Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-05-29

! ing over DOCKS all the Tune.
The husband was interested, and be.
gan to listen deferentially.
you will save twenty-five dollars a
month-Hiram's wages"
"And have twenty-five more coming
in. l guess you're on the right track. :"
mot so fast | want the rent-money
for another purpose. l will give up
Bridget and be my own servant"
"You can't"
81 think / can. | will put out the
laundry work, and have woman come
occasionally to give thorough clean
ing"
THAT would cost rs much"
'In money paid as wages perhaps it
would; but we save the board OF one
hearty person, the waste, the general
wear and tear"
'How about your CLASP"
"That would be given up; and, as
that means a loss Of all my pocket
money, | should require my compen-
sation. | want the rental of it.
Her listeners eyes blinked, surpris-
eddy; but not at all abashed by his
establishment his wife went on: Now
for my figures. You pay Bridget four
teen dollars a month besides an extra
Ave at each house cleaning At
how much do you value her board and
wastep"
'At quite as much more"
Your own figures then, are three
hundred and thirty-siX with ten ex-
tray, forty-six dollars year. In re-
turn for the salary ask, Twill assume
all charge Of Ruth's and my personal
expense, that is clothing and so on.
The laundry work will cost about sew
enty-6ve dollars IA year, and that is
for you to pay; but | will attend to the
hire OF the woman who comes TO as
sist me in the house. Out of your
thousand dollar income. this will leave
you over nine hundred to meet the
expenses toward which you now have
less than five hundred Wouldn't that
stop the lenk?"
at sounds we'll"
Don't be faithless. | want to help;
but / am not willing to go into your
kitchen for no recompense save the ne
cessity OF begging u few dollars to buy
my clothes! If l grew feathers like
the chickens-but don't! The way /
have proposed is right and fair on
both sides"
Scales were beginning TO fall from
the husbands eyes; he laid aside his
glasses that they might do so without
obstruction; then he rose. held out his
arms, and Mary nestled in them.
II never dreamed you had that feel
ing about it, dear; forgive my blunder-
ing"
Enough! will you try thisp"
"Tou will not feel it mental, and get
discouraged"
81 make no rash promises. | shall
get tired-I do now; but ! see nothing
mental in ministering to my own"
Then we will try"
So Mary Kent entered upon new
life. She sang about her tasks like n
happy girl, and devised ways and
means for saving time, till she laugh
ingly delared 1.-THE house nearly ran
itself"
Ruth furthered her mothers plans
with childhood's ready sympathy, and
'saved steps" where she could; every
Saturday evening receiving her own
''salary" Of fifty cents to do with US
she liked, and growing, mentally, with
every payment thus received.
Many little 'picnic" they had dur
ing the bright summer days, locking
their house and driving about the coun-
try. A cold dinner in the woods tasted
better than hot one in the house, and
there was no one left alone at home to
grow lonely or discontinued, and to fret
II they were late in getting back.
"Come home with me. Halford, and
take supper"
''Guess I'd better not. IL Mary does
her own work, she won't want an I'M
expected guest"
That's just why ask you. We are
free from kitchen tyranny now, and do
as we like"
The autumn evening was chill. so
the house-mother had lighted a fire on
the dining-room hearth. It's dancing
CLEANS fell on daintily ,pread table,
an ! fingered carcssingly about the
happy woman and child who were
"waiting for papa
From an adjoining kitchen came
odors Of "a tempting little supper. and
it was upon this pleasant scene that
John Kent brought his friend.
II wonder, Mistress Mary, do you
always keep fixed up this way, with
your company dishes outp"
They're not company any more,
Uncle Jack. Mamma and | take care
OF every thing. so now We have all as
pretty rs can. feel older and bigger
when we keep nice"
Dear little girl, you've hit tho nail
on the head; we all put on dignity with
improved surroundings; but I'm in
earnest pursuit OF information on this
domestic question. AZ our house there
is continued turmoil over the help,
changing. scolding, worrying. Mrs.
Jack has often threatened. TO do with
out, but feared 1t would be "a losing
experiment How do you face the
drudgery which must be as inevitable
as distastefulp"
1T has ceased to exist for me; like
this: Washing dishes was my snare;
hated 1t. Such deal OF grace IL takes
to do an unpleasant thing over and
IL. Al
days which are to comet Monofonous
is mild. began TO grow snappy al
sight OF pan Of hot water, so ! said
Mary Kent. II you must wash crock
cry, some noble shall dry it, fixed
8. .....