Trials and Confessions of a Housekeeper

at all surprising that we should, now and then, feel a strong desire to remove from the old, and get into new locations, and amid different external associations. Thus, we find, in many famili

e some to whom I could point, who have been, if this holds true,

word used by phrenologists-than many of our neighbors. Occasionally we have felt dissatisfied with the state of things around us, and become possessed of

early spring-time, Mr. S

rd Road, to let, and it struck me that it would be a fine thing for us, both as t

e country, you know

leaped at the

ent distance from the

w f

four

ages pass

the fare is only twe

is certainly a

se we go out and l

es and advantage that would result from a residence in t

both in the house and grounds, to attract us. There was a fine

place for the chi

husband. "I can go in and out to business, and scarcely m

always loved

he city when the summer

will be too expensive to keep both

o dreary throu

the house is at such a convenient distance, and the stages pass the door at e

ht and talked about the matters, the more inclined were we to break up in the city,

we took our flight to where nature had just carpeted the earth in freshest green, and

elighted to see the first shoots from seeds that had been planted, making their way through the ground. To me, all

ch a convenient distance from the city. Just get into the Frankford omnibus, which starts from Hall's, in Second street

Each had expressed herself as delighted at the prospect of getting into the country, and I was delight

of them, who had looked dissatisfied

city, Mrs. Smith; I don't

t do as you please. But I though

ike it, but I don't.

nd learned to avoid it in future. So she went back to the city, and I was left with but

id I, "until I can get

rday," was replied. "Can yo

nly two days, Mar

re to each other. In the afternoon I went to the city to f

y persisted in going away. So I was left, with my

order, I set about getting dinner. This meal furnished and eaten, and the dishes washed and put away, I found myself not only completely tired out, but suffering from a most drea

Peters and their three childr

hile, at the same moment, my headache returned w

here," repl

from my lips, as I clasp

ely once a year, and had never reciprocated an evening to tea. True, I had, on the occasion of meeting Mrs

see me sometime d

I didn't particularly care about a visit from her; and certainly ha

" said I to Mr. Smith. "I will dress m

my visitors walking in the garden, and their children ranging about like

y, says I, wouldn't it be nice to make the Smiths a visit this afternoon. They live at such a convenient distance; and it will be such a treat to the children. Well, just as y

d with all due politeness, and to a certain exten

clock, I was soon under the necessity of leaving my guests, in order to engage in certain preliminary acts that l

visitors, after spending a few hours, and being served with tea, took their departure, assuring us,

r they had left the

d six times during that period, we had friends out from the city

tions. Our own children, we could make understand the propriety of leaving the small fruit to be picked for table use, so that all could share in its enjoyment. But, visitors' children comprehended nothing of this, and rifled

, during strawberry time, I said to Mr. Smith

r three quarts of strawberries for tea. I've only tasted them once

and children, visitors from the city, to partake of them. Of course, our own children, who had

appened over

to whose houses we had rarely, if ever ventured, came out to get a "mouthful of fresh air," and to "see someth

n't like to leave the city, where they had been used to meeting their acquaint

rate, that I was completely worn out. I rarely heard the

fter returning from the city-on that very morning, a

e you to-morrow. That he was going away for a while, and his wife thought that

imed in a distressed voice. "

presume," returned

then," was my response. "But how long is

idn't

whole family, I suppo

btle

tle too far. I don't want them here! I've no room for them w

tage draw up, and issue therefrom Mr. Jones, Mrs. Jones, servant and five children-two of the latter twin-babies. They had boxes, carpet b

asure were on my tongue, though I am not sure that my face did not belie my utterance. But, they wer

Mr. Gray took the tour of the Lakes before returning, and was gone

my exclamation, when I saw the stage

son. We were still at a convenient distance from the city;

iend in surprise, to whom I mentioned in the fol

" I r

the country, you will not come to the hot and dusty town to spend the summer? Yo

advantage. But back to the city we removed; and, when next we venture