West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-11-08

with one capacious wrench OF the arms.
she loosened the spring seat from the
wagon and bore II TO the governess
with an artless air OF triumph. IL was
difficult. under these circumstances, 70
explain to Mrs. Yellett that without
that symbol OF scholastic authority,
desk. the wagon seat was useless; new
erthelsss Mary set forth with all her
eloqusnce the mission OF q desk Mrs.
Yeliett vas genuinely depressed. Had
she imported the magician without his
wand-Aladdin without his lampf She
proposed a bewildering choice-an IN
vcrted washtub. two buckets sustain
Ing the relation OF chryatides to
board. the sheet iron cooking stove. In
IN excess Of solicitude she even sug-
gested robbing. paw OF his soap box.
Mary chose the washtub on condition
that Mrs. Yellett consented to sacrifice
the handles In the cause OF lower edu-
cation. She felt that an inverted tub
that was likely TO seesaw during class
hours would tend rather TO develop
sense OF humor In her pupils than TO
contribute 70 her pedagogical dignity.
The camp. as may already have been
inferred. enjoyed a matriarchai form
OF government. It's feminine dictator
was no exception to the race OF auto
Gratis In that she was not an absolute
stranger to the rosy byways OF self
indulgence. There was n strenuous
quality In her pleasuring perhaps not
inconsistent In one whose daily tasks
included sheep herding and ditch dig
cling. varied by irrigating and shearing
In their proper seasons. Under the cir
cumstances II was not surprising that
her washtub bore about the same re-
lationship to her real duties as does
the crochet needle or embroidery hoop
TO the lives OF less arduously engaged
women. II was at once her fad and
her relaxation. the dainty feminine ac-
complishment with which she whlled
away the hours after busy day spent
with pick and shovel. or all this Mary
was ignorant when she proposed that
Mrs. Yellett saw or the tub handles
In the cause Of culture. However,
Mrs. Yellett procured a saw, yet the
hand that held IL fingered I'm its descent
on the handles. She contemplated the
tub as affectionately as Hamlet re-
garding the skull of "Alas, poor Yor-
ickw
This" she observed. sis the only
thing about camp that reminds me I'm
woman. I'D plumb forget II many a
time II II warn't for this little tub.
The Identity OF a woman is mighty apt
to get mislaid when dooty compels her
to assoome, the pants cast aside by the
nacheral head of the house in sickness
or death. It's ben six years now since
paws done thing but set round and
wait for meals" Mrs. Yellett sighed
laborIously. mot that I'm holdin' It
agln him none. When n man sees
eighty It's time he bedded himself
down comfortable and waited for the
nacheral course Of events to weed him
out. But when the boys get old enough
to tend to herdin', irrigatin' and the
work that God Almighty provided that
man might get the chance to sweat
hisself for bread. accordIn' to the
Scriptures, I aim TO indulge myself
by doin' a wash OF clothes every day,
even IL I have to take clean clothes
and do 'em over again."
The poor 'gov'ment's'' tender heart
could not resist this presentation OF
the case
1--WE won't touch the handles, Mrs.
Yellett." she laughed. I'm glad you
told me you had a personal sentiment
for the tub. There are some things I
should feel the same way about-my
hoe and rake, for instance, that care
for my garden with at home. And that