The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-17
Prom the London Traveller.
THE RECORDING ANGELS.

GA woman's work is never done,n said Mrs.
James; g. am sure | thought | should get
through by shutdown, and here is this lamp, now,
on which must 60 and spend half an hour be-
fore 1t will burn
Don't you wish you had never been married 2"
said Mr.. James, with good ,natured laugh
Yes" rose to Mrs. Jsmes's lips but glance
at her husband and two little urchins, who, with
sparkling eyes and glowing cheeks, were tum-
bling over him, checked that reply.
81 should like the good with the evil, if could
have itn she said
al 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 il you could not get an
uninterrupted half hour to yourself from morning
to night? What would become Of your favorite
studiesW
g" do not think there is any need Of that |
know your work could be arranged so systemati-
cally as TO give you some time to call your own"
"Well, all | wish is" was the reply, that you
could follow me round for one day, and see what
| / have to don
When the lamp was trimmed, the conversation
was resumed. Mr. James had been giving the
subject some thought
Wife, said he, 81 have a plan to propose,
and wish you to promise me that you will &C
cede to it. Ii is an experiment, and ] wish you
to give it fair trial to please me-"
After hesitating awhile as she had great rea-
son to suppose it would be quite impracticable,
she at length promised.
"Thia is my plan. | want you to take two
hours out of every day for your own private USE
Make a point of going up into your room, and
| locking yourself in, and let the work 20 undone
if it must Spend this time in the way most
| profitable to yourself Now, | shall bind you
down to your promise for one month at the end
of that time, il il has proved total failure we
will try some other wayp
"When shall beginp
"To-morrow %
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, be
dressed, and in her room at eleven. Hearty as
her efforts were to accomplish this, the appointed
hour found 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 FORM
ing 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 was a trampling of little feet along the
hall, and loud pounding on the chamber. door.
" Mamma mamma, cannot find my mittens,
and Frank is going out with me to slidep
$50 to Amy, daughter mamma is busy now"
"Amy is busy too, and says she can't leave
the babyO
Upon this the child began to cry. The easiest
way for Mrs. James TO settle the difficulty, and
indeed the only way, was to 60 and hunt up the
missing articles. Then a parley must be held
with Frank. to induce him to wait for his sister,
and the little girls tears must be dried, and lit
tie hearts must be set right before the children
were sent out to play, and little lecture given,
too, on the necessity 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 getting we'll under way again, when
a heavier step was heard, and her door was once
more tried. Now Mr. James must be admitted.
"Mary," said he, do come and put on a 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 fol-
lowed him. The tape sewed on, then but
ton needed fastening, then rip in his glove must
be mended.
Mrs James took his glove and stitched away
at 1t, with smile lurking in the corners of her
mouth.
"What are you laughing at ~ inquired her
husband
"To think how famously your plan works, re-
piled she.
81 declare" exclaimed he, was this your
study hour2 am sorry but what can man
do2 he cannot 90 down town without shirt
bosomn
"Certainly not" replied his wife, quietly
When her liege lord was fairly equipped, Mrs.
James returned to her room again. About half
on hour remained to her, of which she was deter
mined to make the most. Once more was her
place found and her pen dipped in the ink when
there was another disturbance in the entry.
Amy had returned with the baby from his walk
She took him into the nursery to get him asleep
| Now, the only room in the house where Mrs.
James could have fire to herself was the room
adjoining the nursery. The ordinary noise of
the children did not disturb her but the very
extraordinary one 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 most mothers, without seriously dis
turbing the train oftheir thoughts Mrs. James
| closed her book until the storm should be over
past Soon after quiet was restored, the children
came in from sliding crying, with cold fingers.
Just as the dinner bell rang, Mrs James closed
her book in despair.
Z" How did you succeed with your studies this
morning ~ inquired Mr.. James. I" | am sure
did not hinder you long,
"No yours was only one Of dozen interru p
tons"
ooh, well you must not be discouraged. You
cannot expect to succeed the first time. Persist
in it until the family learn, that If they want
anything of you, they must come at some other
tmep
The second day of trial happened to be stormy
one and as the morning was very dark, Bridget
oversight herself and breakfast was an hour later
This last hour Mrs. James could not recover.
Eleven o'clock came, and her morning work was
but half done. With a mind disturbed and de-
pressed, she left things in the suds as they were,
and retired punctuslly to her study. She found,
however, that it was impossible to fix her atten-
ton upon anything which required thought
Neglected duties haunted her as ghosts do the
guilty conscience. Finding she was really doing
nothing with her books, and wishing not to lose
the morning wholly, she commenced letter
Bridget came to the door before she had written
half page
"What shall we have for dinner, ma'am
There Amt no marketing come, and you did not
tell me what to geto
Have some steaks"
awe hsn't got anyn
DWELL will send out for somen
Now, there was no one to send but Amy, and
Mrs James knew it. With sigh, she put away
her letter. and went into the nursery.
Amy, Mr.. James has forgotten the marketing.
wish you to run over TO the provision store and
order some beef.steaks; | will stay with baby
Amy was none too well pleased to be sent on
this errand. She remarked, shat she must first
change her dressn
"Be as quick as possible, then" said Mrs.
James, for am particularly engaged this morn
ing"
Amy neither obeyed nor disobeyed, but man.
aged to take her own time in reality, though
without any direct determination to do so. Mrs.
James, thinking she might get along a sentence
or two in the nursery, took the German book in
but to this arrangement Charley would by no
means consent Mamma must show him the
kittens in the book; whether there or not, il was