Year: 1869

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Now NALAzY MAN WASREFoRMEB


Mr.. Easy was one of the most good-natured
idle, happy, don't care sort Of men that the SUI
ever shone upon. 1t didn't trouble him an iota
whether there was war in the kitchen or Crlmea
if he had but newspaper, cigar and lounge a.
tall as himself, whereupon be could recline at tul
length, and see the blue smoke curl up and waf
away-he didn't care where-f Mrs Easy WASH
in the mood of talking. The whole family of little
'Easies might dance around, spin tops play ball
oyerturn the coal-hods, and take his best hat fo
an ottoman, without his ever turning his eyes IL
that direction


But very different kind Of person was Mrs
Easy; she cherished the idea that nature intended
her to be somebody, and that the only obstacle te
her rapid rising in the estimation of mankind gen
orally was the supneness of her slothful and easy
husband. When the thermometer indicated less
than seventy degrees, the house was comparative
ly quiet and if Jimmy did pull Bennie's hair and
set him to crying, and then in his effort to run
away, fell over his fathers boots and upset his
mother's work-basket, why, Mrs. Easy never pur'
sued him further then the door, and then on he,
return would give her lord and master look that
would make him place the newspapera little closer
to his face to conceal his merriment.


One Wednesday afternoon, just after the dinner
table had been cleared and everything arranged OF,
derly, Mr.. Easy was occupying his favorite place
on the lounge, and his wife was engaged sewing the
last button on garment for Jimmy, when Mrs.
Easy suddenly exclaimed:


81 wish could go to the sewing geirce this after
noon; Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Holbrook and almost
everybody know going and they are to choose
officers, too, and heard they talked OF nomlna,
ting me for President"


"Wen, do TO-" said her husband laying down
his paper; to her utter astonishment, having no
ticed her remark without her repeating it.


81 don't feel very we'll, and I will stay at home
and see to the children and have everything first,
rate when you get back"


"First-rate !" repeated the wife little excited
"you have kept house before and when l got
home, it looked as though there had been lire
here; and I said then would never leave you
again with the children"


'WeD, my dear, you know experience Is good
teacher; so just try me this once, and see if you
don't find things in good shape when you get
back"


The wife hesitated few moments, and then the
desire to spend the afternoon with her friends, and
the idea, too, that when she returned she might
be an officer in the society, prevailed over her fears
of household order So, after giving various In
structions how to proceed for the next six hours,
(of which he heard not single word, though a
nod now and then caused his more ambitious halt
to believe that he treasured up the whole Of them)
she went to her chamber to dress for the occasion


Half an hour afterward, Mrs. Easy entered the
sitting-room, and her husband thought he never
saw her look more attractive than she did in her
closely fitting bodice and brocade skirt, and he
firmly resolved to do his best to merit her appro-
baton when she returned.


81 want piece of bread and butter, said jim
my, about an hour after his mother had left. His
father was still on the lounge with the newspaper
before him and not being accustomed to attend to
the wants of the children, he already forgot the
sponsible trust he had assumed so Jimmy, find
ing his request unheeded, proceeded to help him
SELF and going to the closet, he climbed to the tor
shelf in search the articles desired but, making
mis-step, down came Jimmy, bread, butter, Mrs
Easy's favorite soup-tureen, and several Other
dishes.


'Come down, Jimmy |" said his father, the
crash having brought him to his senses.


II am down." replied the boy, trying to extri'
cate himself from among the fragments.


II should think you were down, and all your
mothers china with you !" said Mr.. Easy, with
SORROW depicted on his countenance; 'but there,
there, Jimmy, don't cry IN buy some more be-
fore your mother gets back-so you be good boy
and run out to play; here's cent foryou And
the father took his pocket-handkerchief and
rubbed the butter either in or off the boys face
and left it shining like an apothecarys bottle by
gaslight; then gathering up the broken ware and
putting it all into the swill pail, he swept the re-
mains Of the butter into the dust-pan, and again
seated himselfon his favorite spot But his troub-
les were not yet ended for Jimmy's mshap and
outcry had awakened Ella, the youngest, who had
been sleeping in the cradle She vociferously de.
manded where was ma.


20 Lord i" said her father, half musingly, she
is gone down to Mrs. Norwood's to the sewing Cir
cle If it was man who invented them, hope
he will have to keep house every Wednesday af:
ternoon, so long as he lives"


"Gone down to Mrs. Norwood's,' repeated
Benny, to whom Jimmy had told the story Of his
misfortunes, and who was now viewing the ruins


I'll go right straight down and tell her thai
Jimmy's broke whole lot of Dishes and the ba
bys crying, and pa won't give US nothing to eat.


'Come backr' shouted the father, while thu
perspiration stood in drops on his face. But th'
boy knew that his father never used the rod, 81
the call had no other effect than to make him in
crease his speed in the directionof Mrs. Norwood
house. The parent did not wait to give secont
call, but started in pursuit of the fugitive. HI
was just descending the steps that led from th'
outer door to the pavement, when, owing to th'
butter on the soles of his boots he slipped and fel
reaching the street without any muscular effort OF
his part Mr. Easy groaned aloud, but he had nj
time to ascertain if any of his bones were broken
so away he hobbled, much to the amusement of 1
group of shavings-boys, who were on the corne
opposite. In spite Of all his exertions, the dis
tance widened between him and his undutiful son
50 he hired one of the boys to overtake Benny ant
bring him back Away went the boy on his errant
while the housekeeper, forgetting he had left tn
baby at home alone, stepped in the nearest shol
to rest Presently he heard an outcry in the street
and on going to the door, he beheld his sol
(who had some Of his mother blood in his veins