The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-31
She Resigned.

"You see how it is,- my dear" he
said, taking her soft hand which had
never done very hard-work, and pat
ting it reassuringly; PPM poor only
q thousand year, dear-und we shall
have a struggle to get along at first
81 don't mind that in the least u
she interrupted, stoutly, rubbing her
cheek softly against his hand.
And" he pursued, graciously hav'
ing allowed her interruptlon-"We
shall have to come down TO economy.
But, if you can only manage az my
mother does, we shall pull through
nicely"
And how does your mother man.
age, dear?n she asked smilingly--but
very happy-at the notion OF the
molher-in- law cropping out alrt ady.
II don't know" replied the lover,
radiantly: "bnt she always manages
to have everything neat and cheerful,
and something delicious to eat-and
she does it all herself, you know! So
that we always get along beautifully,
and make both ends meet, and father
and I still have plenty OF spending
money. You see when a woman II
always hiring her laundry work done
and her gowns and bonnets made, and
her scruObing and stove backing done
and all that sort of thing-why. 1t just
walks into mans income and takes
his breath away"
The young woman looked for a mo,
ment as if her breath was also inclined
for a vacation ; but she wisely con.
cealed her dismay, and being one OF
the stout-hearted Of the earth, she de-
termined to learn few things OF
Johns mother, 50 went to her house
for u long visit the next day. Upon
the termination of this visit, one fine
morning John received, to his blank
amazement u little package contain
ing his engagementIing, accompanied
by the following letter: ,
1 have learned how your mother
manages" and I am going to explain
it to you, since you confessed you
didn't know. find that she isa wife
mother, a housekeeper, a busines:
manager, q hired girl, . laundress, 8
seamsIress, d mender and patcherNs
dairy maid, a cook, a nurse, Kitchen
gardener and a general slave for q lam
| ily of five. She works from FIVE In the
morning until ten at night; and al
most wept when I kissed her hand
it was 50 hard and wrinkled, and cord
ed, and unkissed! When l saw hel
polishing the stoves, carrying big buck
e;s of water and great armfuls or WOOD
often splitting the latter, asked hel
why John didn't do such things fol
her. John !" she repeated, John +"
-.and she sat down wilha perfectly daz
ed look, as if had asked her why th'
angels didn't come down and scru(
for her. "Why-John"-she said ii
trembling, bewildered way-"h'
works in the office from nine unit
four, you know, and when he comes
home, he is very tired, or else--or els'
he goes down town." Now, I have
become strongly imbued with the con
viction that do not care to be so goot
manager" as your mother. If th'
wife must do all sorts of drudgery, sc
must the husband if,she must cook
he must carry the wood ; if she mus
scrub, he must carry the water if sh'
must make butter, he must milk the
COWS. You have allowed your mothe
to do everything, and all that yol
have to say of her is that she is an
"excellent manager" I do no
care for such a reputation, unless
nv husband earns the name also ant
judging from your lack of consldera
ton for your mother, am quite sure
that you are not the man | though
you were, or one whom [ would car
to marry. AS the son, the husband is
is safe and happy rule to follow.
So the letter closed, and John pom
dered; and he is ponde"ing yet.