Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-02-03

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81 understand YOU" replied Mr.. Weston,
''ihe offer you wished to make is generous,
but such aid do not need. Step hither," and
he pointed to the arched entrance of the
church behind, s:where we shall not be over
heard"
Thus far Alice had listened with breath
less eagerness. She must no, hear all. Her
father might refuse the communication he
was about to make. She ought, she had a
right to know why lie was thus growing old
before his time. She followed the gentle
men and stood unobserved beside them.
"'l'he death Of my wife," said Mr.. Weston,
''has impaired decree Of sacredness to the
subject Of which we have been speaking
that has made me shrink from conversing
upon it; but your kindness to me and mine
| married as you know the daughter of a
wealthy man; frail and beautiful girl, sur
rounded by every luxury that money could
procure. was in prosperous business
A few years of economy would have made
me rich; but was unwilling to propose a
different style Of living from that which she
was accustomed. | struggled with every
power, bent every energy to the task ofsup-
plying the means Of lavish and ostena-
lious expenditure. Day and night were alike
consumed in the toll. Even upon the Sab
bath my spirit was in my connlng-room.-
Had my wife been aware Of this she would
have insisted upon re,renchmen,, but she had
seen her father thus engrossed, thus care
worn, and she regretted my laborious life as
a necessity without suspecting whence that
necessity arose. After her death ! deter
mined to reduce our expenses. Blu, my
chill 'ren have been broug h, up in luxury
They repIned a, slight eficiencies-magi
nary wants, and | feared lest they might
think me cold and stern"
~ on have mi<judged," said Mr.. Burton.
"Though they murmur at lriles they will
be active, vigorous, happy in great change.
1t will give them work for the heart, work
for the heard, work for The hands.''
NAY, my friend my lot is fixed. Be
the toll for me, The leisure for my family
| cannot risk the loss of my only plea
sure, that of seeing smiling faces al my
| lireside."
The gentlemen parted, leaving Alice over
whelmed bv The discovery she had made.
Slowly she re,raced her footsteps lorgelIuI
of her errand. She re-entered her DRESSING
room and gazed regrel(ulIy upon It's luxuri-
Gus appointments. They seemed to re-
proach her with the hours taken from Iiie'>
highest duties and barlered for their perish
able spendor. She laid aside her purse
thankful tina, its contents remained uniouch
ed; then she looked long and steadily upon
the new position in which she was so sud-
denly placed. Her needless disregard Of
her father who had INDUCED her every ca
price seemed to her lille less than criminal.
Her idly selfish life spoke to her with hun
dred voices, and there was reproof in their
tones. The retrospect was saluIary though
painful. From her very errors sprang the
knowledge of right, and the true path once
found, her loving spirit prompted her on
ward. She was certain of cooperation on
the part Of her family, and after surveying
the tastes, the habits and capacities Of each
member down 10 the pel,ed Effie, the darling
Of the whole, she opened her desk and
skeiched the outline Of her plan.
Her father left the same evening for New
York to be absent several weeks. Alice
longed 10 reveal to him her decision, to ask
his counsel and receive his sympathy bu,
she doubted her un,ried strength and pre-
lerred to make the attempt alone. Of six
domesics she dismissed three. As she de-
,ermined to give up the superAui'ies of the
table the paslry-cook was no longer needed
while Charles and George pronered their
services in place Of The errand boy. The
seamstress could not be so easily dispensed
with. After much deIiberalion, however,
Alice, Margaret, and Kate, resolved to take
charge of their own rooms, together with
the parlors. Alice and Margaret, also, as
sumed large part of the sewing, and thus
enabled the chamber maid to supply the de-
ficIences in both departments. Effie, child
of eight years, who, during the various
discussions, had been half envying her sis
lers, received small hand-brnsh and dus-
ter. Each one also yielded some (avor,e
wish. Alice had planned series of as
semblies. Margaret had hoped for brilli-
ant party on her next birth night. Kate de-
sired superb volume of engravings which
she had seen III a bookstore, and the small
er ones had dreamed OF expensive toys.
And vet, that busy fortnight which the
world deemed full ofhumiIa,ion and regret
to the Weslons, was, in truth, the happiest
period Of their lives. They were occupied
but not burdened An earlier breakfast
hour, regularity and efficiency, brought each
duty in its appropriate place, and the leisure
thus secured was far more acceptable, than
that which, being constantly possessed,
was never priced. They were acquiring a
feeling Of independence and power by the
use of their faculties. They were learning
the rare beauty of The domestic relations,
the wonderful excellence Of which they had
comparatively overlooked. They grew
thong h,ful for each other, prodigal Of little