Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1879 — MANAGING A HUSBAND. [ARTICLE]

MANAGING A HUSBAND.

"“True, Maj. Flint is a wealthy man, and good-looking withal, but if you marry him he will make you his slave —take my word for it, Miss Atherton.” “l)o you think soP” said the lady addressed, quietly, looking up from her embroidery. “ Think soP I know it. You cannot have forgotten how his first wife fared. So gentle and lovely, too, as she was, yet the poor woman never dated say her soul was her own, never! If ihe had had a different husband she would undoubtedly have been alive to-day. “Very likely,-Mrs. May.” “And yet, knowing all this, you are going to take her place.” “ Maj. Flint will fin l mo a very different porsou from his first wife,” said Miss Atherton, composedly. “However, as'l do not wish to anticipate trouble, wo will, if you please, dismiss the subject.” This was not the first remonstrance Miss Atherton had received on the subject of her approaching marriage, but she had made up her mind, it appeared, ami was now occupied jn matin" preparation for the wedding. What had been quid respecting Maj. Flint and his first wife was unquestionably true. He was a domestic tyrant, and holding the female understanding in very slight esteem, considered that the wife ought, in all respects, to he subservient to the husband’s will. His reason for marrying again was principally from the fact that no found no housekeeper who v would bo sulllciently subservient to liis wlTims and caprices. Haying lost one after another, he camo to the conclusion that he needod a wife, and soon resolved to tender his hand to Grace Atherton, who had been a warm personal friend of his lost wife. Wo will not analyze her motives for accepting his proposal, though probably a regard for Mr. Flint a two helpless little children, who resembled their mother rather than their father, influenced .her quite as much as any other motive. Howevor that might be, the marriage soon took, place; and after a brief journey Mi«« Atherton returned as Mrs. Maj. Flint, to take the place of mistress of the household.. Hitherto Maj. Flint had foreborne to "show his hand.” Now, however, that their married life had fairly t&v gun, ho thought it quite time to do so. “ t.have given Mrs. Burns a week’s warning," he .remarked at the break-fast-table the morning after their return. . .

Mrs. Burns had been houskeeper and nraid-of-all-work, tho entire duties''of the household devolving upon her. “And why havo you *given her a week’s warning-”’ said the lady, Eosedly. “Aro you not satisfied with orP” “It is hot that, madam,”'said the Major, deliberately. “Any diflinultv about wages?” askod his wife, unconcernedly “No,” said her husband, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “ The fact is, Mrs. Flint, there is not very much work to do in our small household, at least,' no more than one pair of hands can easily do. My first wife always did hor own work, and with ease, though she was not a very strong woman.” “ Did sho not die very youngP” said wife number two, sipping "her coffee composedly. “Why, yes,” said tho obtuse Mr. Flint, a little disconcerted. “You know tho young die as well as tho aged.” “So I havo heard,” returned his wife.

Maj. Flint was a good deal puzzled by the matter-of-fact manner of his new wife. Her cool self-possession awed him in spite of herself. If she had stormed, he would havo felt bolter prepared to meet that emergency. “ I shall permit my children to remain where they are, at my mother’s, until you get accustomed to tho house a little. In tho course of the week,” ho added, “ you will got an idea of the extent of tho work by observing Mrs. Burns.” And rising from the table, he was about to leave the room, when his footsteps were arrostod by the simplo address: “ Maj. FlintP” “ WollP” said ho, turning back. “ It appears that you have been making arrangements without consulting me.” Maj. Flint was astonished at his wife’s temerity. ' - “You, madam? Why should I consult you about my arrangements?” “ Because I may not approve them.” “Mrs. Flint he said severely, “it is your duty to acquiesce in whatever plans I, as your husband, see lit to form.” “ Indeed, I never took that view of the matter.” “Then the sooner you take it the better,” ho said, pompously. “ Do 1 understand that you oxpectmo to porform all the labor required in this establishment?” “ Exactly so, madam.” “ 1 believe you aro considered a rich man, Mr. Flint?” “I am accounted so,” lie replied, complacently. “ And quite able to hire domestic assistance?”

