sun hung above the
green summit of the poplars.
"Surely it will jelly now, Jane"
said the weary housewife, pouring
some of the hot, red liquid into cold
water.
But juice it remained, for all the
cooking and stewing it had under
gone.
''Oh, what shall / do? Surely the
stuff must be bewitched I've great
mind to pour it all away" cried poor
Nell, ready to cry with vexation.
II tell you, ma'am, you put some
thing in to make it jelly" persisted
Jane.
"Oh, Jane, hush! You know moth
ing about it. tell you, you don't put
anything in. What must I do Cook
it more? 1t is burning to the kettle
now, and I've wasted ever so much
sugar. Jane, run over to mothers
and ask Hannah to run over, will
you? She'll know in minute what to
do. Do pray, be quick; it is dread
fully late"
Jane departed.
''If cooking will do, I'll make jelly
of it before Hannah gets here" she