Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-05-20
A CLEAN FIREslnE.

The Kiimarnock annual, a plain little
volume Of original miscellaneous literature.
which lately appeared at the town whose
name i bears, presents the following sketch,
with the signature Of Mr. John Reid.
There is nothing throws so genial a glow
over our mind as well-swept fre-side. and
there is nothing of household economy pro-
ductive Of so much advantage in the reflec-
ton which follows. When we see clean
swept hearth our heart not only warns
towards the mistress of the house but also
towards the domestics and we begin to look
upon the harshness Of the world in a more
pleasant spirit.
The man who can sit down quietly and
conteniedly before fire, where the hobs,
the lender, the longs the poker, the hearth,
&c, are covered with dust, must be savage
OF the most savage kind We can believe it
possible for man TO sit for one half Of the
day under peling shower OF rain on the
banks of river, at the one end of line
with run at the other, even if he should
not get a solitary nibble, for that is senti-
mental, and if he catch no fish, he can at
least say that he had been fishing, under a
dreadful shower Of rain; yea, we can con-
ceiye it perfectly possible that a man, after
sitting the first half Of the day in water, will
walk home during the other half in the
mud, and thereupon proceed to ensconce
himself before glowing peat FIRE; but we
cannot for moment conceive that the most
atrocious vagabond could ever under such
circumstances condescend TO dry his clothes
before any fire. unless the hearth was clean
swept, the ribs free from ashes aud the FIRE
irons all clean and in order
On entering a room and observing well
swept fre-side. we instantly conclude that
the mistress is an aliectionate orderly crea
ture, beloved, and happy in being beloved
that her mind is well regulated, her intellect
good, and education liberal besides. we
are sure that her daughters must be lovely
and she herself and all she possesses. the
envy of all around her Blu, turn TO the re-
verse Of the picture, and we venture 10 say
that you never see an i'll swept fire-side
without at the same time finding the lady Of
J the house to have red nose, the husband
discontinued and unhappy, never home until
late, but away engaged in some tavern Draw
OF drunken spree; and even the very piano
covered with dust and the house in com
plete scene OF confusion and discomfort.
The man who chides and quarrels with
his wife upon any occasion, must be saw
age of the most atrocious kind sill we
think there is one thing he may be allowed
to find fault with, if so unfortunate as tC
meet with il and that is dirty fire-side
The woman who takes pleasure in seeing
her hearthstone well swept aud the hobs
and ribs free from white ashes is sure Il
make good wife; but the woman who hal
not this feeling inherent, ought never Il
marry. Her husband will lead a miserable
life and die broken hearted, or he will b
driven from his own freside and take refug
in the tavern and woe 10 the married maj
who does not love his own 6reside next hes
to his wife, and his wife best of every earhl,
thing it were better for him that he ha
never been married.