Year: 1873

I 81 =
latest newspaper. The kitchen fool
was unswept, and numerous toys
were scattered over the floor. Little
Johnny's face was streaked with dirt
and Mary Brown looked tired, worn.
and to tell the truth, cross ; her hair
was done up in pug, her calico
dress torn, and her appearance was
far from being attractive.


Farmer Brown threw his hat in
ore corner and sat down.


"Mary," said he, 'syou may go up
stairs and get my other hat AMI a
clean collar. | have got to go over
to the village. And bring my black
neck. tie, too. l left it on the bureau,
or table, or somewhere-you can find
it," t.....


Mary dried her hands on towel,
and obediently dragged her tired
feet up the long flight of stairs, to
hunt for the hat, collar, and neck-tie,
which were-somewhere, while her
husband set in a chair to await her
return, and with a trown surveyed
the room.


"Strauge," muttered he, "how
slack Mary is getting! When we
were first married, she was neat and
clean as could be-pretty, too, she
was then. Strange, how some won
en- fade! There is that mischiev-
Gus youngster tearing up my last pa
per! Why don't Mary keep him out
of mischief wonder what shs is
doing SO long 1t takes woman
forever to find anything. Well you
have come at last, have you ?" he
said aloud, as his wife entered. 81
should think you stayed to make
them. l am in a hurry"


81 came as soon as l could" an
swered she dejectedly. "Your col
lar box was under the bureau with
your blacking brush, and your neck
tie was under the bed. [ did not
know where to look for them. do
wish you would take better care OF
your clothes


ooh, | remember | went to bed
the other night with my neck-tie on ;
so l took it off and dropped it over
the back side of the bed, for fear
should rumple it. AS for taking care
of my clothes, | have no time for
such affairs. But / am glad you hap
pened to speak Of them, for 1t re,
minds me that l need some new
shirts. | will get the material for a
half dozen to day, and you can make
them up at your leisure /; any time
this week will do"


eff you could wait till the after
noon to go to the village, I would
go with you," said Mrs. Brown. 81
need new dress sadly, and"


"And what else ?" said her hus.
band impatlently.


"I-want to go to see Fanny Ellis.
| have not called on her for a year,
and l know she feels hurt about it.
We used to be so intimate"


A frown settled all over Farmer
Browns face as he answered.


81 have business which must be
attended to this morning and if l
could wait till this afternoon, l have
no time to waste in shopping and
visiting. If Fannie Ellis spent more
of her time at home, and did her own
work instead Of hiring servant girl,
Tom Ellis would be worth more than
he is. But that's the way with wo,
men nowadays. They would all like
to have their husbands hire servants
to do their work, and then they
would spend bis last dollar for dress,
ing and visiting"


The tears began to rise in Mays
eyes, but size repressed the harsh re.
sponse that rose to her lips, and
quietly continued her work so heI
husband felt encouraged to proceed
with his lecture.


81 am astonished that you should
think of visiting, Mary, when there
is SO much for you to do at home
just look around the room and see
the confusion. Then look at John
ny! One would think he had not
been washed for a week. Then look
at the clock here it is nine O'Clock
and the breakfast dishes not washed
then look"


An emphatic slam of the door, al
his wife left the room, brought his ell
oquent speech to sudden termin
alton. Ha


He did not feel exactly satisfied
with this. 1t showed lack of re
spect to have Mrs. Brown leave th'
room while he was speaking bu
with the kindness that usually char
actcrized him, he did not endeavo
to recall her, but lett the house will
his last sentence unfinished.


While he is on his way to the vii
lage, we will peep into the domici
of Tom Ellis, whose beloved wifi;
had been SO slightingly spoken of b.
Farmer Brown.


Tom Ellis is a farmer too but TO
all that, he does not think his wifi
must work increasingly from morning
to night. OF course he is foolish
but he has actually been heard t,
say that he did not want his wife t,
work more hours in a day than b.
did. So ever since the advent O
their first baby, he had kept a stou
servant girl to assist in the kitchen
and now the second addition has beer
made to their family, he has hired
little girl to take care of the baby
The neighbors say that he will ent
his days in the poor house, and Fa:
mer Brown says it is wonder he i
not there now.


Let US first glance into the kitchen
The floor is secured as white as soa,
and sand can make it, and the plain
white washed wall is guiltless O
finger marks, everything is nea
and clean, while row Of inverted
pans, of dazzling brightness, show
that the dishes were washed Ions
ago. A pleasant looking, rosy facet
girl is pairing apples at the table
preparatory to making that indispen
sable farmers food, apple pie. w,
next look into the nursery or sitting
room, for it is used for both purposes
during the day. Here we see tw,
bright, healthy, pretty looking chill
dren-a little girl of four years and
baby of six months. Mrs. Ellis il
here too, and more sunny.faced
winsome woman We rarely see. Sh'
] is dressed in calico to be sure !; bu