The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-01-26
Il am 50 accounted, madam, = he

'And you are quite able to hire do
mestic service, are you not I"
Eyes, if it were needful." ;"
Suppose say that it is needful ?
81 should take the liberty of doubt
ing it, madam" !" he replied.
VERY well, Mr.. Flint, since yot
force it upon me, I may as well tel
you FIRST as last, my decision upon thi!
point. You offered me the position
Of wife, not that Of maid-servant. Il
was this understanding that I accept
ed you. Yet, If your circumstance.
ever become such as to require it,
shall not hesitate for a moment tc
conform myself to them. I only OBJ
ject to assuming a burden which,
from your own account. appears tc
be quite needless. / am very willing
to superintend the household arrange.
ments, as Iconsider that duty which
devolves upon me as your wife.
IT have listened to your arguments,
Mrs. Flint, and they are weak. They
do not weigh with me, madam. F"
THAT is to be regretted"
"The first Mrs. Flint better under
stood her duties as a wife," he re-
turned excitedly. "But it is quite
useless to discuss the point with you,
madam. However, this day week
Mrs. Burns leaves us and I expect
you to assume her duties"
Mrs. Flint smiled. Major Flint
frowned. Then taking his hat and
cane he excitedly left the room.
There's nothing like beginning
right" he said mentally, planting his
cane firmly down upon the pavement.
If Mrs. Flint married me with the
idea of squandering my money on
silks and furbelows and useless hired
help, she'll find it difficult in my es-
tablishment. / don't intend to en-
courage female insubordination. ]
believe the husband was born to gov
ern, the wife to obey. If more hus-
bands had my firmness and my tact
in governing, things would be differ
ent at the present day."
Mrs. Flint, left at home, summoned
the housekeeper.
"I learn that my husband has given
you a weeks notice." she said.
Eyes, ma 'am."
''Is it your wish to leave as"
"Oh, no, Mrs. Flint I don know
where can find another place, and I
have to pay my little girls board out
of my wages. I"
''I believe there is considerable
work to be done here, is there not"
'sYes, indeed, a great deal. And
then Mr.. Flint is so peculiar. He
wants everything done just so. And
that's why I'm sorry to 60 just as you
come-I know you are easy to please. "
"How do you know that 7"
"By your FACET looks so good
natured. Major Flint says, ma am, !"
she continued hesitatingly, THAT I
am to show You about the work. But
if you try to do it alone. unused to
hard work as you are, it will make
You sick"
''I think very likely it would, Mrs.
Burns. But I have not the slightest
idea of doing the work. Atall events,
you need not attempt to secure an
other situation until you hear from
me again. I am very confident" she
added, smiling, "that if Mr.. Flint
sends you away, Mrs. Burns, he will
be glad to take you back"
The week passed quickly.
"Mrs Burns leaves tomorrow" said
the major, at the tea-tahle.
"Then you have quite decided upon
itl"
"Yes, I believe I announced the
fact to You some days ago.
81 thought it possible that my OBJ
jections might have weighed with
you and induced you to change your
mind"
81 never change my mind" said
her husband, loftily.
"But warn you that have very
little experience as cook.
"You can learn
perhaps / may not cook to suit
your TASTE" she persisted.
"That is my affair.""
Had he been aware of the plot
forming in the lady's fertile brain, he
might not have felt so confident in
regard to the quality of his bread and
butter; but he retired for the night
all unconscious of the discipline to be
meted out to him.
So the following morning Mrs.
Burns received her wages and was
sent off. At 10 o'clock the market
ing was brought home. Atthe usual
dinner hour Major Flint made his ap-
pearance. The table was laid with
more than its usual neatness. Major
Flint congratulated himself on this
fact as a personal triumph on his
part. But he hardly felt so compla-
cent when the dinner came up. The
beef was terribly overdone the vege-
tables. on the contrary were not hall
cooked. In short, as Major Flint
disgustingly remarked, there was
nothing fit to eat on the table.
''I dare say, am not very good
cook" said his wife.
With his appetite not half satisfied,
he rose from the table.
The following morning breakfast
was delayed more than half an hour,
and when it was ready it was scarcely
eatable. Major Flint was quite out
Of humor +; but in reply to his remon-
strances his wife said:
81 warned you that I might not
cook to suit your TASTE"
And so matters deteriorated rather
than improved. The tea and coffee
prepared by his wife were nauseatine
to him, while the bread was not only
sour but hard and clammy, requiring
considerable effort to masticate it.
And what rendered it all the more
exasperating was that, no matter how