“ Yes, if it were needful.” “ Suppose I toll you that it is needful?” r “I should take tho liberty to doubt it, madam.” “ Very well, Mr. Flint, sinco you force it upon mo, I may as well tell yqu first as last my decision on this point. You me tho position of wife, not that' ot maid-servant. On that understanding I accepted you. Yet if your circumstances ever become such as to require it, I shall not hesitate for a moment to conform myself to them. I only object to assuming a burden which, from your own account, appears to bo quite needless. I am very willing to superintend the household arrangements, considering that a duty which my position devolves upon mo.” VI havo listened to yqur arguments, Mrs. Flint, and they are weak. They don’t weigh with me, madam.” “ It is to be regretted,” said his wife, calmly. -• “The firsr.Mrs. Flint better understood her duties as a wife,” he returned, excitedly. “ But it is quite useless to discuss the point further with you, madam. However, this day week Mrs. Burns leaves us, and I expect you to qualify yourself to assume her duties.” Mrs. Flint smiled. *r r Mr. Flint frowned. Then, taking his hat and cane, he left tho house. ‘‘There’s nothing liko beginning right,” he said, mentally, planting his cane firmly ctoWq on the pavement. “If Mrs. Flint married me with tho idea of squandering my money in silks, furbelows and things, she’ll find herself grandly mistaken. If she expects to live the life of a lazy, fine lady, she’ll find it difficult in my establishment. I don’t intend to encourage female insubordination. I boliove the husband waa made to govern—the wife to obey. If more husbands had my fitmness, my tact in governing, things would bo very different at the present day.” And Mrs. Flint, loft at home, summoned the housekeeper. “t learn that my husband has given you a week’s warning?” she said. “Yes, ma’am.” “And is it your wish to leave us, Mrs. BurnsP”

“ Oh, no, Mrs. Flint, for I don’t know where I could find another place, and I have to pay my little girl’s board out of my wages.’’ “I believe there is considerable work to be done in this establishment?’’ “ Yes, Mrs. Flint, a great deal. Then Mr. Flint is so particular—he wants to have everything done just so. And that’s why I am sorry to go just as you come, for 1 know you are easy to please.” “ How do you know that?” said Mrs. Flint, smiling. \ “By your face—it\ looks so goodnatured.' Mr. Flint says, ma’am,” she continued, hesitatingly, “ that I’m to show you some about tho work. But if you try to do it alone, unused to hard work as you are, it will make you sick in a wook.” “ I think very likoly it would, Mrs. Burns. But I havo not tho slightest idea of doing the work. At all events, you must not secure another situation until you hear from mo again. I am very confident,” she added, smiling, "that if Mr. Flint sends you away, no will be only too anxious to tako you back again.” The week passed quiokiy. “ Mrs. Burns loaves us to-morrow,” remarked Maj. Flint at the tea-table, “ Thun you have decided upon it?” v “ Yes, madam, I believe I announced tho fact to you some days ago.” “1 thought it possible my objections might have weighed with you and induced you to change your mind.” “ I never change my mind," said her husband, loftily. ? ,r ßut I warn you that 1 have little experience as a cook.” “ You can learn, madam.”... “Perhaps I may not cook to suit your taste?” “That is my affair,” he observed, stiffly. Had he been aware of tho plot forming in the lady’s fertile brain, he might, not hare felt so confidenf ln regard to the quality gs his bread and butter; bflit as it was? he. retired for the night all

unconscious <*f tho discipline to be meted out to him. So tho following morning Mrs. Burns roeeivod hor wages and was sent sdL— —;— ... As, ton o’clock the marketing was brought home. : At tho usual dinner hour, Maj. Flint made his appearance. The tablo was Ibid with more than its usual neatness. > Mr. Flint congratulated himself on this fact as a personal triumph on his part _ /': But he hardly felt so complacent when the dinner oame up. Tho beef was terribly overdone; the vegetables, on tho contrary, were not half cooked. In short, thoro was nothing fit to eat on the table. This Maj. Flint angrily remarked. “ I dare say,” said his wife, placidly, “I am not a very good cook. With his Appetite only half satisfied, he was obliged to rise from tho tablo. The following morning breakfast was delayod more than an hour, and, when it was re|ady, scarcely eatable. Mr. Flint was quite out of humor; but in reply to his indignant remonstrances his wife coolly remarked: “ You know, Mr. Flint, I warned you that I might not cook to please your taste.”

