Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-03-14

Litch6eld, March 1874. M.
From the Mothers .dssistGnf.
ar THE SLEIGH RIDE. ..
: NV MRS. HEIEN Q. KNIGHT. d III {, I
Mary Lee returned to her fathers house after
two years residence with her uncle Kent Pecu-
liar circumstances alone had induced her parents
to allow this long absence from the paternal roof
and joyfully was their eldest born welcomed back
again to the warm and loving sympathies Of home.
With secret solicitude did they watch the develop.
ment of her character, to learn if the Mary who
went out from them was the same Mary who had
returned to them 1t was not the child Mary now
taller Mary, maturer in manner, and more beauti-
full in person. The little children were quite over.
joyed. Charley declared he never saw any one
who could play cat's-cradle with him 50 well; and
as for arithmetic, why, queen could not explain
his sums to him better than Mary did, Alice
played with her long curls and said she had almost
forgotten she had such sister; and Robert was
glad he had somebody to gallant about. For the
FIRST week or so, Mary was regarded something in
the light Of vister. By and BY she began to take
her appropriate place in the family circle and bear
the burden of family duty. Then the rose-tints
which invested Mary, as they do every one whom
we view through the medium of our own joyful
feelings alone, began to fade away, and her parents
were enabled to see the real lights and shades of
character. They rejoiced to behold much which
pies and her practice. One defect soon appeared,
which threatened some unhappiness in the happy
home, but ii was defect Of education, and needed
to be removed less BY direct precept formal lee
tu.e than by enabling her to correct her own false
judgement by more enlarged views of real life
Mary was secretly dissatisfied with her home
Small it certainly was compared with her uncle's;
and she yearned for the elegant and expensive fur
niture for the costly decorations and thousand lux
uries which she had been accustomed to see and to
enjoy there.
stove like uncle's! 1t is SO much pleasanter; this
ter
Because cannot afford it, my DEAR answered
her father mildly.
Why, we thought it was beauty exclaimed
Charley; but declare it is awful black looking
as Mary SAYS. o, father, don't believe we shall
enjoy 1t half so much aswe expected to and Char
leys admiration ofthe airtight altogether subsidized
BILE. | really cannot bear the sight Of them. Why.
every body has mahogany chairs, nowadays. I
wish you could uncle's" and uncle's chairs
were so often alluded to, that old ag-bottomed
henceforth became the cognomen of a parlor chair.
why sister. you don't look pleasant exclaim-
ed Alice, as Mary entered the breakfast room one
cold, frosty morning; guess you slept cold last
night.
My feet are frozen,' answered Mary, pettishly !;
at uncle's my chamber was carpeted, and do
miss it so. Father, carpets are very cheap.
should think you would carpet tn chamber.
am sure don't know how shall get through the
winter, said Mary, in a low, querulous tone.
20, yes, father, carpet mine,' exclaimed Charles,
who was never slow to receive Mary's Impressions
John Emery's chamber is such beauty. 1t has
got beautiful carpet. and oh, father, my feet
SO cold, too;' and he Tapped his well-booted feet
over each other with answering air.
Shovel nice new path at the side of the door,
Charley, said his mother, brightly, there is plen-
ty of beautiful sunshine, which, with plenty of
as WOOL Charley did not exhibit his usual alac-
rity, and still seemed to think he should like car
pet best, and, as it was to him new idea, he APP
peared 10th to give itup.
There are few things more disheartening to ia
ther or husband, who, after striving to do all he
can prude'stly do to make his home pleasant and
comfortable, hears depreciating comparisons, and
beholds constant hankering in a wife or child af-
ter objects which he knows he cannot afford.
The sunshine of contented hearts become clou-
ded. while people instead of being thankful for
what blessings they do have pne for what is beyond
them.
On day when Mary had been moaning over her
unfashionable cloak, pretty and becoming as it was,
her father returned home in the forenoon, asked
her to ride with him a few miles from town. She
gladly accepted the proposal, although she did not
know as her 'hood was fit to wear especially a.
Hes AatncE SuSSeStSu that ne WlSnt make q cali
somewhere.
1t was a beautiful January day. The fields lay
covered with pure, untrodden snow. The twigs
and bows reflected a sparkling radiance from their
frosty crust. The air seemed filed with thou
sand brillants, and the deep, cold stiffness Of the
country was only broken by the dropping icicle or
the distant sleigh bell. Mary was much exhilera-
ted both by the magnifcence of the snow scene,
and her fathers pleasant conversation. They rode
long upon the beaten path, when he attempted to
force his way into and almost untrodden track
They diverged from bank here only to plunge
into another there. o. father, where are we going
exclaimed Mary.
To call at friends house, answered her ia
ther; and, as they rode on, Mary discovered roof
and chimney on slope not very far off,
Why, father: it's hut you are going to' The
strong horse found some difficulty in making his
way from the main path toward the house. They
reached the door. The steps were unshovei-
3D. The snow had been soiled by no human step,
and no signs Of active life were visible since the
storm. am sure nobody lives here,' said Mary,
as her father jumped out Of the Sleigh and, making
path with his feet, lifted the latch Of the door
he entered and disappeared for few minutes -
| Is bhss the call father meant to make ? thought
Mary, surveying the building. The next moment
he was by her side. 'Come, Let me take won in
my arms, child, and carry you n the snow Is pref
ty Deep
How funny, father said Mary, laughing to find
herself in her fathers arms, which she had long
since relinquished to the younger children.
| What q scence did Mary behold! Two children
were couched beside few sticks Of green wood.
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