The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
SOME COMFORTS OF HOME.
INCIDENTS OF A START MADE AT
KEEPIN6 USE.
Pleasure. and Trouble. OF the Husband

'oAiliAtNI OluCls
II want to get IL all ready for you" she ex-
planned to hor husband. Then, when we do
get into 1t Mt last, everything will move along
smoothly and you won't be bothered n bit. l
do so want to keen you from being bothered at
the start. because If you began with a bad i'm
preston OF housekeeping. you'd never get
over it,"
So there began a period when she started out
In the morning cheerful and bright and busting
and came homo in the evening tired and gloomy
and bedraggled. Her husband demonstrated
with her in vain.
You oughtn't TO work 40 hard" he would
say. You ought to let me help you"
She rejected nil such suggestions sadly, but
bravely and firmly.
NO." she would reply, earnestly, as she de-
scribcd how she had tackled down a piece of
carpet in the attic that day. or cleaned out the
leo box. This is my work. and intend to
show you that l can do my share. am going
to make you n comfortable homo" And with
fresh courage she would start out the noxt
morning with the determination Of putting the
linen closet in order.
All things como to an end in time. Thus It
happened that one evening she announced to
her husband that the house had been settled,
and that on the following day when he went
home from business it was TO his new dwelling
Jlnt hN "o1 " ~ - = Va 'ONS'
full of cosiness and warmth and subdued lights
and comfort, pleased him nightly.
"Ah!" he exclaimed as he tossed his overcoat
on q chair in the hall and jammed his hat on n
hook OF the hat rack. this is real living ut last!
How kind 1t was of you, my dear. to do all tho
work of fixing up the house yourself and reserve
for me this delightful surprised"
A patient, weary smile succeeded the bright
look with which his wife had come forward to
greet him..
ut was my fault; / ought to have told you"
she said, us she took the overcoat up from the
chair and the hat of the hook of the hat rack.
See the nice nails | have driven for you here
In this closet. l put them there on purpose for
you to hang your coat and hat on"
you are too good; you think too much OF me-"
returned the husband. IL was quite unneces-
sary. The hall would have done quite Us we'll.
You take entirely too much trouble for me-"
Tho trouble is nothing" the wife replied
softly. II do not mind taking trouble for you;
and Them she added, examining anxiously the
leather seat OF the hall chair on which the coat
had rested and the. bronze hook on which the hat
had hung" and then. the furniture will be much
less likely to he damaged If you don't put your
hat and coat on them. and you will like that
so much better. won't you. dear 2"
"Huh!" said the husband.
AiS ASN ~ - ~ Nv NcSSJ IOOILl,
sank gratefully into a soft, low armchair, and
took upon her lap two objects which she had laid
aside when she rose to welcome her husband.
\ faraway LOOK came into her eyes as she con-
tempiated them, and her features resolved
themselves into an expression OF care and doubt
and indeCision. Her husband noted her con-
tracted brows and sympathtzed with her.
"WhAt Is the matter ~ he aske gently.
ut is only IA new problem that | have to solve.''
she replied. You know that in housekeeping
,a =NIy. a. ana 80 ~. nm. ~ - - mt mo, H., n
Yes, l suppose So he sad. Every day a
dinner has to be planned. By the way, what
are We going to have for dinner to-day p
The wife was holding her head first Oh one
side and then on the other as she peered first at
the article she was balancing IN her right hand
and then at the object she. held in her lctt hand.
Her expression OF care and doubt and INDIGESTION
grew deeper as she gsZed. and she was so alb
sorbed III her study that she did not reply for a
moment
Dinner ~ she exclaimed finally with a start.
oh. yes; dinner
\ hight Of sudden hope came into her face.
She sat straight up in her chair and looked mp.
pealirgly and con!id ngly at her husband.
perhaps, after all. you can tell me- she said.
a any rate, you had better tell me" replied
her husband. herrIng himself for the communi-
Well" she said with wrinSlins brows, hold
ing up Que hand. You see tl4s pockctbUlk ~
Hmm" renarEeh the husband, with n we'll
defined suspicion OF what was coming next.
And this mat ~ holding up the other hand.
"Ha!" remarked the husband, with tho sus-
piciou changing rapidly into absolute certainty.
Now, my dear" lie demonstrated quickly, II
think that is a very nice hat avery nice hat in.
deed. Just us good as new: just. And then
you forget how becoming 1t ID to you; how |
have always admired you in it,"
The wife put down the pocketbook and held
up the hat with both hands, so that she might
inspect 1t the better.
persuasive manner. you really do not need u
new hat"
You're sure you prefer the hat ~ she asked,
as she put down the hat nnd took up the pocket
book and began TO examine it critically.
"Of course. of course. my dear replied tho
husband in u tono full OF conviction.
Blu it is such II nice. pocketbook. she re-
toined with symptoms OF doubts returning as
hhe turned It over ana over.
Yes" lie retorted with ali the determination
he could muster, and it's Just as nice in its
present condition as it would be if its condition
were different,
The wife laid down the pocketbook with a
low. happy sigh OF relief.
I'm 30 glad to hear you say so,'' she said. II
thought 1t would be the. best way, too. but 1
wanted to he economical, and you know tho
pock etbook will cost 30 much more than the
hat,
Yes" vas the reply. lyon see it has to be
in silver. and the skin costs so much.'
Well. what has that to do with it;" he de-
: DO with it 2" she replied. why. n pocket
book TO match my new dress"
" don't understand" he murmured feebly.
How strange" returned the wife ITS
better get a dress to match my hat or one to
my pocketbook. You said to get ono 10
the hat. and so now ] have to get u pocket
book to 20 with the dress, don't II"
The husband looked around the room, hesi- |
tated, and finally advanced 10 the nearest chair.
wife followed him with her eyes. first ques-
and then with growing alarm.
"OE! oh! !" she exclaimed. as after some indie
cislon lie manifested an intention of sitting
on the char. what do you mean to do Z"
lie stopped short in the act and looked ut her.
hurried up TO the chair and removed it
firmly out of his reach.
You must promise me never. never to at
tempt TO do such II thing again" she said grave |
~. unless you wish 10 ruin my peace OF mind"
But | wanted to sit down" aid the husband
II felt the need Of It,"
The wife considered one chair after another,
and then a light broke upon her.
II know it," she eaid s~orrowfully, and yet |
tried 30 hard 10 avoid IL. IL kent me awake
that thought that | would forget something"
What wrong ~ her husband asked.
i've forgotten tho chairs" returned his wife.
.uok inG tlouGhtfullY about the room.
Forgotten the chairs I" exclaimed her hus-
band in Amusement. why there are so many
here now that | can't walk across the
room without stumbling
Yes was the reply, given with a gentle,
smile. " but don't on see that
very one OF them has a scarf or IA cushion on IL,
and You know, dear, that you must never even