Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-01-27

0
have them ready to hand. You don't oh
iect, ma'am y
She looked at me a minute thoughtfully,
and then she smiled that everlasting smile
Of hers, saying, blandly "Not in the least,
Parker. As long as everything is so eX
quistely clean, | do not care whether you
keep the frying pans ON the chairs or not.
IL must be a nuisance to put things away
each time in that horrid closet ! never
saw such a mean affair" she cried, pop
ping her head in it with disgusted air
Its disgrace to the builder, and you are
very sensible not TO use it-very sensible. "
Now, do you know, the minute she said
that, ! felt a violent liking for that closet
and the minute she left | had my things
back there in a jifIy What was the use
of making myself miserable if she didn't
care But didn't understand why she
didn't. She was the neatest woman | ever
lived with all her belongings was kept
like wax /; everything had a box, and ev-
cry box had place, and, moreover, was
kept in it. Besides that speech about
keeping things where / pleased, as long
as / kept them clean" didn't sound right
in the mouth of a bride. Young house
keepers don't feel like that they're forev-
er fussing about with cute little hooks to
hang spoons on, and suggesting how nice
it would look il every plate on the dresser
had a cup and saucer in front of it, while
the blue and yellow bowls alternated.
Therefore | knew that speech wasn't her
own. She had been put up to 1t, as | told
Baldwin 1t couldn't be accounted for un-
less her mother was teaching her on the
sly.
"Her mother died years ago, likewise
his, said Baldwin, 80 | guess you'll have
TO lay it to inspiration, if you must rumple
yourself up to account for it, though ! don't
see the necessity. Why can't you let her
alone, and be content with high wages,
light work, and a mistress who don't object
to frying pans on the chairs p
"Lor', Baldwin, you talk like man, -
said l, contemptuously. Its question of
principles, not frying pans, as any one but
man would see"
well, being man. it's natural to talk
like one" replied Baldwin And as I'm
IA man who knows good thing when he
sees it, mean TO keep my situation, and
have another of your very delicate Gro
quettes
And that was all | got ont Of him. But
for all that | discovered where Mrs. Wet
more's inspiration came from. And where
do you suppose she got it Out of book .
found it, The Young HouseEeeper's Man
ual, with the page turned down at Hints
on the Management of Servants aud down
| sat 10 read it. and very interesting it was.
making me think Of the proverb about old
maids children, it was 50 scientifically and
perfectly unsuitable for everyday use,
though reading delightfully."-. The chapter
on servants was specially soothing. The
mistress was advised to remember that we
were human beings like herself-quitc a
new view you see--and to treat Us with a
judicious mixture of lirmuess and kindness
coupled with study Of our characters and
due allowance for our jdiOtslD,rcnsics
When ! reached that HeN into the parlor
where baldwin was taking his ease. the
family being at the opera. There r. l
cried, waving the book at him" there's
your paragons inspiration And, OH my,
Baldwin, ain't it fine TO have Young lady
making a study of your character and al
lowances for your idiotsyncrasies For
my part, never knew | had any What
are they, anyway, Baldwin =
Il expect you've always heard them
called tantrums," " he said, drv!v.
"Oh, if that's all they are" says |, toss
ing my head up I'm give her new vari-
ETY.. She'll find she can't match live girl
with book"
! Maybe she won't confne herself TO the
| printed instructions" says Baldwin, 'and
/ she'll get around you-exactly as she made
Mr.. Wetmore take her to the opera to-
night.
well, I'm sure that couldn't have been
hard, says |, for when handed YOU the
SouGlt the shoe was on the other foot-she
| didn't want to go, and he was set on it.
''Of course, SAYS Baldwin, slapping his
knee that's where her cuteness came in,
/ Parker, for Mr.. W. came home cold and
| tired, and before he had his soup, sand the
opera was out of the question ON such a
beastly night"
And how did she bring him around 2
says |, really curious. Did she cry Bride,
mostly do
Cry !" returned Baldwin, contemptu-
ously-''she cry Not much nor pout
nor sulk, nor coax. | don't know exactly
how she did it, hut she played on him like
he was piano. First she agreed with
him then she raised his curiosity by quot
ing bits from the papers about the opera
then she made him laugh, taking off the
prima donna and the end of it was that
he started for the carriage laboring under
the deluson that he was the one that want
ed to go, and she was very sweet to accom-
| pdnN MN. III was beautiful. ne cfleu
beautiful, to see her bring him around"
Beautiful | call it hypocritical,
said tired of his nonsense; 'and if | want
ed my husband to do anything, and h,
wouldn't do it, | wouldn't act a lot of lies
I'd"
You'd just hit him on the head with
rolling pin" broke in Baldwin, "and he'C
Just give you black eye, and spend hi
evening at the club, which would be grea
deal better than Mrs. Wetmore's style
wouldn't it, Parker =
| never could tell whether Baldwin wa
in earnest or not, so dropped the subject
and he read me the society notes till tn,
Wetmores came back TO supper with 10
of friends.
As it happened, the next day was the Is
of the MONTH and right after breakfas
Baldwin informed me was to go to the Ii
brary Mrs. Wetmore wanted me. Nat
urally | suspected something was wrong
for, following her manual, her habit was u
give her orders in the kitchen, and sort O
snoop around the closets every morning
so as | went in | was prepared inwardly t
give her as good as she gave, though out
wardly | was as decorous as a clean pillow
sham found her writing in her ever
lasting account-book, dressed to kill in
lovely gown, a little bunch of keys at he
belt, her pocket book and letters on he
desk all very comfortable, quite the mode
hOusekeeper.
Good morning, Parker" says she, look
ing up very affably. do you recollect tn
the directions | gave you in regard to OF
derng goods from the trades people =
Certainly, ma'am ~
Then please look these over, and te
me how it happens they were contracted,
she said, handing me small blndle of OF
der checks You will see they amount t
about S9S Did you order them, or has tn
grocer made a mistake 2"
All this time she was smiling and starn
at me, perfectly unembarrassed, though
felt far from easy
80 far as | can remember, ma'am,"
T said, glancing at the items, and trying
initiate her GOODNESS, 81 did order all thes
things You see, they was wanted imm,
ate to go into dishes for some of you
little dinner parties, and you was out, an
| couldn't wait till you got back, so as
have always been accustomed
"And why did you not mention these al
/ ticles, ~ she interrupted, blandly, when
5 took your list on those mornings Did yo
forgetl"
"Why yes'm, suppose did, 1 replie,
with dignity, You VIII notice, ma an
they were chiefly spices and garnishings
. mo, hadn't observed it," she said, tai
5 ing up the bills again. LET me see fou
t pounds black Hamburg grapes do yc
r spice or garnish with them, Parker For
bottles best cooking sherry yesterday, ais
four pounds candied citron. What did "
, have four pounds of citron in yesterda,
t Parker p
S "Some of it was in the little cakes yo
had with the ices, ma'am"
"Then there is doubtless good deal left
r. she said, fixing her eyes ON me till | gre
: scarlet the fact being that / had given Il
e grapes, wine, and citron to my sister fl
her christening party,
S "Yes'm, there is, | replied, bracing m