The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-07
. She Resigned.

"You see how it is, my dear" he
said, taking her soft hand which had
never done very hardwork, and pat
ting it resssuringly; "I'm poor only
q thousand year, dear--and we shall
have a struggle to get along at first
81 don't mind that in the least, "
she interrupted, stoutly, rubbing her
cheek softly against his hand.
And" he pursued, graciously hav-
ing allowed her interruptiou-"we
shall have to come down 10 economy.
But, if you can only muiage as 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 air, 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 1 still have plenty OF spending
money. You see when woman is
always hiring her laundry work done
and her gowns and boDnets made, anu
her scrubbing aud 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 mo-
ment as if her breath Was also inclined
for q 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 q long visit the next day. Upon
the termination of this visit, one fine
morning john received, to his blank
amazement, a little package contain
ing his engagement.Iing, accompanied
by the following letter:
I have learned how your mother
manages" and I AM goingto explain
1t to you, since you confessed you
didn't know. I find that she is o wife,
mother, q housekeeper, business
manager, a hired girl, a laundress, a
seamsIress. u mender and patcher, a
dairy maid, a cook, u nurse, kitchen
gardener and u general slave for fam
ily of five. She works from five in the
morning until ten at night; and l al
most wept when I kissed her hand
it was 50 hard and wrinkled, and cord
ed, and unkissed When 1 saw heT
polishing the stoves, carrying big buck
g of water and great armfuls OF wood,
often splitting the latter, I asked her
why John didn't do such things fol
her. John !" she repeated, John "'
-.and she sat down with a perfectly daz'
ed look, as if I had asked her why the
angels didn't come down and scrut
for her. "Why-Johnn-she said In
trembling, bewildered way-"he
works in the Office from nine until
four, you know, and. when he comes
home, he is very tired, or else-or else
he goes down town." Now, I haye
become strongly imbued with the con
viction that 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 che must cook
he must carry the wood if she mas
scrub, he must carry the water; if she
must make butter, he must milk the
eews. You have allowed your mother
to do everything, and all that you
have to say of her is that she is an
uexcellent Manager L do moi
care for such reputation, unless
nv husband earns the name also anC
| Judging from your lack of considera
ton for your mother, am quite sure
that you are not the man | thought
you were, or one whom 1 would care
to marry. AS the son, the husband. is
is safe and happy rule to follow.
So the letter closed, and John pom
dara1. and he is Wondering vet.