Year: 1860

WHAT Is THE ,REASON.


L don't see why Mr. Tendril ism t more


contented to stay at home I'm sure


nobody ever had better wife; he might


see with half an eye, that I'm just wear


ing myself out, scrubbing, and securing,
and trying to keep the house neat and


pleasant. [ never have any time to read


or fix myself up-something always


wants doing, just the minute I get ready


70 sit down. But Tendril seems to think
a woman's work can be disposed of in


half an hour-says I'm too fussy and
particular That's all man knows
about it Wish [ knew how Mrs. Glover


manages. Her husband is never hazing


of, like discontented ghost, not he!-
Any one would think they hadn't got


over their courting days yet. But then


she isn't anything of housekeeper -


she actually lets her children play in


the parlor, and don't have her windows
washed oftner than once week-throws


the blinds open and lets the sun come
right in on the carpets. Says she'd
rather have faded carpets than gloomy
room and celery-sprout face Don't
dust her furniture more than once day
positively laughs at the idea of cha
sing round with cloth in one hand and
a feather brush in the other-says she
hasn't time to follow every particle of
floating dust into the street. Time, in
deed-she gets time to read all she wants,
and I hear her piano going many a time
when L m not half through my mornings
work A nice looking house we should
have, if l shirked things in that kind of
way, yet Tendril keeps preaching up
Mrs. Glover to me all the time. Just as
much judgment as men have!


0, here he comes! I wish you wouldn't t
walk with your hands in your pocket,
Tendrll, it makes me so nervous. Do
come here and let me brush your coat
why can't you keep your hair little
smoother? it's enough to make a neat
woman ache to look at you! Now just
see those foot marks on this clean carpet;
I suppose I might beg you to wipe your
boots on the rug, until next Christmas,
without producing any effect! Betty!
bring broom and dust pan this minute;
it does seem as though l should 60 crazy.
What's that you say? the house smells
as damp as burying ground? Now,
Tendril, what's theuse of talking in that
ridiculous way? I've only been having
the basement floors done off with soap
and sand. You don't want to be deluged
the whole time? o, no-of course not;
you'd like to live in the dirt, like mole,
if you had your own way. What are
you about, Tendril? don't you open that
window for goodness sake! You are
not bat, or an owl, to see in the dark?
Pshaw-it isn't dark-only kind of
pleasant, subdued light. [ don't want
my carpet bleached white, whatever your
precious neighbor, Mrs. Glover, may
think about hers. If you could get
along just as well without that eyerlast-
ing crock, rock,'' Tendril-you'll wear
right thro' the carpet, besides my poor
nerves, but Of course you don't care for
them! Mercy on us! if the man hasn't
gone and bounced right into that chair
[ spent two years embroidering lovely
pair of brigands on! Getright up, Ten
drill! that chair ism made to sit in?-
What Is it for, then, you like to know?
Why, to look at, of course Now know
it was you who threw the newspaper on
that sofa, just as we'll as though I saw
you do it. And there's your hat on the
hall table-what do you suppose the
hat-rack is made for? declare, Tendril,
that you are enough to drive one dis
tracted. l never have minutes peace
of mind when you are around, and if I
wasn't as patient as an angel, shouldn't
bear so quietly with all your tantrums.
0 yes, bang the door; it's such proper
return to the poor wife who is shaving
herself to death for you!


There-hes gone, and I am willing
to wager anything he will spend the
evening at John Clover's house. He's
always saying Mrs. Glover can talk of
besides scrub brushes and
soap and water. She always had the
knack of bewitching people. I'd just
like to peep into her china closet,
though; [ warrant it looks like rats
nest, and I'm almost sure [ could find
dust in the corner of her cellar. AS
though woman could be too neat 0,
dear! there ism much use trying to do
ones duty in this world. It's so lone
some these long evenings with Tendrill
gone. I wish [ knew how to amuse him
and keep him happy at home. 1t isn't
my fault he's SO fond of going off, I'm
certain He never seems to take any
comfort at home, like other men-I wish
[ knew the reason why!