Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-04-17
THE FARMERS WIFE.

Kitchen for the past sixty years, and
as you may suppose, have seen many
things In my day. As rule, am
good natured-unless small boy pokes
me with a stick, or another ill-condi-
toned little wretch evinces desire TO
pry into nay internal economy; such
rudeness always riles me-and tick away
patiently IN my corner, where the
morning sunbeams peep in merrily to
keep me company.
1t was a bonny day for US all when
the young master brought home his
little bride. Such rejoicing was there,
and such dinnersl Adject1ves fail me
when l try to describe them, so I'll
stop right off. The bride was young,
and pretty, and sweet, but alasl she
knew not how to cockl Was not that
a sad thing for farmers wife? Many
are the days l have watched her
scorchlng her delicate face, and rough
ening her white hands. in the frultless
endeavor to cook some dainty dish that
John liked;' and many ruined loaves,
and blackened heaps of pie-crust We're
the result of these efforts.
His mothers patience-she had none
too much at the start-began to give
out at such reckless waste of -four and
lard,' and il is my own private idea
that Mrs. John soon took up the notion
that cooking wasn't in her line, for she
stopped spelling things and left the
old lady In peace
But IN other ways she was a sun
beam in the dinGy old house. To be
sure, everything was as clean as a new
dollar, but no power on earth could
make a kitchen look pretty with a
hideous, Powered oil-cloth on the
dining table, curtainless windows, and
= rough wash bench where the men
folks always spruced up Bit before
going TO the table.
But young Mrs. Grey soon had
things ship-shape, L can tell you. She
didn't go about it officlOusly, either,
for if she had, we'd have heard from
Mrs. Grey, senior. Oh, mol that WASH I
the way at all, and don't believe
can tell you how she coaXed, and sug-
gested, first one thing and then another,
IN her pretty, sweet way; but, at any
rate, before many weeks rolled over our
heads the kitchen was marvel OF
beauty. The table reioiced in snow
white linen; delicate blue shades soft
ened the glare from the windows, and
the broad sills held pots of roses and
geraniums. Close by hung a golden
fully supplied with music; near the
shining stove stood several cushioned
rockers, and the ugly wash-bench was
banished to the back kitci en-, where
the men must perform their ablutIons
in future. What with the Sandei floor.
the glittering rows of tins and crooks
on the dresser. the pretty paper rack and
carved book shelves-theSe last Mrs.
Johns Ideal Just took up the notion
that nobody's house could beat OURS.
The little daughter-in-law's girllsh
laughter and joyous songs gushed forth
now and then, as if she couldn't keel
them in any longer. Bright Hover.
glowed constantly IN the tall, old-fash'
ioned vases on either side of me, the
odor of which was very agreeable after
working hard all day.
> Though the mother thought 1t silly
idea, she permitted the little thing tC
have her way in decking the dinner
table with flowers and all sorts OF pretty
trifes pleasing to the young eyes.
thought things were going along mighty
smooth and pleasant till one day Ms:
TaDitha Sims stepped in and popped
herself down In the most comfortable
rocker in our kitchen, and commenced
wagging her meddlesome tongue.
We'll, how's things getting along
with you, PriscillaI' asked Miss Sims
letting her small, iDQulsitive eyes roam
over all the pretty things In the room
She had been od visiting when Johr
brought home his little wife, and thi
was the first time she had seen ou
changed house.
I'm tolerably poorly said Mrs
Grey. Cooking dont't agree with m'
like it used to, and warm weather
coming on, too. l reckon that is th'
main reason for my feeling had
why, where Is Johns wife? Dom
she help you with the cooking, ant
milking, and butter making?' said Mis-
Sims, lifting her head like terrle
when he's OF a fresh scent.
Well, the fact is, Bsssy has no tast
for cooking sighed Mrs Grey. 'Tha
is the one thorn in my flesh; | thinl
every woman who Is a farmers wifi
ought To understand that sort of work
or she is failure. John brought thi
young thing from a city life, and
don't reckon she hardly knew whethe
J butter grew on trees or not; and She
brought most of her city ideas her
with her, too, you see
Mrs. Grey glanced signlacantl
around the dainty kitchen, but her fac
didn't get very hard, for she couldn'
help seeing how nice and tastefu
everything looked.
We'll, there's Just this much abou
it, said Miss TabItha, with an lndig
nant sniff. Il wouldn't have an
daughter-in-law debating to me how
, should arrange my house; why, She
! even moved out the wash benchl
suppose the parlor now must b
wonderful to behold, sarcasticalIy.
Well. yes, L g whole house is might
nice szid Mrs. Grey. L never kne,
before folks could fix things up 9
pretty for so little money; thougl
goodness knows l never had muc
chance to try, with all my butter Z
make up for the market, eggs to hunt
chickens to tend to, b7tis to make, an