A Domestic Mistake

A Domestic Mistake.
275.1

Van Winker kept a country store, and his clever Wife Jeannette
Tended the children and the house, and saw that both ends met
A happy couple! yet one night, when Van had made alors,
He went unto his pleasant home-well, just a little crose

And, as it happened, on that day, from morning until night,
Nothing in all her household work had gone with Jeannette right;
She said she was “so tired.” and Van, in his rough, careless way
Said he would like to do her work and rest himself a day.

She answered, as a woman would: for contradic Lion, ho
Declared he did in every day as much as she in three:
And so they argued till they both agreed upon this teat:
Jeannette should tend the store next day, Van do her work and rest.

She took his orders for the store, then said: “Van. lieten now:
You’ll light the fire, and while it burns you’d bet er milk the cow:
Then make the boys their breakfast next, dress Freddy when he wakes.
And boll the coffee, brown the hash, and fry a dish of cakes.

“And after breakfast, if the morning should be clear and fine,
The washing that I did today hang up upon the line:
You’d better let the starch alone-you’d make a mess, no doubt- But don’t forget to feed the fowls, and see the out.

“Then wash the dishes, make the beds, and take up stairs the broom.
For I always at this time of year both sweep and air each room.
You’d better next go down to Jake’s and buy the dinner’s steak;
The stock is ready for the soup, the pies you’ll have to make.

“At 12 the dinner must be laid, or else the boys complain:
You know they must be back at school by 1 o’clock
Then build the fire up well and clear, so that the again: Irons heat.
While you wash up the dinner things and make the house place sweet.

“Then you may iron until 5, but when the boys come home
You’d better send them for the cow, she is so apt to roam:
And then you’ll give the children each a bowl of milk and bread.
And iittle Freddy must be bathed and put into his bed.

“Besides, there’s many a little thing you’ll have to see done right:
And Fred must not a moment be out of your call or sight:
And if a neighbor should drop in to borrow or to call,
You need not growl: it’s business, Van, to be polite to all.

“When it is nearly 9 o’clock you may lock out for me.
For I shall want a bit of steak and a good cup of tea:
Then hie away and lay the fire, and see the doors secure.
And when it’s 10 o’clock, Van Winker, you’ll be ‘rested’ sure.”

Jeannette went to the store next day, prepared to do her part,
And yet her children and her house lay heavy on her heart:
But she was bright, and kept the store with busi-ness all alive.
And sold more dry goods in that day than Van had done in five.

The clerk beneath her watchful eye put on a civil
She heard the news and saw her friends, and had
But IL pleneunt day: yet mid all, che thought of home with fear. and grave distrust:
And there, poor Van by 10 o’clock sat smoking in dlsgust.

He got the clothes unon the line, and then the line gave way:
He put them back into the tubs; then Fred had got astrayi
He found the boy then smoked a pipe, and called himself “a fool”;
The fire went out before he knew the boys were home from school.
They got what dinner they could find; Van stood it until four:
Then, in a most repentant mood, he went down to the store:
“I’m better now. Jeannette,” he said, and with a happy face
The wife went to the wretched home and got alt things in place,

And wise Jeannette ignored the day as though it had not been;
But ever after, if a man said but one thoughtless word
About his busy wife at home, Van Winker gravely heard,
And answered thus: “My stupid friend, I’ve just one thing to suy-
You’ll change your mind, if you will try to do her work one day.”