1 68 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



no longer to be borne. Restoration to health 

 is seriously impaired by your Portly One ; yet 

 what are you to do ? The woman who 

 considers ' I forgot ' ample restitution for 

 omitting the pudding at dinner or the orders 

 to butcher or grocer, can scarcely be con- 

 sidered in the light of a housekeeper ; and 

 your duties, already too heavy, have to be 

 further weighted by some of hers. As for 

 mending the Portly One, who constantly 

 bewails the poverty entailed by profuse ex- 

 penditure of the late lamented's high wages, 

 looks on while you darn and patch, and ex- 

 claims : * Well, that's a thing I never could do !' 

 What is her due is of the first importance ; 

 what is your due is not to be considered. 

 You pay the taxes and bear the expenses of 

 the house ; but the house and all that is in it, 

 yourself included, is apparently not yours, but 

 hers. The mildest suggestion in regard to 

 the household machinery concerning which, 

 nevertheless, you have to be mind and 

 memory, not daring to become oblivious of 

 it for one hour is met with : 'I'd have you 

 to know I'm no hired gyurl ! I've kep' a 

 gyurl myself.' 



