Litchfield enquirer., 1842-08-11

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child, he expects you will not devote your
whole time to these things, but assist your
mother and Charity about the house,
1T is not genteel for a lady to do house,
work." said Malvina Euphrasia, affectedly.
at was not thought ungenteel in the time
of our, own Governor Wolcott," replied her
grandmother, "whose amiable and accom-
plished wife and daughters assisted regular
ly in the work of the house, and have seen
them wearing fine thread stockings, spun
and knit with their own hands. No one ever
disputed their right to the title Of ladies, in
every sense Of the word"
But about the spinning, grandmother"
said Charity, returning once more 10 the
your wheel, when there Is no necessity for
it?'
"I am DID," replied Mrs. Mason, and can
be of little help in any other way. Besides,
it calls up pleasant recollections of days long
past, and while sit at my humble employ
lnent, retrace again and again the thread
of my life, and when find rough and un.
even spot, endeavor to remember whether
it was caused by my own wilfulness and
passion, and if so, try to atone for it by deep
and heartfelt penitence, and thus am quiet
ly preparing for the great change that awaits
me-"
There was pause. but at length Mrs. Ma
son continued:
II cannot have my favorite spinning
wheel fall into disgrace because the time Is
must DO honored for the good il has done.-
recollect an instance where il rendered i'm
portant service 10 n whole family"
"Pray relate it," cried Charity; and even
Malvna seemed disposed to listen.
~ am afraid, Malviaa," said Mrs. Mason.
" that the tale of a Spinning. Wheel sounds
very unpromising, after the high-fown new
els you read but it may do you good, for Il
will show what patient Industry can accom-.
plish for those we love:
1t was long, long ago, that two young
girls were walking along the busy street Of
very. small Villages. engaged in earnest con-
versaticn. One, whose name was Jemima
Eldridge, was short and thick, with plump
red cheeks. and very white teeth, which she
was exceedingly fondS,of Displaying her
put on in defiance of all taste, and total dis.
regard for harmony in colors. The other
Hester Wilson-was tall and. slender, with
delicate complexion and blue eyes, in whose
depths the very spirit Of kindness seemed TO
nestle, while on her expressive features there
rested shade of sadness, aa. III lronhlo had
already fallen on her young heart. Her
dress was plain and simple in the extreme,
yet far more becoming, in ito beautiful neat.
ness, than the gaudy apparel Of her compan-
ion. Do you know said Jemima, THAT
school begins tomorrow The new master
has come, and father says he 10 such nice
young man--only little reserved. -
am going, and who knows but may
make conquest. Are you going?' no.
replied Hester, Il do not think father Gun
sSrS q Ssnd Va 6ssH end tAa children e
are pack of young ones at our house, too;
but am not going to give up the privileges
to them, assure you. You had better leave
yours at home, and go to school with the
rest of the girls j cannot leave them all
and 60 myself, for have no mother as you
ha, Q, Jemima, to look after Them returned
Hester, sorrowfully. We'll, ! would not
give it up SO; always tease father until I
have my own way, and dare say you could
do the same Hester made no reply, and
having arrived at the point where their
roads separated, the two girls babe good
night, and each walked quickly homeward.
Jemima TO assert her discrimination Of going
to school, and Hester 10 prepare the frugal
evening meal for her father and his mother
less children. ..,
Mr.. Wilson sighed as he looked round on
his little flock, and felt that many and bit.
ter are the trials of those who, having known
prosperity, endure it's reverse, and through
the ordeal, he was now passing. The death
of his wife, which followed the birth of little
Molly, was the beginning of series of mis-
fortunes, which Providence sends like the
rain on the Just az well as the unjust Loss
succeeded loss, until Stephen Wilson was q
poor man, with debt Of considerable amount
contracted during the long illness Of his
wife, which he knew not how to pay. For
long time, after the youngest children had
gone to bed, he remained with his arms
crossed on the table, and his head resting
on them.
"Hester," he said at length, looking up at
her needle, ~ have heard all about the
school, and that all the girls of your age
are going 1t gricves me that you cannot
60 too" .t
"Do not let that distress you, father" re-
turned Hester, butat the same time she turn
ed away her face to conceal the tears that
would start in spite of herself. "You know
went TO school good deal before mother
died, and now must let the rest go.''
~ fear they will be disappointed too, for
Mr.. Johnson must be paid he has already
waited longer than could expect. There
is way by which you can go and pay for
your own schooling, if you choose. Hester.
Mr.. Eldridge has raised quantity OF the
finest fax, and his wife says. that as Jemima
is going to school, she shall be obliged to
hire it spun; and If you will spin forty
yards of table linen, you may set yeur own
price OH the work"
This was a temptation for poor Hester,
such as she had never met with before. She
thought of her ardent desire for learning,
a nj the limited soeans afforded for tic ors