Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
From The Mothers assistant.
The Sleigh Ride.

duced her parents TO allow this long absence
from the parental roof. and ~ioyfully was their
eldest born welcomed back again TO the warm
and loving sympaihies of home. With what
secret solicitude did they watch the develop
ment of her character, 10. 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 a taller Mary, maturod il
manner, and more beautiful in person. The
little children were quite overioyed. Chr
ley declared he never saw any one who
could play cats cradle with him so well -
and as for arithmetic, "Why. Il queen could
not explain his sums better than Mary did,"
Alice played with her long curls, and said
she had almost forgotten that she had such
a sister; and Robert was glad he had some-
body to gallant about. For the first week or
So, Mary was regarded something in the
light of a visitor. By and by she began to find
her appropriate place in the family circle,
and bear her burden Of the family duty
Then the rose-tints which invested Mary, as
they do every one whom we view through
the medium Of our joyful feelings alone, be-
gan to fade away, and her parents were ena-
bled to see the reallight and shades of her
character. They r~eioiced to see much that
was true, and excellent, and lively in her
principles and her practice. One defect soon
appeared, which threatened some unhappi-
ness to the happy home, but it was a defect
Of education, and needed 10 be removed less
by direct precept, or formal lecture, than by
enabling her to correct her own false judy
ment 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
- -L,-s E.~,,s,r, r. 800.
and thousand luXuries which she had been
accustomed TO see and enjoy there.
SO, father, why don't you have The large
open stove like uncle's? 1t is so much
pIeasanter; this black. alright stove will
make us blue all WINTER
"Bccause | cannot afford it, my DEAR" an
swered her father, mildly.
"Nhy, we thought it was a beauty en-
claimed Charley; "but / declare, it is awful
black locking, as Mary says. o, father, |
don't believe we shall enjoy it half so much
as we expected and Charley's admiration
Of the air-tight altogether subsidized.
"Mother, these fag-bottoms are very un-
fashionable. / really cannot bear the sight
Of them. why, every body has mahogany
hairs-now-a-days. ! wish you could see
nncle's ~ and uncle's chairs Were so often
TO, that sold fag-bottom'' from that
tine forth became the cognomen of a parlor
"Why, sister, you don't look pleasant"
exclaimed Alice, as Mary entered the break
room, one cold, frosty morning.; 81 guess
you slept cold last night"
"My feet are frozen," answered Mary pet
tishly; sat uncle's my chamber was carpet
ed, and | do miss it so. Father, carpets are
very cheap. l should think you would car
pet the chambers. ] am sure | don't know
how | shall get through the WINTER" said
Mary in a low, querulous tone.
40 yes, father, carpet mine," exclaimed
Charles, who was never SLOW 10 receive Ma
RVS impressions. "John Emery's chamber
is such a beauty. 1t has got such a beauti-
fui carpet-and oh, father, my feet are so
cold, too" and he tapped his well booted
feet over each other with a shivering air.
"Shovel il nice new path at the side door,
Charley" said his mother, brightly, ''there
is a plenty of sunshine, which, with d plenty
of exercise with your new shovel, will make
you as warm as wool"
Charley did not exhibit his usual alac-
rity, and still seemed 10 think he should like
a carpet best, and, as it was TO him quite a
new idea, he appeared 10th to give it up.
There are few things more dIsheartenins to
a father or husband, who, after striving 10 do
all he can prudently do, to make his home
pleasant and comfortable, hears depreciating
comparison, and beholds a constant banker
ing IN a wife or child after objects which he
knows he cannot afford.
The sunshine of contentsd hearts becomes
c%louded, while people, instead of being
thankful for what blessings they do have,
pine for that which is beyond them.
On a day, when Mary had been mourning
over her questionable cloak, pretty and be-
coming asst was, her father returned home
in the forenoon, and asked her to ride with
him a few miles from town. She gladly ac-
cepted the proposal, although 'she did moi
know as her hood was fit TO wear" especial.
ly as her father suggested he might make a
call somewhere.
1t was a beautiful January day. The
fields lay covered with pure and untrodder
Snow. The trees reflected a sparkling I'd.
dance from their frosty crust. The air seem,
ed filed with a thousand brilliants, and the
deep, cold stiffness of the country was only
broken by the dropping icicles, or the distanr
sleigh-bell. Mary was much exhilarated
both by the magnlicence of the snow-scene
and her fathers conversation. They rode
long on a beaten path, when he attempted tC
lSASN as NnJ lhtO d CIOSS anu almost uutIOd,
den track. They diverged from a snow
bank here only to plunge into another there
~, father, where are we going}" exclaim
ed Mary.
ITO call at friends house," answere,
her father; and as they rode on; Mary dis
covered a roofand chimney, on a slope not ia
of.
"Why, father! it's a hut you are qoin,
to J" The strong horse found some diificuI
ty in making his way from the main path 10
wards the house. They reached the doc
The steps were unshoveled. The snow ha
been soiled by no human step, and no sign
Of active life were visible since the storm.
al am sure nobody lives here said Alary
as her father jumped out of the sleigh, an
making ii path withhis feet, lifted the latch
the door. lie entered and disappeared for
few minutes. sis this the call father mear
to make :" thought Mary, surveying III
building. The next moment he was by he