Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-25
ALTON ECHOES.
House-CIcnning-EIopements Per-
sOnaI Notes.

| Correspondence Of the Dspatch)
ALTON, VA, April 23.-Our Easter
gladness Of Monday fell with the Their
mometer Tuesday, when we broke the ice
| for our annual housekeeping. Nor do
i mean metaphorcaily; not bit Of it.
We crushed the real, frigid Few England
| harvest, OF nearly half an inch's thick
| ness, on the rain barrels and iron wash
| kettles, filled the overnight for an early,
busy start Ways OF house cleaning in
| town and country greatly differ. But,
| be 1t city matron or buxom dame, each
| bustling-
Little wife.
| With her sweeping cap and duster,
And all the brooms that she can muster
For the strife;
expects all other things to carry out the
harmonious perfection Of her IDEAS to the
minutest details.
Though the most inconsistent Of created
beings, women abhor an inconsistency
worse than nature does a vacuum. When
she plans to do certain thing at a
certain time, she is going to do it. Hus-
band and children, winds and weather.
social amenities, and servants must give
way, and each observe a strict consist
ency toward the one main purpose-any
depression is a personal affront.
When the men have finished ploughing
and the oats are in; when the early
gardens are made. and we hear the first
whippoorwill sing" we plant our roasting
ears and we clean house. Beside these
laws those OF the Modes and Persians
were pie-crust.
The ham is boiled and anchored IN the
high Unsafe; the loaves are baked for
a week ahead, and tho dried-apple and
peach pies-swell magazines OF dyspep-
sia-are waiting in rows upon the pantry
shelf, like mutes at a funeral.
We are ready TO clean house. Why
the wind blows at forty-five miles
minute and we have winter instead OF
spring, balmy warmth is none Of our con-
Germ We clean house. Mary Jane breaks
the ice and John Henry wisely holds his
tongue. In and out he comes and goes.
with a dumb, pathetic look In his kindly
eyes but he saws wood and says no.
thing"
Woman folks IS curious" I thought
heard him mutter yesterday when Mary
Jane, in her haste, mistook the baby for
Rover and pushed II off the back porch:
but he gathered up the leathery links OF
last weeks doughnuts-his noon repast-
and skipped out to the barn.
A couple near where tho three
counties dovetail together on the Ridge
were married without the parents leave
last week, and another thrilling episode
I'm elopements was barely nipped in the
bud few days ago. These couples are
very young: not quite so juvenile as the
runaways OF Atlanta, but the best way
TO cure love case is just that-oppo-
sition but fans the flame.
Mrs. Edgar Hayden and Mrs Frank
Noel. OF Fluvanna. are visiting their pa
rents at "Redlands."
The Literary Club had most enjoyable
meeting at Mr.. c. b. Lipscombs Tues
day evening.
Mr.. and Mrs. John G. SPOTS are In
Waynesboro', Misses Minnie and Georgia
Goodloe in Charlottesville, Miss Bessie
Coleman over in the Valley and Miss NJ.
T.. Downer. Of Gordonsville, at Oman.
Mrs. James r. Goodloe and Miss Mary.
of .rhe Alton" were guests at Chestnut
Ridge Thursday
Tho new post-ofiice granted between
Avon and Oman. opposite Rhodess
Church, Is barely within postal distance. |
but Il AL goes. Mr.. John X. Rivercomh |