Litchfield enquirer., 1842-08-11

sisters found themselves in the only place
, Where they met on common ground Cha
rlty was resting from the labors of a busy
day, in large old rocking chair, listening TO
the mono'onous hum of her grandmother
spinning wheel, and Malvina leaning out of
tle window, began pulling off the half closed
ouds OF the morning glory, and making pri-
soners OF the bees that had fingered too long
IN their honled cells. There too sa, Mrs,
Mason before the open door, just where the
pleasant sounds OF the hay-making could
reach her ears, now and then stealing a
glance at the laborers as they tossed about
the new tnown clover, and the distant hills
dotted with cattle, turning at the same time
by quick motion of her foot, the small
wheel through whose agency was twisted and
wound up. the fine continuous thread which
her we'll skilled fingers drew from the bright
siIvery flax ON the distatf. At last Malyina
said
81 wonder you do not tire of that eternal
spinning, grandmother; am sure should
fall asleep over il, for the very sound makes
me drowsy"
"Any constant employment might produce
the same effect" replied Mrs. Mason smiling.
But perhaps you think it waste of time /"
Indeed l dc" said the young lady, I" and
verify believe should starve if had to get
| my living in that way"
| "DonT you KNOW" said Charity, "that
father often wishes we were back to the pr:
| mtive times when women spun and wove
the clothing for their families, and made i,
up besides -
cit is very few such garments would
wear" said Malvina scornfuly, "let alone
making them. And as TO being primitive
don't think we need go far back for that.
when am obliged to make the beds like
chamber maid, and you, who will suffer
yourselfto he imposed upon, wash and bake,
and scrub, till your hands are not fit to be
| seem"
"Never mind sister," replied Charity, al
fancy l shall get through the world with
| these hands," holding up pair, which, If
they were not soft and white as those of her
sister. were nevertheless small and well sha.
ped. with the pink glow on the palms which
Mrs. Hale thinks requisite to beautiful hands
-"quite as well as Grace Doolittlc, who
wears gloves with suet skin woven on the in.
side, to keep them soft. But about the spin.
ming, grandmother; wish you would teach
me to spin; am sure should like it,"
"But it would IN fact be waste of time
for you or any other young woman to sit
down to spinning in these days." said Mrs
Mason.
There !" exclaimed Malvina, triumph.
antly, 81 knew grandmother would agree
with me in thinking that we have more i'm.
portant things to attend to-"
"Certainly we have" said Mrs. Mason,
gravely. You. Melvina, whose delicate
health forbids you to inhale the morning air,
must lie in bed until the sun has dispelled
the noxious vapors; then you have your hnir
to put in papers, which in the afternoon must
be taken out; your numerous dresses must
\ n1NHalInI off Hha 1ot q. 4
score Of school correspondents. Besides, you
must spend several hours every day practis-
ing as you call ii, on your piano of course
to you, spinning would be an objectionable
waste of time"
Malvina pouled, and Mrs. Mason contin-
ued-" And if you Charity, were to devote
your time to it, the comfort of the whole fa-
mily would be diminished without an ade-
quate return"
" But father says that men were more pro.
sperous and happy when their wives and
daughters manufactured the linen and WOOL
len cloth for their families, and surplus to
dispose of-than they are now"
"That they were equally happy, cannot be
disputed" said Mrs. Mason. II they had
fewer sources Of what is now called enjoy
ment that is, il they we're less refined and
intellectual, they had fewer of the artificial
wants which are fruitful source Of unhap-
piness to the present generation. As to
| wealth, many a man who wore nothing but
homespun, had n good substantial leather
bag well filled with hard dollars. laid by in
case of emergency, which cannot be said Of
thousands who, to judge by their outside
show, might be called rich. There was
great virtue, too, and often heroic self.denial,
practised by those whose industry clothed
their families had they not done so, many
would scarcely have been clothed at all, but
such sacrifices brought their own reward in
consciousness of duty performed. Where
much is given, much will he required. and
the females who are reaping the benefits Of
the wise regulations and wonderful inven-
tons of the last half century, will be highly
culpable. if they misimprove the time thus
placed at their disposal"
sand then again." said Charity, "father
says that girls ought not to be married till
they have made and laid by large quantity
of linen for themselves and household pur.
poses, that they might do very we'll with one
silk dress for winter and muslin one for
summer, and that they should milk the cows,
make butter and cheese-in short, do all the
work, and save the expense of hiring help"
"Your father" replied Mrs Mason, " in
his attachment 10 old customs, forgets that
the occupations which were necessary and
audable fifty years ago, would now be
mere waste Of time, and that young lady of
the present day. engaged in spinning or wea-
wing, would be as much out of her proper
sphere of action as buxom, rough hand far
mer's daughter of the Olden time, learning
painting and embroidery. The truth is. il is
the abuse of what is called fashionable tina,
makes men SO bitter against the present
| =