Year: 1877

Ne1-you are, by Joye and I'm proud
of you. Come when I may, find the
house as neat as bandbox and my little
wife as fresh as rose. like that, Nell.
I've always thought that if anything
could put me out of temper with the
woman I loved it would be to come home
and find the house topsy-turvy and my
wife in soiled wrapper and with a
rough head. Little woman, you're
treasure, and I'm proud of you !''


And Edward Hastings kissed his
pretty bride until her cheeks glowed
like the red June roses out in the sun
shine.


She was very happy, very much
pleased and hattered at her husbands
praise.


They had been married just six
months, and Nell was a pattern for all
housewives.


She arose with the birds that made
their nest l., the great apple-tree, and
did her housework in the early morning
hours


Come when he might her husband al
ways found his little home in order, the
cupboard stored with something good to
eat, and his wife dressed in fresh wrap
per, with flower in her hair and smile
of welcome on her fair face.


ff there's one thing more likely to
provoke fellow than another" he went
on, lingering a moment on the sunny
portico, his arm around her waist, /" tbs
to bring friend home to dinner or
luncheon and find everything out of
sorts. Now there's Gravesly; his wife's
a fine woman when you see her out-a
snowy woman, always well dressed.
Well, Gravesly invited me to lunch that
day we went out together. I Iwent, but
I was sorry enough for it. Such a house
as we found-a1 heels-ever-head, and /
caught sight of the mistress disappear
ing up stairs in curl-papers and slippers.
She WIS indisposed and could not see
us, the girl said We lunched on bread
and cheese, and Gravesly, poor fellow,
though he said nothing, looked exceed
inglv annoyed. [ should have been an
CRY. think a wife should make it her
duty to keep her house and her person
in presentable order, so that her hus-
band, come when he may, may find her
ready to meet him."


$50 do l." said Nell, smiling up
into his face. "You need never be
afraid to invite a friend home with you,
Ned. No matter if I don't know, I shall
be readyto receive you"


Ned gave her ringing kiss.


every well, little woman I shall try
you one of these days-and now I must
run. Good-by."


She watched him out of sight, with
happy eyes, and then went back to
her pretty sitting room and her work
table.


A month later the summer was on
the wane and the fruits were well
ripered.


"Jane," said Mrs. Hastings one bright
morning, returning from the garden
gate where she had parted with her hus-
band, &c have just looked at the cur
rants, and they are quite ripe. We must
make our jelly at once. Now MIR. Hast
ings won't be home till late to-day. Iwant
to spend the day with mother tomorrow
and I should very much like to get the
job off my hands to-day. What do you
say ?"


"I can soon pick the crrrants,
ma'am."


"All right suppose you begin. We
won't clean up now. Let the house
stand, though it is dreadfully out of or
der. Perhaps we may find time to
straighten up when we get the fruit
cooking. Hurry, now, and pick as fast
as you can, and I'll step over to Browns
and order some sugar and jars.


Jane obeyed, leaving the breakfast
room unswept and the front steps n-
washed.


1t was high noon before the first kettle
of juice was got In cooking order.


Making currant jelly was rather more
OF an undertaking than Mrs. Hastings
supposed.


| She had seen it made at home under
her mothers supervision, and making
| it herself she fancied would be quite as
| easy