Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-09-30
Miscellauenms.
SILAS PETERS WIFE.

81 guess | won't go to church this
morning Silas," said Mrs. Peters while
sitting at tho boeakfast table one lovely
Sunday in June.
"Why, Mandy thought you wanted
to hear the sermon. You know Elder
Bishop is going to preach to-day"
IL know all about that, but its nine
o'clock now. and with all have to do
cant be ready to start by half past ten. 4"
"l.et me help you, Mandy. can
wash the dishes and sweep"
"Yes, and make all the beds, get tho
children ready for Sunday School, clean
the stove, skim tho milk, wash the pans
pare the potatoes, get the meat cut and
in tho spider, and lay the fire ready to
light when we get homo" replied Mandy
scornfully.
al meant oil right said the crest
fallen Silas Cant you leave the clean
ing up part for this time, and we can do
without potatoes for once : It will be a
change"
"If you want change so bad you
had better 60 and board with Mrs. Rus
sell. You'll get change there,
reckon"
"What do you mean 7"
"Why, when ! went ovor there tho
other morning to borrow little -four,
they had just finished breakfast, and
such breakfast"
"What was il, Mandy r. asked Sias,
his curiosity aroused.
"What was il You'd better say what
wasn't it. There vast a single bit of pic
on the table, nor pickles nor cheese,
nor jelly, nor anything--much.
"Wcll, they had something ct to cat,
hadn't they 7" asked Silas.
Eyes, they had bread and butter,
mashed potatoes, steak, oatmeal and
cream, cookies and coffee, but not even
one smitch of pie" with a sniff of scorn
"Well, she's good cook, for I've
eaton there. And don't see but what
they had as good meal as We have"
"Humph Guess you'd better board
there for while, Slas," answered Mrs,
Peters, as she rose from the table.
ANY way" said Silao TO himself, as
he harnesSed his horse for church. "I'd
rather cat bread and milk for dinner if
Mandy would only go with me once in
while. Yes, and for breakfast and
supper, too" he added heroically. "Ah,
there goes Tom Russell, with bis wife
and baby. How happy he looks His
wife goes everywhere with him. do
wish Mandy would 60 with me- Its so
lonesome he unused, getting into tho
buggy with bis two furbelowed children,
and chirping TO the old horse.
The women Of the little hamlet of
Ashville had followed strictly in their
forefather's, or rather foremother's, foot
steps--tables crowded with everything
set on promiscuously; for breakfast,
pickles, cheese and pie pie, cheese aud
pickles for dinner, and cheese, pickles
and pie for supper.
And at each society" or tea party
that was held, each lady would try 10
Guido the one before her. If Mrs. A.
had three kinds Of cake and two Of pic
Mrs. b. would have five kinds Of cake
and three Of pie; while Mrs. G would
by no means diminish the quantity Of
pie and cake, bat would also add dried
beef, jelly, cheese, etc.
Elder Bishops sermon that morning
was excellent, 80 thought every one,
with perhaps tho exception of Sias
Peters. He sat in his pew with his two
children, but his eyes kept wandering 10
the Russcll's pew.
"She's almost as old AZ my Mandy"
unused he. "Mandy's thirty, and Mrs.
Russell is just twenty eight. She doesn't
look worried--no wrinkles or lines. -
Poor Mandy! Maybe | haven't helped
her as much as ! might. Mrs Russell
looks 80 happy aud contented. Wonder
If she had as much 10 do as Mandy this
morning| AS a sudden thought struck
him.
After service be returned home 10 iind
a clean house, beautiful shining stow,
aud dcliciously cooked dinner, but 0
worried and irritable vito.
"lts been 50 warm" she said II
tires me all out cleaning up haven
sat down a minute since you lcft," will
the all ia martyr who fancies duty a
whatevgr cost.
MANLY, why don't you let some
thing gooncc in a while aud rest little
This dirt fight will wear you out
URaett Ma With all this work :