The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-04-13
So. rather unwillingly, Cynthia went.

IF this is the way you're goin' to
baby that wife of your'n, Hector" said
he, ''you'll hev her playin' sick the
whole time. l don't hold to lettin'
women think themselves too important.
Now we shall be oblceged to hev Mary
Jenkins here to do the chores an cook,
and it'll cost us a dollar and a half a
week at the very least. 'Tain't what /
call economical housekeepin'."
THAT depends upon what one calls
economy" said Hector, quietly.
But when his neighbor, Luzon Per-
kins, drove past that afternoon, with his
wife, Hector called them in, secretly re-
joicing that old Silas was down in the
swamp-lot, capturing a refractory calf.
"You're not in hurry, Luzon, are
you?" said he. "Sit down a minute. /
want to ask your wife's advice"
"A pretty thing to do" laughed Mrs.
Perkins, "when you've got wife of
your own"
'It's about her that want 10 consult
you," said Hector. The work here is
too heavy for her. She don't seem to
get along with it. And | don't know
why. Now, Mrs. Perkins, look around
this kitchen, and tell me what you would
do to it if you lived here"
Mrs. Perkins took leisurely view of
the premises, letting her eyes rest on
one portion after another with medita-
tive slowncsS.
"Well!" said Hector.
''In the first place." said Mrs. Per-
kins, Il wouldn't have this room for a
kitchen at all, if l lived here. It's
damp"
Damp" echoed Hector.
GAS blue mould" nodded the oracle.
THE cellar under it isn't properly
drained, am certain. And the win
dows look to the north, and l don't sup
pose there's an hours sunshine in it all
day. NO--make store place or some
thing of this room, and take the sitting
room for kitchen, where there's a
bright lookout to the south, and a good
cemcnted cellar underneath"
Il never thought of that" said Hec-
tor. "Well, what else3"
where do you get your water?"
asked Mrs. Perkins.
From the spring, under the hill"
"Do you mean that your wife has
to bring all the water you use up that
hill?"
Except the wash-water. That she
dips out from the hogshead under the
caves" explained Hector, rather discom-
fitted.
"My goodness me-" said Mrs. Perkins,
wringing her plump hands in comical
dismay; chats enough to break any
wOman's constitutional
ats what we've always done" said
Hector. Il bring a couple of pals in
the morning before l go to work and
after come home, but"
Nonsense! mere drop in the
bucket said Mrs. Perkins. "What
you want is a sink, with water-pipes laid
from the spring, and a good cistern,
with a pump in the kitchen, and a wash
ingmachine-'
Whats that?" said Hector.
"We'll show you one if you'll come
over to our house, said Luzon Perkins,
cheerfully.
"And stationary tubs in the cellar"
added Mrs. Perkins, land a hot-water
boiler back of the stove. That's the way
to break work down instead of letting it
break you down."
"rll do it," said Hector; 'I'll have all
these things fixed up while Cynthia is at
her mothers, if you'll just help me with
your experience"
Mrs. Perkins nodded approvingly.
at will add ten years to Cynthia's
life," said she.
Old Silas shook his head more strenu-
ously than ever, when he heard of these
new plans.
Hector" said he, 81 believe you're
gone crazyl The old ways was good