Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-07-08
M Y W | F E."


Mickeberry, very nice woman, indeedp
said Mr.. Partanbridge, sagely; shut you
allow her to dictate too much! For in
sGance, my wife should nsver tell me not to
smoke in the parlor on account of the cur
tains!"
SIT does turn 'em yellow" observed Mr..
Mickleberry, thoughtfully.
'Granted-but what becomes of your
conjugal superiority? And then you didn't
buy that corner lot because she advised you
not to! What is a woman's judgment
worth in matter of business like that,
Mickleberryp
"Mary knows more than half the men
going," parenthetically asserted Mr. Mckle-
berry.
"Excuse me, Mickleberry, but you don't
keep her in her place! Don't the Scriptures
expressly say that woman is the weaker
vessel? should like to see Mrs. Partan-
bridge venturing to oppose meP'
Mr.. Mickleberry looked admiriugly at
his big friend.
GLOW do you manage it, Partanbridge?"
he questioned, little timidly.
"ract, my dear fellow-tact, dignity, su-
premacy! / wouldn't have mentioned it if
circumstances hadn't pointed directly to the
fact, but you are getting hen-pecked, Mick
seberry. Everybody notices it. You must
gather up the reins of domestic manage
ment-you must assert yourselfl"
Mr.. Mickleberry laughed.
"But what is the use of asserting my
self?' be asked, jocosely. "Everything
| ways meets me with smile-she spends
the money sensibly, and never asks me for
an unnecessary cent!'
"Does she tell you how she spends it?"
"Not always, but"
Mr.. Partanbridge interrupted his friend
ith groan.
"Oh, these women, these women!
should like to see my wife buying silk
dress, as Mary did last week, without first
consulting me-"
| "But she has saved the money o 1t of her
housekeeping funds"
"Then, my dear fellow, it's a sign that
you give her too much money for house
keeping. Cut her down-draw the purse
s'ri.gs little tighter.''
MI. Mickleberry looked uncomfortable
IL should hardly like to do that, Par.
tanbridge.''
"You'll never be master in your OWL
house until you do.'
Mr.. Moses Micklebsrry went home anC
told his wife all about what Partaubr.dge
had said. Mary laughed and colored, bu
she was little angry withal
81 wish Mr.. Partanbridge would mi nc
his own business" said she. 'I'm tired ol
hearing about my wife She must be g
poor, spiritess concern"
'.Partanbridge is man of great ability
said Moses, gravely.
"Fiddlesticks," said Mrs. Micklebsrry.
GA regular hen hussy-a thorough going
Miss Nancyp'
m sorry you feel so about him, my
DEAR" said Moses; 'for he doesn't like the
place where he is boarding now, and told
him he might occupy our spare room for d
few days"
"Oh, Pge no objections to that" said
Mrs. Mickeberry, composedly. 'I'm al
ways glad to entertain your friends, my
dear, even if they are not the most agree.
able people in the world and dare say
can get along with Mr.. Partanbridge for a
few nays."
"You're little jewel, nv DEAR" said
Moses, and he forgot all Partanbridge' g
insinuations at once.
M. Partanbridge came, bag and bag
gage, and took possession of the ''spare
| room in the Mickeberry mansion as i'm.
portsn;ly es if sh, had baen the Grand
Turk. Aud thsnceforward "my wife" be-
gan, ii 4uratively speaking,to tramp Mary
Mickl. berry into dust.
My wife" spent no money; ''my wife,
| went nowhere; "my wife, would sooner
| Gus oft her hand than go to woman's
| rights convention; my W fe'' was not liter
ary, but spent her days doing housework,
and her evenings mending stockings. She
held her husband in salutary awe, never
spoke when she wasn't spoken to-in short,
knew her place.
"And how did you manage it, Partan-
bridge9" asked Mr.. Mickleberry onoe again,
N the admiration of his soul.
MIR. Partanbridge waved his hand lofti-