Show anna lees first trials at housekeeping BY J rree E E PARKER anna lee was truly happy as she skipped trim from room to room of the little cottage her husband had purchased hasea and fisted fitted up for her reception iler her little heart was filled to overflowing with love and happiness and she mentally resolved to devote every moment to make his home a happy one for how else could she repay him for his love and kindness poor anna his love had been the bright awakening in her dark cheerless life for she sho was a child of sorrow and it was n ot until henry lee had asked her to return his lo 10 love lose ve and become his wife wire that she realized the dawning of a happy future her mother had left her ere she had hid known her loveann love Iove and a tyrannical step mollier fill dor pretended to fill rill her place and while in in the presence of others she was all aff action to the poor child but that affection ceased as soon as their backs were ene erb ere turned her father was a cold stern man that never evinced any affection for any one now anna was free from the power of her stepmother step mother it was no wonder her happiness happ mes was almost too much for her to be installed mi mistress tress of her own house to be met with love and kindness how could she ever repay him for bestowing all this upon her and giving way to the exuberance of her spirits she would flirt from one room ta to another every now and then giving way to childish expressions of delight as her eyes ees eeg lighted on some arrangement intended expressly for her use As she stopped to examine more particularly the contents of a handsome handsom e she heard the words betse 1 I should have supposed harry a inan man of your sense bense would have married something besides a mere child ill warrant she dont know anything at about out housekeeping and I 1 shall have my hands full fuli learning her annas light spirits vanished immediately she had forgotten that harrys mother was to live with them true she had been presented toiler toller to her ber on her arrival and had left her conversing with henry while she toa tox took a survey of her home she now j remembered that harry had told her lier that his mother was to live with them t ut she had for the time forgotten it and the color deepened on an her cheek as she heard these words and her husband must have known that she heard them for he came soon boon after and found her sitting by the little with her head bowed down upon it she did not look up as lie he entered and stood beside her ile he paused for a trio moment ment then taking ber her head bead in both hands peered into her face a exclaiming what my little bird sick of its cage alrea already dyll V she tried to answer him film but could not contain her feelings band ani and a burst of tears was the only reply that voice sounded so much like her stepmothers rn in thinking of henrys mother ishad it had always been in connection with himself consequently there had been but one feeling about it that there was one more to love now there was a dread of what might be and it was some time before henry could soothe and restore her happy feelings the next morning anna arose early determined to let her mother know that she knew something about housekeeping briskly she I 1 stepped 1 around for she wished to get breakfast all ali ready leady before the old 1 dy should arise her fire was burning nicely her table neatly set and she was about to prepare her coff coffee lee lep when wilen the door opened and her mother entered and taking the coffee pot proceeded to measure out exactly one tablespoonful table tabie spoonful turned it into the pot and filled it up ap with with water anna could have cried with vexation for she prided hers herolf if on making an extra cup of coffee coffae and she knew that it would not be fit to drink but she thought she would make it up on the rest of the breakfast bre ikast her mother followed foI fol owed her around to see if every thing was was waa done right and observing oba erving anna about to reel peel some potatoes for coo cooki kinz she stepped up an and told her it was too loo wasteful to peel them before they were boiled and suiting the action to the word she rinsed them off and turned them into the pot anna said not a word but proceeded to P prepare e pare some steak for cooking thinking that r nothing t ing ipg could be said about that but the old lady was guite quite angry at the quantity ener put ut down to broil iroil there was plenty she sod for dinner so bhe zhe took off part of it and taking the especial charge of the tiie remainder so burnt and dried it that it was irot fit to eat it was hard bard for anna to put up with this but it was fien flen henrys rys rya mother and ehn sh would not say a word but his fis aa she saw him push back from the table without hardly tasting a mouthful she resolved that it should be the last time that he should set down to such a breakfast but all dofher of her resolving done no good the oid old lady continued to superintend while anna was a dero dere mero cipher taking charge of all tho ilia drudgery but she would not make her hu husband osband unhappy by telling him how she sha was situated no she would rather submit than have any apy hard feelings so when he was present she would put on a bright smile and ag as soon as lie he left the house it was taken offard off and laid up until his return so matters continued until the arrival of a friend who came to spend several weeks with them and who from the first perceived the treatment to which anna was subjected