The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-08
The Angel Over the Right Shoulder
OR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR.

OR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR.
" A womans work is done,n said Mrs.
James, " am thought | should get through
by sundown, and here is this lamp, now, oil
which must 90 and spend half an hour before it
will burn"
Don't you wish you had never been married ~
said Mr.. James, with good -natured laugh"
Yes" to Mrs. James lips, but lance at
her husband and two little urchins, who, with
sparkling eyes and glowing cheeks, were tumb-
ling over him, checked that reply.
" should like the good with the evil, if | could
have it," she said.
" / am sure you have no great evil to endure"
replied her husband.
"That is just all you gentlemen know about it.
How should you like it if you could not get an
uninterrupted half hour to yourself from morning
to night? What would become of your favorite
studies ?"
&c / do not think there is any need of that |
know your work could be arranged systemati-
cally as to give you some time to call your own
Well, all l wish Isl, was the reply, that you
could follow round for day, and what
have to do'
When the lamp was trimmed, the conversation
was resumed Mr.. James had been giving the
subject thought.
Wife," said he, 81 have plan to propose, and
wish you to promise me thai you will accede to
it, 1t is an experiment, and l wish you to give it
lair trial, to please me-"
After hestating awhile, as she had great reason
to suppose it would be quite mpracticable, she at
length promised
"This is my plan, 1 want you to take two
hours out of every day for your own private
Make point of going up into your room and
locking yourself in and let the work go undone if
it must. Spend this time in the way most profita-
bly, to yourself. Now | shall bind you down to
your promise for one month; at the end of that
time, if it has proved total failure, we will try
some other way"
W hen shall begin ?"
Tomorrow"
Tomorrow came. Mrs. James had selected two
hours before dinner as the most convenient for her ;
and as the family dined at one o'clock she was to
have finished her morning work he dressed and in
her room at eleven. Hearty as her efforts were to
accomplish this, the appointed hour found her with
her work but half done; yet true to her promise,
she retired to her room and turned the key in the
door.
After spending perhaps half an hour in forming
her plans for study, she drew up table, placed her
books before her, prepared pen and paper, and
commenced with much enthusiasm. Scarcely was
the pen dipped in the ink, when there E
trampling of little feet along the hall, and loud
pounding on the chamber door:
Mamma, mamma, L cannot find my mittens,
and Frank is going out without me to slide j"
. Go to Amy, daughter mamma is busy now. "
Amy Is busy, too, and says she can't leave the
baby"
Upon this the child began to cry. The easiest
way for Mrs. james TO settle the difficulty, and in
deed the only way TO go and hunt up the miss
ing articles. Then a parey must be held with
Frank to induce him TO wait for his sister, and the
little girls tears must be dried, and little hearts
must be set right before the children We're sent out
to play, and little lecture given, too, on the me-
cessity of putting things where they belonged.
Time slipped away, and Mrs James returned TO
her study her watch told her that one hour was
gone. She quietly resumed her task, and was get
ting well under way again, when a heavier steo
was heard, and her door was once more tried
Now Mr., James must be admitted.
Mary" said he, &c do come and put on string
for me. There is not bosom in my drawer IN
order. ! am in hurry. | ought to have been
down town an hour ago"
Mrs James went for her work basket and follow
ed him. The tape was sewed on, then button
needed fastening, then rip in his glove must be
mended.
Mrs James took his glove and stitched away
at it with smile lurking in the corners OF hel
mouth.
"what are you laughing at !" inquired her hus
band.
"I'o think how famousy your plan works." re
piled she.
"I Declare" exclaimed he, was this your study
hour! am sorry, but what can man do! HI
cannot go down town without shirt bosom.'
Certainly not" replied his wife quietly.
When her liege lord was fairly equipped, Mrs
James returned 10 her room again. About half al
hour remained to her, of which she was deter
mined 10 make the most Once more was he
place found, and her pen dipped in The ink, wher
there was another disturbance in the entry. Amy
had returned with the baby from his walk. Sh
took him into the nursery to get him asleep. Now
the only room in the house where Mrs James cou
have fire to herself the room adjoining tn
nursery. The ordinary noise of the children dl
not disturb her, but the very extraordinary on
which Master Charley felt called upon to make
when he was fairly upon his back in the cradle
was rather more than could be borne by mos
mothers without seriously disturbing the train {
their thoughts. Mrs. James closed her book uni,
the storm should be overpast Soon after quie
was restored, the children in frOR sliding
with cold finpprs. Just the dinner be
rung, Mrs. James closed her book in despair
ssHow did you succeed with your studies th
morning" :" inquired Mr.. James. " am sure di
not hinder you long
"No; yours was only one OF dozen nterrui
tions."
"Oh, well you must not get discouraged. Yo
cannot expect to succeed The first time. Persl
in it until the family learn, that If they want an!
thing of YOU, they must come at some other time.
The second day of trial happened to be storm
one and as the morning was very dark, Bridge
oversight herself and breakfast hour lat
This last hour Mrs. James could not recove
Eleven o'clock came, and her morning work wa
but half DONE With mind disturbed and o.
pressed, she left things in the suds as they wer
and retired punctuay to her study. She foun
however, that it was impossible to fix her attento
upon anything which required thought. Neglect'
duties haunted her ghosts do the guilty CO
science. Finding she really doing nothiI
with her books, and wishing not to lose the NOR
ing wholly, she commenced letter. Bridg
came to her door before she had written half pas
"What shall we have for dinner ma am? The
amt no marketing come, and you did not tell Il
what to get
"Have some steaks.
"We haI't got any"
"Well, | will send out for some"
Now there was to send but Amy, al
Mrs. James knew it. With sigh she put aw
her letter, and went into the nursery.
"Amy, Mr.. James has forgotten the marketir
wish you would run to the provision ste
and order some beef-steaks | will stay with t
baby"
Amy was none too well pleased to be sent
this errand. She remarked" that she must ii
change her dress"
"Be as quick possible, then" said M
James, "for | particularly engaged I
morning"
Amy neither obeyed nor disobeyed, but manal
to take her own time in reality, though with
any direct determination to do so. Mrs. Jam
thinking she might get along sentence or two
the nursery. took the German book in; but
this arrangement Charley would by no means C
sent. Mamma must show him the kittens in
book whether there or not, it was all one to hi
but amused he must be. Half her second da
tsme of trial was gone, when Amy came ln-a
with sigh, Mrs James returned to her room.
fore one O'Clock she had been called down into
kitchen twice on some important business rela1
to the dinner, and for this day, not one entire P
of letter had been written.
On the third morning she rose clrly, made ev