The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-06-29
Ladies Department.
A Cong aered Enemy.

Tears ago, In smut In nttie MIL.
town of northern New England, l sat
one afternoon in the midst of the
chief nousekeepers, not only of the
village itself, but OF the surrounding
county; for unlike most New England
villages, but one church showed its
white steeple on the common, the
Band of Seventh Day Baptists, who
met at the cross.road school house,
being too few in numbers and to
narrow in purse to erect a rival.
That their ranks, too, held notable
housewives, was not to be doubted;
for had | not been told in the begin
ming by Mrs. Deacon Anderson, in
whose spotless house my lines we're
temporarily cast, that it "seemed as
ifall Lowgate jest went crazy Mon
day morning. SEEM who'd get the
first boiler full on to the line?"
"'Ta.nt reasonable" continued
the Deacon's largest half, after a
pause 10 whcih she ripped energetic
ally at a pair Of trousers, once the
Deacon's but destined for Earnest
Algernon, FIVE years of age, and still
unconscious of the responsibility of
such title. "'Taint reasonable in
folks to go on in the way they do,
but it's always been so, far back as
can remember, My grandmother
broke her leg, falling off the fence
that she had climbed to get the last
piece on before Mrs. Abel Smith,
that lived opposite, had opened her
door or knew she was ahead of her;
an i declare fort, often an often
an often I've felt as If must ask the
minister to preach against ambition
an some of the ways it works with
women folks. faint men that's eat.
en- Up with it nigh SO much, though
folks think it is. It's women. Every
woman's on the lookout to see what
every other woman's doing, an to
get ahead OF it if she can; an so she
breaks down, or s2methin' hap
pens, an yet no one seems to learn
better. It's the way they're made,
most likely; an folks will,live up to
that. no matter what other folks
say"
Thus Mrs. Anderson; whose turn
of mind, eminently philosophical az
it appeared tobe, did not, nevertheless,
prevent her from much the same
course of action, and whose sense oil
what was due to the spirit of good
housewifery impelled her, the mo
ment she had invited company to
tea. to scrub the back stairs and
clean the back kitchen. Not that
any possible circumstance was likely
to take her neighbors in either direc
ton, but it was well to dis arm fate
and be inwardly certain that criticism
could find no room here.
And this spirit apparently pervad
ed the township and accounted for
the anxious faces, and over-worked,
nervous look Of mOstOf the women
who, en-. this particular afternoon,
attacked the contents of the Society
basket with an energy in full keep.
ing with their reputation. If not o
holiday, at least it was change from
the daily routine; and an unbleached
cotton night-gown for q home mis-
sionary in Dakota gave some scope
for Imagination, and broaden ed the
mental horizon, if only by the need
les width. --y-g,-s- -ry,r,- RI -
1t was Mrs, Deacon Anderson who
led here; as everywhere, not 80 much
from any personal determination in
the matter, al from the general con-
sent and tacit subsection ofthe rest.
She did not abuse her power. On the
contrary, she seemed to ignore it,
and discussed every point as to the
most saving methods of cutting, with
the roomfulat large. till the operation
had ended and she sat down to haste.
A discussion had begun on sweep
ing, and debats ran high. Whether
with tea.leaves or meal or q damp
broom; once a week or twice; and all
the points concerning brooms, brush.
-es, and dust.pans.
faint the sweeping I mind" said
a small, thin voice from the corner,
I'D just as soon sweep if it'd stag
swept; but therel get all done an
go away an lock the door sight, an
hour, an there's fluff under some
thing. cure as you're born"
"Flu6! Oh, well, didn't suppose
anybody ever calkilated to be rid OF
fluff" sounded a chorus at once.
Il calkilate to, an what's more, j
do" said Mrs. Anderson calmy. Il
ciphered that out a long spell ago.