River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-09-08

Q y
IN desperation, said she was tempted
70 strike and 60 where she could edu-
I cate her son. Cousin Amelia offered
/ her twenty-five dollars month and
I the board of her son if she would take
charge of he kitchen and captivate
the boarders with mullins and chops
| which no ole could cook quite so de-
/ liciously as silury.
/ one bright morning when Mr.. Arrow
shooter went To the village TO get his
horse shod. Mrs. ArrOwshooter and her
son went in an opposite direction to
railway station ana took the first train
for the city.
On his return Mr.. Arrowshooter
/ found deserted house, a fireless l1itch-
en- and on the clock a note. short but
I expressive: Gone for higher wages"
Let her GO he shifted, cOntempte-
| ously- Il shan't run after her"
| lie made no attempt to fad her and
/ felt no anxiety about the result of the
affair until lac saw the bit of sarcasm
in the News saucily defying his au-
thority.
/ Silurah was shrewd. She knew her
/ husband received the evening News,
/ and when the morning edition APP
peared with Mr.. Arrowshooter's adj
vertisement. she FASTENED tc the Office
with her reply and arranged that it
should be printed under her husbands
/ insertion. The editor saw the point
and consented, wisely inferring that
more would follow, and that others be-
sides himself would watch the novel
conflict.
SIlurah had been away from home a
! week Her husband thought she
would relent and come back by Satur-
day night. but ne y Is mistaken. Her
note of defiance signified war. for Mr..
! ArrowshOOter was NOS the man to be
bossed by woman. Women were in
I ferior to men. Their brains were
smaller and weighed less. Men were
made to be the head of the family. and
he. Anonadab Arrowshooter, would be
master of his own house"
lie began to tire of the continual
round OF kitchen duties, for, although
/ he shirked as many as possible, and his
wife had left good parcel of cooked
/ food, still he and Sam had hearty appe-
tites and they hadn't made the Wet
uals go rs far as they might seein' as
he didn't think Silury'd be gone so
long"
| The bill of fare was growing monOt-
onous. as his knowledge of cooking
was limited 20 fried ham, pork and po-
/ tatoes. The advertisement decided
him. He harnessed his horse and
started to hire girl. If he had been a
woman he would have had some slight
idea of the herculean task before him:
nc would have entered upon his search
with less seif-confidence, and with
clearer knowledge of the market value
of domestic help.
He first asked a neighbor if she could
tell him where to find a maid His
wife had gone away for n spell His
work was beginning to drive and he
wanted some help for a week or two.
This bit of diplomacy did not deceive
the lady. She had attended the sewing
/ circle. She replied cautiously: she did
/ not know where to direct him. Good
/ girls were scarce. Maybe he could get
/ Mary Ann Tompkins. Mary Ann went
out nursing sometimes and generally
/ did the house work if the woman didn't
I keep help Mary Ann was particular;
/ i was doubtful if he could get her. but
I It would do no harm to try"
This advice involved a ride of four
miles. Mary Ann opened the door,
/ eyed him sharply as he told his
errand, and blandly answered, ''she
didn't wish to hire out much less to
/ live on a farm. She was going to work
in a shop. \ girl was fool 20 Go
/ homework when She could 30 into a
| shop. Perhaps he could get girl in
/ Nilltown-the French girl wanted a
place"
I Another drive of two miles in an OPP
posite direction ended in an interview
with a black-eyed, slatternly girl who
I did the questioning in short sentences.
Live ON u farm? Make butter?
How many in family? Want me to
wash, iron. cook and scrub? Who
used u do your work? Did she do all
/ that? / don't want the place. I'd
rather work in the mill"
Il don't want gOB." mentally re
I Joined Mr.. ArrowshoOter. as he stepped
into his sleigh thinking where he
| should 90 next. lie decided to call on
Mrs O'Harra. woman who had
/ washed for Mrs. Arrowshooter. Mrs.
O'lIarra advised him to try Katie
/ Flynn. She was out of a place, living on
+ her cousin and was ''foine, tidy kind
I of girrel."
Kate pursued the same line of inquiry
as Miss French. with additional ques-
| tions concerning the distance from
church, number of nights out. wages
| and company. Mr.. Arrowshooter be-
/ gan to feel encouraged when suddenly
/ Kate asked his name. Her eyes
1 flashed the instant he answered. AN
| do We thiak ID be injurin' me fair
name ~ goiI' wild the loilles av
/ ye2 To ye think I'd be seen on yer
/ lonesome fam and the misthress
away? Wat kind av a girl do We take
me for2" With a vigorous slam she
shut the door in his face.
/ Mr.. Arrrwshooter rode home in deep
/ thought, T. sidder and a wiser man.
/ The boycott was upon him. No woman
would consent to enter his kitchen and
manage his household affairs. Me-
| chanically he embarrassed his horse.
/ put him in his stall. walked into the
/ cheerle s. kitchen and looked about the
room. He rose to the occasion; he
built fire in the stove. heated water
and attacked the dishes with valorous
zeal. Four long hours he wrestled with
/ glass and china. kettles and pans,
broom and scrubbing brush till order
I rose from confusion, then like vic
toriOus general he surveyed the battle
/ field.
lie had done his work well. He felt
a conquerOr's pride as he glanced about
l the room, from the table, sink and floor.
to the stove shining with fresh polish.
| Tired and hungry he began to prepare
his supper. No great skill is required
10 fry ham, bake potatoes and boil cof-
/ fee. but this simple menu held trouble
in store for Mr.. ArrowshOoter. While
the viands were cooking he went TO the
/ pantry to skim the milk. As he took
pan from the shelf he heard strange
noise in the kitchen. y wOrnout hinge
| had broken: one of the stove doors was
I lying in the midst of ashes and charcoal
on the clean floor. He swept up the
ashes aud went again to the pantry.
In short time another peculiar sound
attracted his attention.