Year: 1876

this particular time. am not sure that
it is worth writing about, but have Ge-
termined and agreed with myself that
you shall know al about it, and so here
you have it.


You see when we were first married I
did my own houseworls, as indeed 1 now
do, and John - that is my husband,
could never do enough for me. lie
seemed to be always on the lookout to
save me all the steps he could, My
woodbox was always filled with the
incest, straightest wood that our wood
pile could produce. The teakettle was
always filled and ready to set over the
stove as soon as l should want the hot
water to get ten with. The coal scuttle
was always left filled, and the stove we'll
shook down when he went to work in
the morning; and ifsit was winter time
the walks about the house and out to the
street were always nicely cleared of snow.


In fact there was no work which is
properly mans work. for me to do, and
every morning before putting on his
overcoat he asks me if there was anything
more that he ought to do before going.


l was proud Of John. There was
none other equal to him in goodness. l
do not know as | could name any
one that is any better than he is; at
least woull not own it aloud if did
think there was, for all the world. But
some how he don't seem quite so atten.
tive as he used TO be.


do not know when his lack Of all
these little attentions began, but do
know that of late have been accustomed
to make ny own fires in the morning,
bring my own water, wood ana coal. 1
have done all these things because I
thought John was tired out and over
worked at his Office. thought he need
Cd rest, and SO have learned how to
arise first in the morning. make my own
tire, prepare breakfast, and then ell him
to arise and eat a. his leisure.


At first guess he felt little guilty.
for he seemed TO take great pains to see
that | had the very best of kindliny
wood, ali split fine and nice. with plenty
o! coopers' shavings to kindle with.


Lately he has forgotten even this at
tention. and must split my own kind
ling wood. and instead of shavings use
paper TO take the light from the match.


Now if you believe it. for two or three
mornings he has gone off to his work
without clearing the walks of snow, and
have heen doing that work too, and
right here comes this particular trouble
have determined to tell you all about.


hardly think it could have culminat-
ed ut this time If | had not heard in
round-about-way that John had formed
an acquaintance with young lawyer
whose Office was directly opposite his
own, and instead of going directly to
his work, would call in there and chat
for while. And really do not know
what ever put it into my head to take
any notice of it all but heard at the
same time that this same young lawyers
wife would always happen in on these
occasions. / would not have you think
| have the least bit of jealousy in my
disposition, but somehow this stirred me
up amazingly. was clearing the front
steps and walk Of snow ut the time l
beard it, and the way l pitched the
snow, first one way and then the other,
vowing vengeance all the while, was
just awful.


All that forenoon 1 kept my anger at
whitehead, and just promised John a
piece of my mind when he should come
to dinner.


Well, he came to his dinner at the usual
time. He came into the dining room
just as good-natured as you please, and
if you believe it. there was not thing
done toward any dinner at all. He no.
ticed it, and 1 could see that he did.
could tell by the glance of his eye, and l
could read shis thoughts. too, just as
plain as printed book; for didn't his
very actions seem TO say, Now, there
is some sort of trouble here, / wonder
what it is. l must 60 careful until
find out. So he just says to me, laugh
ingly: "Who cleared the front steps of
snow? Was is you? l am as
tonished if it was. I'll bet it aoas you.
can see by your looks that it was. Why,
how you did throw the snow away over,
and pitch it around, didn't your" and so
he talked on until at last begun to
think that perhaps after all it was all a
mistake about that lawyers wife, and
that was very foolish. silly thing to
take any notice of such things ct all.


/ allowed the angry scowl to leave my
face, and fOrgave him all to myself;
made some little excuse about the late
ness Of our dinner, and that was all there
was of this particularly serious trouble.


So as | have commenced TO build my
own fires in the morning, bring my own
water and wood, and clear my own front
steps and walk of snow, may expect to
keep right on doing it as long IS l am
able.


|, Right here before | close. wish to
say to all you girls, that when you are
married, don't you under any -circum-
stances allow yourselves. to get up first
and make the fire in.the morning. If
you do, it will be only just a stepping
stone to all the rest Of the work
around i. the house that Your husband
ought to do, even to clearing the front