And so matters deteriorated rather than improvod. The tea and coffee, as prepared by his wife, were quite nauseating to him, while the bread was not only sour, but hard and clammy, requiring considerable effort to masticate it. And what rondex'ed it all the more exasperating was that, no matter how. inferior in quality or distasteful to himself, his wife professed herinability to discover any fault in what was prepared for the table, protesting that it was in perfect accord with her own taste. Tho following day Mr. Flint seated himself at the dinner-table, his mind filled with various emotions. Ho was growing thin, he felt sure; not a good, square meal had he eaten in three days. “ This woman will be the death of me, sure as fate,” he said to himself, gazing at the food placed before him. Here was the rich, juicy steak that lie himself had selected and sent from the market, after all his instructions as to how it should be broiled, shockingly overdone—in fact, almost burned to a crisp, his wife meanwhile partaking of it with evident relish. „ “Wliat a taste this woman must have!” lie said to himself, looking at her with horrifiod eyes. “ I have made you an extra cup of tea to-day,” said tho lady opposite, handing lnm tho cup with his dessert. Hitherto Mr. Flint had been very particular in regard to his cup of tea at dessert, insisting that it should be brought to the table both strong and hot. Had the tea been prepared to his taste, it would have soothed somewhat the riotous emotions within; on the contrary, it was miserably weak—quite lukewarm and brackish.

lie took one sip at the tea, and then sot the cup down forcibly on the table, his face expressing the disgust he really felt. . Madam glanced up at him from under her long eyoiaanes. sipping from her cup industriously, that her facial muscles might notbetray the amusement she felt. “ I knew you would pronounce the tea excellent this tjnie,” she said. This was too much. His rage, his disgust fairly boiled over. “Tea, madam! tea!” he roared. “ Such abominable stuff tea, is it? Excellent, isj it?—excellent!” “It is excellent,” said madam sweetly, taking him at his word, and ignoring the exclamation points utterly. “ Mamma taught me to make tea when 1 was ten years of age, and ” Maj. Flint had stood fire for three whole days, butJlcsh and blood could endure it no longer. Not waiting to hear more, he bounded to his feet and rushed into the hall. Here he seized his hat in both hands, jammed it down over his eyes and started for the street. Then, as if forgetful of something, he retraced his steps, and, thrusting his head through the partially-open door, almost shouted: “In Heaven’s name, madam, can you tell me where Mrs. Burns went when she left here?” “ I think,” said madam, deliberately, “if my memory serves mo rightly, I heard her speak of stopping with her little girl atMrs. Marsh’Btill sho should secure a situation.” “ I thought the tea would finish him,” saicf Mrs. Flint, amusedly, watching from the window her husband’s retreating form, the oliek of his boot-heels ringing like a bell as he brought his feet vigorously down on the pavement, the small boys eyeing him askance, and hastening out of his way, while wondering if he was racing for a wager. • — i “ It is perhaps needless to say that before tho evening closed Mrs. Burns was again installed in her old rooms at tho Flint mansion. “It is useless,” said tho Major, mournfully, that evening, in the solitude of his apartment. “1 might as well attempt to move the huge bowlders on yonder mountain-top as to contend with Hull woman, wife number two.” And he never did. For, whenever his wife appealed to him in regard to tho children or tho domestic arrangements, he would answer ffieekly: “ My dear, do as you think best.” And Mrs; Flint owed her success to tho fact that she never trenched upon hor husband’s real prerogatives, but respected them as she claimed respect for heir own. And so that is how she managed him. - Weekly. , _