and determined before she left lo 10 make different arrangements in the household hou sebold only awaiting a convenient opportunity to broach the subject the opportunity was soon offered anna was one day busily engaged in baking bak bat king eing her mother stood looking on to see that nothing was wasted and occasionally offering such remarks as the following wont one egg less do for that cake child 7 she always called anna child you know eggs are dear and you must learn to be saving when I 1 was young my mother used to say that part lard was better than all butter suppose you try it butter is so high now the tho egg was saved the lard substitute substituted dp the tha consequence was the he cake caka was not fit to eat and the old lady grumbled about young cooks anna saw that her young friend noticed all this and was not surprised the first time they were alone to have the subject brought up but sh was surprised when her friend completely ex cul the old lady and threw all the blame tipon her all you have to do is to take a decided stand be firm and she will soon see that you are something more than a mere child and as she gains respect for you she will cease medal meddling ng with width your affairs anna could hardly be made to believe that it was so easy an affair she feared to offend henrys rys mother well anna you can do aa as you please but if you do not alter your hand I 1 shall tell henry all about it and shall not fail lo 10 mention that I 1 actually saw a little littie woman stealing sto aling a piece of pie out of her own pantry the ludicrousness of such a thing caused anna to laugh outright in which she was heartily joined by her friend and it was some soma moments ere they could compose themselves to resume the conversation anna was made to see the mistake she had made and promised to commence anew henry came insoon in soon after to ask anna if she could board some men he be had just employed for a few days and to inform her that several ladies from the neighboring village was to visit her on the tha following day the next morning was a busy one for anna slie she arose early and commenced preparations pa rations for breakfast contrary to her usual custom her mother did not make her appearance until it was nearly ready the first thing she did was wits to walk deliberately to the table take the plate of bread and carry it into the pantry take oil part of it cut the remainder in two leaving half balf a slice for each person then carry it back with the remark that she should think she meant to feed an army mother lother sad anna anne or cut just bread enough to satisfy the cle cie demands mands for the future I 1 will take the entire charge of the breakfast table and taking the plate slie she carried it back and placed the remainder of the bread upon it while her hermoth mother fT looked on in astonishment but said nothing after breakfast she left the room and did not return until dinner time anna spoke pleasantly to her helped her to the choice bits upon the table and told her that she expected some friends that afternoon and wished her to be bein in readiness to help belp entertain them the old ladys ill humor was not proof against such kindness her clouded countenance became cleared cleare dand and she soon became quite chatty cli cil atty among all the voices that were raised in fraise praise of annas biscuit at tea llone none were louder than her mothers and any one to have noticed them covered with choice honey would have known that she spoke the truth after tea while anna was busy with iier her guests her mother was busy with the table and when anna went in to regulate the table for the meni ment men she could hardly suppress a smile the and honey were removed as was everything else ea tible and in their places was displayed bits of everything that could he be collected on one small plate was a bit of dried preserves oil on at lother another two apples so long baked that they were mouldy bouldy here was a plate of different kinds of cold meat that anna had bad saved for a poor poo r woman that came rame for it there was a pidie plate of broken bits of bread and biscuit that anna had laid by for a pudding in short there was nothing to tempt the appetite of a hungry dog anna said but cleared the table in a short time it was neatly set with plenty of good wholesome food such as she knew a man would like her ifer mother was silent ailant until slie she saw her bring nut jut the biscuit and honey hooey then she broke out in a torrent of words about extravagance and wastefulness in giving hired men such a supper as astvat that anna heard her through then said aid r calmly ca linly mother the less legs said about this the he better I 1 wish you to understand that I 1 entend to take charge of the house and when I 1 set a table for men that have been hard at work all day I 1 shall set one ono wherewith they can at least satisfy hunger 1 the men coming in to eat that moment ended the conversation which proved the last of lle ile the lie 1 kind for mrs airs lee finding anna firm gave birto up to her entirely entire lj which change proved a most agifea ble bie bie bla one ona though henry could rould not account for the he j sudden change in their style of living and it was not until some months after that anna gave him an amusing account of her first trials in house i keeping waverly Wa verly varly magazine agazine Al sa M have you planted a vinet vinel if you have not go do it in a few years you sha shall shail 11 eat the fruit thereof and nd bi biess bless 1 ess ebs the day wien when you planted ed it |