Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-09-20
LEARNED A LESSON.

Little Mrs Millett could cook, but
she "did not like to-" .'She knew how
all the work connected with housekeep-
ng, but she "detested housework. "
She liked to read more novels than were
| good for her. She was fond of making
ancy work-more than she could pos
'ibly use-and she delighted in putting
On new dress and spending half day
Or whole one with some of her nu-
merous friends.
Now if Jack, Mrs. Millett's husband,
had been rich man, Clare's way of
| spending her time, though foolish and
harmful enough, would not have been
90 disastrous to her domestic happiness;
but Mr.. Millett was only confidential
clerk in a wholesale house, and the
bulk of the money he had saved be-
fore marriage had gone to purchase
and furnish the tive-room cottage to
which he brought his bride. More
than a year had gone since that event,
and his bank account had not increased,
while his thoughtless wife showed no
signs of settling down to the study of
domestic economy and the proper care
of her house.
Jack had lofty ideas about marriage,
and he thought his visions were shared
| by Clare when he welded her. To do
the little woman justice, she thought so
too. She found, however, as others
have, that it is one thing to have views
before marriage, and another to carry
them out afterward. Mrs. AIillett had
| been petted and spoiled all her life, ex-
| eept that her father had insisted that
she should be taught housework
thoroughly, possibly because OF certain
| memories connected with his own mat
rimonial history, so in spite of petting
and spelling, Clare was an efficient
housekeeper.
She was not long settled in the little
cottage before discovering that it is
easier to cook some dishes everyday in
the week than to prepare a variety,
that it is easier to neglect work than to
doit properly. Jack grew accustomed to
hearing at breakfast, "Get your dinner
at a restaurant tonight, Jack dear,
l m going to spend the afternoon and
evening with Madge; you can come
after me early"
He usually went for her asinstructed
and generally brought her home to a
disordered house, because you know,
Jack, was in such hurry to get away
l didn't have time to straighten things
up"
Jack was a patient fellow, and very
fond of his wife; still he gradually be-
gan to wonder if getting married is the
wisest thing a young man can do.
One morning he looked over the not
remarkably neat breakfast table and
said:
Glare, we have had ham and eggs,
and bread and butter and coffee, ten
mornings in succession.
"Well, what of it," she sharply an
swered. For Clare was growing irri-
table, as Jack was growing silent and
mOrOse.
Don't you know man tires of
the same thing every day in the
week?''
Il don't see why you should, 1
don't. / have what you have every
morning"
Eyes, but you eat what you please
all day, and /, confined in the store,
have nothing but a sandwich until
night"
"Oh, nonsense, Jackl There's no
need of being so fussy. It's a perfect
nuisance to plan something different
for each meal and dislike to cook"
Jack was irritated by her careless dis
regard of his wishes; he said:
Il wish had known that before we
were married, then"
Indeed! We wouldn't have been
married, perhaps?"
Perhaps" And more out of tenn
per than he had ever been since the
wedding, Mr. Millett left the table and
the house.
Having satisfied herself that Jack
had gone without kissing her good-by,
Clare proceeded to weep in the most
approved fashion. Now, Mrs. Millett
was not fool, though she had acted
like one. She was indolent and selfish.
She needed waking up, and a next door
neighbor did the work.
TComing softly in through the kitchen
Aunt Jane Bigelow found the young
wife in tears. Aunt Jane was one
of those people who always tell you
all the disageeable things people
say about you-''for your own good"
"Humph! Crying?" she said with a
sniff, dropping into chair opposite
Mrs Millett.
That lady wiped her eyes and sat up.
Il didn't hear you knock" she said
icily.
'No, 1 didn't knock; the kitchen
door was open-you're re so keerless, Mrs.
Millett-and l walked in. Been,
squabbling, l suppose.
"What right have you to suppose any
such thing?" Indignantly.
aye needn't get mad about it; young
folks generally squabble more or less,
and after what heered last night it
amt any more than l expected"
"What did you hear?" with increas-
ing coldness.
Clare was angry, and her blue eyes
fairly sparkled.
"Sakes? Ye hev got a temper, hewitt
ye?- l shouldn't tell We if l didn't think
it was for your own good"
"What was it?'' in a tone that Jared
the dishes.
"Why, heered last night up to
Bradstreets' society met there,
We know-that your husband said if |
he'd known before he was married as
much as he does now he'd thought |
twice afore tying himself to a woman
that hates to cook and likes to gad."