be eaten. And my husband had to make his meal of bread and
butter and cold water. As for myself, this spoiling of our breakfast
for no good reason, completely destroyed both my appetite and my
temper.

"You'd better get your dinner at an eating house, Mr. Smith," said
I, as he arose from the table. "It's washing day, and we shall have
nothing comfortable."

"Things will be no more comfortable for you than for me," was kindly
replied by my husband.

"We shall only have a picked-up dinner," said I.

"I like a good picked-up dinner," answered Mr. Smith. "There is
something so out of the ordinary routine of ribs, loins, and
sirloins--something so comfortable and independent about it. No, you
cannot eat your picked-up dinner alone."

"Drop the word _good_ from your description, and the picked-up
dinner will be altogether another affair," said I. "No, don't come
home to-day, if you please; for every thing promises to be most
uncomfortable. Get yourself a good dinner at an eating house, and
leave me to go through the day as well as I can."

"And you are really in earnest?" said my husband, seriously.

"I certainly am," was my reply. "Entirely in earnest. So, just
oblige me by not coming home to dinner."

Mr. Smith promised; and there was so much off of my mind. I could
not let him come home without seeing that he had a good dinner. But,
almost any thing would do for me and the children.

In some things, I am compelled to say that my husband is a little
uncertain. His memory is not always to be depended on. Deeply
absorbed in business, as he was at that time, he frequently let
things of minor importance pass from his thoughts altogether.

So it happened on the present occasion. He forgot that it was
washing day, and that he had promised to dine down town. Punctually
at half-past one he left his place of business, as usual, and took
his way homeward. As he walked along, he met an old friend who lived
in a neighboring town, and who was on a visit to our city.

"Why, Mr. Jones! How glad I am to see you! When did you arrive?"

And my husband grasped the hand of his friend eagerly.

"Came in last evening," replied Mr. Jones. "How well you look,
Smith! How is your family?"

"Well--very well. When do you leave?"

"By this afternoon's line."

"So soon? You make no stay at all?"

"I came on business, and must go back again with as little delay as
possible."

"Then you must go and dine with me, Jones. I won't take