The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-21
How his Mother Managed.

You see how it is, my dear" he said.
according to the West Shore, taking her
soft hand, which had never done very hard
work, and patting it reassuringiy; I'm
poor-only thousand a year, dear-an1
we shall have TO struggle to get along at
first"
Il don't mind that in the least, she inter
rupted, stoutly, rubbing her check softly
against his hand.
And" he pursued, graciously having
allowed her interruption-''we shall have
to come down TO strict economy. But il
you can only manage as my mother doss,
we shall pull through nicely"
And how does your mother manage,
dear p she asked, smiliug-but very happy
at the notion of the mother-in-law crop
ping out already.
81 don't know" replied the lover,
\ radiantly, but she always images to have
everything neat end cheerful, and some
thing 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 still have plenty OF
| spending money. You see when a woman
| is always hiring her laundry word done,
| and her gowns and bonnets made, and her
scrubbing and stove backing done, and all
that sort Of thing-why, it Just walks into
mans income and takes his breath away"
The young woman looked for moment
as il her breath was inclined for a vacation;
but she wisely concealed her dismay, and,
being one of the stout-hearted of the earth,
she determined to learn few things of
Johns mother, so went to her for long
visit the next day. Upon the termination
Of this visit, one fine morning John received,
TO his blank emazement, q little package
containing his engagement ring, accom-
panied by the following letter:
L have learned how your mother IMAM
ages" and am going to explain it TO you,
since you have confessed you didn't know.
find that she is wife, a mother. a house
keeper. business manager. hired girl,
lAundress. seamstress, a mender aud
patcher, dairy maid, q cook, a nurse, q
kitchen gardener and a general slave for
family of five. She works from in the
morning until 10 at night; and almost
wept when kissed her hand-it was SO hard
and wrinkled, and corded and unkissed.
When L saw her polishing the stove, carry
ing big buckets OF water and great armfuls
of wood, often splitting the latter,
asked her why John didn't do such
things for her. "Johnm she repeated.
"John"-and she sat down with perfectly
dazed look, as if had asked her why the
angels didn't come down and scrub for her.
"Why-John"-she said i'll a trembling. be-
wildered way-"works at the Office from 8
until 4 o'clock, you know. and when he
comes home he is very tired, or else-or else
he goes down town" Now, l have be-
come strongly imbued with the notion that
l do not care to be so good manager as
your mother. If the wife must do all sorts
of drudgery, so must the husband; if she
must cook, he must carry the wood; if
she must scrub, he must carry the
water; if she must make butter; he must
also milk the cows. You have allowed your
mother to do everything, and all that YOU
have to say of her is thatShe is an excellent
manager do not care for such repu-
tation, unless my husband earned the name
also; aud Judging from your lack of con-
sideration for your mother, I am quite
sure that you are not the man l thought
you were, or one whom l would care to
marry. AS the son is. the husband is, is
safe aud happy rule to follow"
So the letter closed, and John pondered
and be is bordering yet.