Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-01
HOW his MOTHER MANAGED.

An Example Which Dutiful Sons Sweet
heart Ditin't Care to Follow.
"You see how it is, my dear. he said,
taking her soft hand which had never
done very hard work. and patting it re-
assuringly. Pm poor-only thousand
a year, dear-and we shall have a struR-
gle 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 having
allowed her nterruption-.'we shall
have to come down to strict economy.
But if you can only manage as my
mother does we shall pull through
nicely"
s'And how does your mother manage,
dear?" she asked. smiling--but very
happy-at the notion of the mother-in-
Lao cropping out already.
81 don't know" replied the lover.
radiantiy, but she always manages to
have every thing neat and cheerful and
something delicious to eat and she does
it all herself, you know! So that we all
ways get along beautifully. and make
both ends meet, and father and 1 still
have plenty of spending money. You
see whea a woman is always hiring her
laundry-wor 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 a mans
income and takes his breath away"
The 1oung woman looked for mo-
ment as 10 hee breath also were inclined
for q vacation; bus she wisely concealed
her dismays and, being one of the stout
hearted Of earths she determined to
learn few things of Johns mother. so
she went to her house for long visit
the very next day. Upon the termina-
ton OF this visit one fine morning
John received, to his blank amazement
o little package ontaining his engage
ment ring, accompanied by the follow
ing letter:
II have learned how your mother
manages and I am going to ex-
plain it to you. since you confessed
you didn's know. find shat she
10 q wife. q mother. o housekeeper.
Q business manager, hired gicl a
laundress a seamstress, O mender and
patcher, dairy maid. a cook. a
nurse, q kitchen gardener and a
general slave for family of five. She
works from FIVE in the norning till ten
at night; and I almost wept when I
kissed her hand-it was so hard and
wrinkled and corded and unkissed!
When saw her polishing the
stoves carrying big buckets OF
water and great srmfuls of wood,
often splitting the latter. 1 asked
her why John didn't do such
things for her. :JohnT she repeated
:John!'-and she sat down with a peg
fectly dazed look. as if 4 had asked her
why the angels didn't come and scrub
for her. 'Why-John'-she said, ia a
trent bling. bewildered wayne 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, have become
strongly imbued with the convict on
that do not care to be so good a man.
ager' as your mother. II the wife mus,
do all sorts of drudgery, so must the
| husband; il she must cook, he mast
carry Che wood; if she must scrub. he
must carry the water; if she must make
| butter, he must milk the cows You
have allowed your mother to do every
thing. and all you have to say OF her is
that she 10 an excellent manager
| do not care for such q reputation, I'M
less myehusband earns the name also
and, judging from your lack of consid
Grafton for your mother, I am quite sure
you are not the man thought you were
or whom 1 would care to marry. As the
son is, the husband is Is safe and
happy rule 90 followH
So the letter closed, ana John pom
dered; and he is pondering yet-Iows
State Register.