Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1873 — MANAGING A MAN. [ARTICLE]

MANAGING A MAN.

Nellie Davis was the prettiest, best, sweetest, and dearest little girl in Hillsburg, and when Tom Carter fell head over heels in love with het no one blamed him in the least. And when the old parson gave consent, and they went to house-keeping in a cosy bird-nest of a little house on the south sideof the town, everybody prophesied all sorts of happiness for the pretty bride. And, truth to tell, Nellie Carter was very happy. It is a very pretty thing to go to housekeeping for the first time, with everything speck-and-span new and shiny, and if you have some one you love very much for a companion, it is still pleasanter. Now Nellie did love that great blubbering Tom Carter with all her might and main, and there was only one thing to disturb her peace. She was the very pink of tidiness, and Tom the most careless fellow alive. He kept his person neat and nice—but he kept his personal belongings anything else. In vain did Nellie braid a handsome merino case, and tack it inside the closet door for Tom to put his slippers in—Tom would persist in tossing them under the parlor sofa, “to have ’em handy.” In vain did she gently suggest that the rack in the hall was the place for his hat and overcoat; wet or dry, he would lay his overcoat on her pretty, smoothly made, bed, and drop his hat anywhere. In vain did Nellie make a place for everything, for Tom invariably tossed everything in some other place. Now little Mrs. Nellie was only human, and Tom’s slovenly ways annoyed her exceedingly. She resolved not to’ spoil the peace of their cosy home by scolding, but how to cure him she could not tell. She bore with him with the patience of an angel, till one morning he had gone up town, and she went into the parlor, broom in hand, and there lay Tom’s big shawl right across the center-table, ruthlessly crushing beneath it the trifles that lay on the marble top. ~ “Now I can’t have this, and I won’t,” said she, as she raised the shawl from the delicate treasure, aud discovered the ruins of a favorite Bohemian vase. “I don’t know what to do, but this I won’t have," she continued, with a little bit Qf wifely snap, which every good wife mtist have if she expects to get along at all with that occasionally unreasonable animal, a man. “Some way must be discovered to cure Tom of such performances as thib !”■ went on Mrs. Nellie, as she removed the rums of the vase, and all the morning she went around ather work with scarlet lips closely compressed, and a little flash in her brown eyes which argued well for Mr. Tom’s domestic subjugation. Woman’s wit, having a will, seldom fails to find a way. And when a determined little woman says “must” and “shall,’’ masculine insubordination might as well surrender at once. Before Mrs. Nellie closed her bright eyes that night, she had arranged plans for that campaign against her liege lord, who slept the" sleep of innocence at her side. But she meant to give him one more chance. So, after breakfast, when Tom drew on his boots and gave his slippers the usual toss under the sofa, she gently said : “Tom, dear, hadn’t you better put the slippers in the case ?” “No, let ’em alone, they’ll be handy to-night.” “ But, Tom, they look so untidy ?” “ Why, no they don’t. A things looks as well in one place as another. What’s the use of a man’s having a home if he can’t keeps things where he wants to ?” “ What’s the use of keeping a woman on her feet all day to pick up things after you?” asked Nellie, without the least show of temper. “Don’t pick ’em up. Just let ’em alofie. and then I can find ’em when I want ’em,” declared Tom. as he gave her a kiss and took himself off. And at the moment the door closed on him, Nellie’s red lips compressed again, and her brown eyes wore the same look thev had worn yesterday. “War it is, then,” she said to herself. 1 ‘ Now, Master Tom, we shall see who wins the field.” She sat quietly about her morning’s work, and when 'torn came home to dinner everything was in its usual good order. It remained so, and Nellie busied herself with her sewing until nearly time for Tom to return to supper. Then she arose, put awav her work, and prepared to open the campaign. First, she put Tom’s slippers where he always left them, under the sofa. Then she tossed the shawl upon the piano, and his best hat upon the center-table. She brought some of her dresses and flung them across the chairs and on the sofa. Her furs and sacque rtposed in Tom’s especial arm-chair, and her best bonnet kept Tom’s slippers company under the sofa, while her own slippers lay on the mantle.

And then, thinking that feminine inge-' nuity cou d make no greater sacrifice than her Sunday bonnet, she sat down to crotcheting. Presently the door opened, atfd in walked Master Tom. He gave a low whistle of surprise as he glanced at the unusual disorder, and at Nellie, sitting calmly in the midst with her crochet work, and then came into the room. “House cleaning, Nell?” he asked. “Oh, no. Why?” said Nellie, looking up in sweet unconsciousness. “I thought maybe you had been, that’s all,” remarked Tom dryly, as he looked for a place to sit down. Nellie quietly pursued her work. Presently Tom said: “Paper come this evening?” “Not yet,’’ answered Nellie, ! Tom gave a half sigh. "Nellie, I met Granger uptown, and he said he would call around this evening.” j “Very well; probably he won’t come before tea. It will be ready soon,” said Nellie, working away in demure innocence, “Hadn’t you better pick up things a little before he comes?” said Tom, glancing, around the room, "Oh, no. Just let ’em lie,” answered ! jNellie sweetly. “But they look so bad!” said Tom. “Oh, no, they don’t,” said Nellie, as sweetly as before. “A thing looks as well in one place as another.” • ' Tom’s face reddened. “I never saw your room look like this before,”he said, hesitatingly. “I shouldn’t like to have any one to step in'2.’.— “Why not, said Nellie; “We might as well keep things bandy. “What’sthe use of having a house if you can’t keep things where you want to?” - ; Tom's face grew redder an<k,redder. He tried to look sober, and then bro£e into a laugh. “Oh, that’s your game, is it?” be

srtid; “trying to beat me with my own weapon, little woman T" “Well, don’t you like the plan;" said Nellie, demurely. “No, by George, I don’t," cried Tom. “Well, then, I’ll make, a bargain with you. As long as you will keep your things in their places, I’ll do the same with mine, and whenever you don’t— ’’ “Oh, I will," interrupted Tom. “Come, Nellie, I’ll own up like a man—you’ve beat me this time. Only Just straighten up this awful room, and I’ll never throw anything down again. There, now, let’s kiss and make up, as the children say." Nellie rose, and laughingly held up her sweet mouth for a kiss of peace. And then, under the magic influence of her deft fingers, confusion was suddenly ban■shed, and when Granger came around to spend the evening, he that nobody had a prettier wire or a tidier home than his friend Tom Carter. Wise little Nellie, having once gained possession of the matrimonial field, took good care to keep it until Tom was quite cured of his careless habits. Sometimes he seemed threatened with a relapse, but Nellie, instead of scolding, only had quietly to bring something of her owmandlay it down beside whatever Tom had tossed down, and it was sure to be put away immedfetely, for Tom seldom failed to take the hint. And if some other little woman, as wise and tidy as Nellie, takes a hint also, this story will have served its purpose.