The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-09
Select Storp.
HIS SONS WIFE.

I'm afraid she's a poor, feeble creetur', y
said old Mr. Baylif, shaking his head
Ten O'Clock Monday morning, and the
washing amt out yet 1t amt the way
your mother used to keep house, Hector
Eh? how? Where We goin' nOw?"
Hector Bayliff had left the 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 pretty, slender, young woman who had
Just emerged from the kitchen door.
The old man uttered an audible snort Of
disgust,
"Well, neverm said be. IF Hector
hain't left his work to wait on that wife o
his'n 1t amt a mans work to carry
clothes out, no way you can FIX it. If you
do it once, you'll be expected to do ii twice.
Aud Hector's wife is clean spoiled ready,
It ain, the way | managed matters when
was first married to Heetors mother.
What you been doin'?' he asked, sharply,
as the young man returned to his work
That basket was too heavy for Cynthia
to carry, said Hector, eurtly. Il wish |
could afford TO keep girl for her. -
"A grip Mr., Bayliff's voice betrayed
mingled astonishment and contempt A
girl Your mother
.'Yes, know, father, interrupted Hec-
tor. But things have changed since then,
and perhaps mother would have been alive
now If the housework hadn't worn her out
before her time
That downright flying in the face OF
ProvidenceF' said Mr. Baylff, reddening
to the roots of his stiff, iron grey hair.
AIt was the Lords win your mother should
be took away, and there amt no sort o
doubt but that she's better of. And Cyu-
,hia won't never stand in her shoes no way
you can look at it,
Hector BaylitF made no reply, but took
up his OK yoke aud went across the fields
with il,
Father may say what be pleases," " said
be TO himself. .'hut mother died of over
work and undereare, and nothing else.
Aud the household duties are too heavy
for Cynthia, and | must see what can do
TO tighten them No woman shall be
lredsed to death under this roof now.
Cynthia Hough had been pretty, young
factory girl when Hector Bayhff had mar
ried her She bad been ignorant of all the
details Of housekeeping, but she had exerted
herself diligently to learn
Old Mr. Baylif, however, was an exact
ing critic, and the Bayliff farm house was
u biz, rumbling, inconvenient place, where
one might work hard all day and have very
little to show for it at the end. And the
tired look in her eyes, and the weary flush
on her cheek, went to Hecsor's heart at
times.
MY darling, said he, Il wish l could
make things easier for you.
''0h, they are easy enough, said Gym
thia, brightly. Its only that am too
stupid to manage as | ought
Hector shook his head. He knew that
something was lacking, but he did not
quite comprehend what
But she dropped so that he saw some
radical change was necessary.
Cynthia" said he, "this won't do.
You must 20 stay with your mothera week
or two, and rest and recruit.
"But what viii you do, Hector?"
"Well keep bachelors hall, father and
|, said the young man, cheerily. "What
does it signify to us, little Inconvenience,
so long as you are benefited"
So, rather unwillingly, Cynthia went.
Old Silas Bayliff shook his head forebod-
ingly.
''lf this is the way you're goin to baby
that wife of your'n Hector" said he,
you'll have her playin' sick the whole
time. don't hold to lettin' women think
themselves too important Now we shall
be obleeged to hev Mary jenkins here to
do the chores an cook, an it'll cost US a
dollar and a-half week at the very least,
'Taint what | call economical housekeep-
in"
That depends upon what one calls
economy said Hector, quietly.
But when his neighbor, Luzen Perkins,
drove past that afternoon, with his wife,
Hector called them in, secretly rejoicing
that old Sias was down in the swamp-lot,
capturing a refractory calf.
You're not in harry, Luzen, are you?"
said he "Sit down minute, want to
ask your wife's advice"
"A pretty thing to do" laughed Mrs.
Perkins, "when you've got wife of your
own"
ats about her that | want to consult
you,' said Hector. .'The work is too
heavy for her. She don seem to get along
with it, And l don't know why. Now,
Mrs. Perkins, look around this kitchen, and
tell me what you would do to if you lived
here"
Mrs. Perkins took u leisurely view of 1he
premises, letting her eyes rest on one por
ton after another with meditative slowness.
"Well?" said Hector
"In the first place, said Mrs. Perkins,
Il wouldn't have this room for kitchen at
all, if | lived here, It's damp"
Damp echoed Hector,
"As blue mold" nodded the oracle
sThe cellar under it isn't properly drained,
l am certain, And the windows look to
the north, and don't suppose there's an
hours sunshine in it all day. No-make
storeplace or something of this room, and
take the sitting room for the kitchen where