Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-11-15
TALE OF DOMESTIC LIFE.

The firSt warm day OF Spring was over: /
il has been felt as progressively hot. because
il had caught almost every one arrayed
in their winter attire, but as the shades Of
evening drew on. and the cooling dew.
like unobtrusive charity. silently common
ced its work Of refreshing the sultry earth.
soft breeze began 10 play woongly with
the coy tree tops. which ben, lovingly TO
to receive its kiss, and now shook it from
their branches, as if indignant at its free
dom; and the good people Of the village
Of w, (now Il thriving borough on the
west bank of the Susquehanna } who had
clustered around their open doors or
sauntered listlessly in the shaded arbour,
breathed freely once more. and withdrew
one after another. 10 gather around their
socia! boards for the evening meal, or to
finish with busy fingers the labors Of the
day.
Mr. Brady was merchant, or as his
neghbors called him '.Storekeeper,"
and from him, as from his father before
him, were purchased not only all the vii
lage stores Of tea. coffee and sugar. but
also the more carefully selected cloths.
muslins and laccs. which adorned the
village beaux and bellies. His little store
with its only two windows in front, from
which the fresh air was excluded by sam
pies OF goods hung up 10 attract the passe.
bye had been SO uncomfortably hot, that
he closed for the nj ght when he came home
to tea: and was now sitting by the little
table reading aloud. NJ his side sat
beautiful little girl. whose bri ght, roguish
eyes sparkled with intelligence although
she had seen but six passing summers.
and who listened as attentively as if she
comprehended every word her father was
reading. Before seating herself. she had
drawn up another chair to the table. in
which quietly reposed Maltese cat, who
seemed TO consider herself one olthe family
On the other side of the table, plying in
dustriousy the busy needle. sa. the wife
and mother. She was married at twenty.
in the full bloom OF health and beauty. and
the eight years that had since flown by.
had not left q wrinkle as a footmark upon
her clear white brow.
They had been years of labor, it is true.
but toll itself is sweet when we work for
those we love. Few people bore and
bred within the limits OF a large city. can
form an adequate estimate Of the tolls and
responsibilities Of young vile in the
country, who succeeded upon her bridal
day to the care and management of a
household establishment; particularly "a
mong the middle classes, who unless the
/ family be large. seldom employ help in
the kitchen. and when the young bride.
| in addition to her novel situation as mis-
tress of the mansion, has with her own
hand to perform the several duties of cook
! laundress and chamber maid for the whole
| family.
Sheer not at this as relict Of barbar-
Gus ages. We daughters of pride, in dwell
lers Of city palaces, fenderly reared in the
lap Of luxury. who find the care Of your
own persons too much labor for your de-
licate hands, and are forced to employ
menals to dress and adorn you.
These wives and mothers WHO thus la
Dor from week to week. are not victims Of
mans cruelty as you would fain believe.
but tender. loving. helpmates. who could
not sitin idleness and see their husbands
eat bread of labor; and amid all their
toll they are happier far than you; their
hands may be less delicate, their step less
elastic. but their hearts are full Of good
ness and love-they may have less time
to weep over the fictitious woes portrayed
BY the novelist or dram fist. for they 90
far beyond you in selfdenying labor for
the good of others. and they are cheer
full and contented. because they are livinc
for wise and good and holy purpose
William Brady was the only son among
four children. but the property of his
father was equally divided among them
all. and thus but a quarter par. Of the
house and store witt, their furniture and
stock of goods. which comprised the
whole OF his fathers estate. had fallen to
, his share; but by dint Of industry and
prudence, aided by the little dowry MS
wife had brought him and more than all
by her economy and good management
be had contrived during the ten years tina,
had elapsed since his fathers death, to
buy out his sisters shares in the property
> and to Law in a better stock Of goods
; On the evening | had introduced them tc
the reader. Mrs. Brady. or MARY a.
her husband always called her was fitting
up her summer wardrobe. The no
weather had come upon them unceremo
niously. Mr.. Brady's thin pants had a
rupture at the knee. and his thrifty wife
r with skil!ful needle, was proceeding .o
, remedy the evil by inserting patcht
: He vas reading in the weekly news
a paper which had jus; reached him. tale
d Of high life in the city-a true story o
. the reckless extravaganza of wife. who's.
husband. though wealthy, found himsel