The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30
For the National Era.
INDEPE N D Z n c +.
BY MRS. II B. STOWE.

Mrs A. and Mrs B. were next door neghbors
and intimate friends-that is to say, they took te'
with each other very often, and, in confdentis
strains, discoursed Of stockings and pOcket-hand
kerchiefs, of buildings and carpets, Of cookery
and domestic economy, through all its branches
al think, on the whole" said Mrs. A., with ar
air of profound reflection, "thst gingerbread IL
the cheaN@st avn Aealthiest cake "Ss eau make
I make good deal of it, and let my children have
As much as they want Of it."
{" used q do So" said Mrs. "A%' hsyea'i
had any made this two months"
"Ah why not 2" said Mrs. A.
"Why, it is some trouble; and then, though il
is cheap it is cheaper not to have any and, on
the whole, the children are quite as we'll content
ed without it, and SO we are fallen into the way
Of not having any"
"But one must keep some kind Of cake in the
house, said Mrs. A.
$50 have always heard and thought and prae-
ticed, said Mrs B. but really oflate have ques-
toned the need of itn
The conversation gradually digressed from
this point into various intricate speculations on
domestic economy, and at last each lady went
home to put her children to bed
A fortnight after, the two ladies were again in
conclave at Mrs BIS tea-table, which was graced
by some unusually nice gingerbread
al thought you had given up making ginger
bread" said Mrs. A; you told me so fortnight
ago at my house"
$50 had" said Mrs. A., "but since that con-
versation have been making it again"
"Why so?"
ooh, thought that since you thought it eco
nomical enough, certainly | might; and that il
you thought it necessary TO keep some sort Of
cake in the closet, perhaps it was best should"
Mrs. A. laughed
"Well row. said she al have rot made any
gingerbread, or cake Of any kind, since that same
conversation
Indeed ~
"No; said to myself, If Mrs b. thinks it will
do to go without cake in the house, ! suppose
might, as, she says, it is some additional expens
and trouble and so gave it up"
Both ladies laughed, and you laugh, too m,
dear lady reader; but have you never done tn
same thing? Have you never altered your dress o
your arrangements or your housekeeping becaus
somebody else was of different way of thinkip
or managing-and may not that very somebod
at the same time have been moved to make som
change through a similar observation on you?
A large party is to be given by the young lad
Of N to the young lsssies Of the same place
they are to drive out together to a pic mic in tn
woods. and to come home by moonlight; tn
weather is damp and uncertain, the ground chill
and young people, as in all ages before the foo
and since not famous for the grace of prudence
for all which reasons, almost every mamma hss
tates about her daughters going, thinks it YER.
great pity the thing has been started
81 really don't like this thing,n says Mrs G
otis not a kind of thing that approve Of an,
il Mrs. X. was not going to let her daughters &c
| should set myself against it. How Mrs. X
who is SO very nice in her notions, can sanction
such thing, cannot see. | am really surprise,
at Mrs. X"
All this time, poor unconscious Mrs X is il
a similar tribulation.
"This is very dissgreeabe affair to me,' sh
says 81 really have almost a mind to say tina
my girls shall not go ; but Mrs G's daughters ar
going, end Mrs. ca, and Mrs WIS, and Of cours
it would be idle for me to oppose it. should no
like to cast any reflections on course sanctione'
by ladies of such prudence and discretion"
In the same manner, Mrs A. B., and c. an
the good matrons through the alphabet generally
with doleful lamentations, each one consents I
the thing that she allows not and the affair pre-
ceeds swimmingly to the great satisfaction of tn
Juveniles
Now and then, it is true, some individual sor
of body, who might be designated by the angula
and decided letters X and L, says to her son o
daughter-"No. don't approve Of the thing
and Is deaf to the oft-urged, "Mrs A., b., An
c., do son
!" have nothing to do with Mrs. A., B, AIT
G's arrangements says this imprscticabe Mr.
X or L. &c only know what is best for my chill
dren, and they shall not gon
Again Mrs. G. is going TO give party; and
now, shall she give wine, or not Mrs. IT, ha
heard an abundance Of temperance speeches an
appeals, heard the duties of ladies in the matte
Of sanctioning temperance movements aptly Sc
forth, but " none of these things move her half q
much rs another consideration She has hear'
that Mrs. ID. introduced wine into her last soir6e
NJTb. -. UusDhuu ms Dttu ~ lctiiDR VfhNoi "
the temperance society, and Mrs is no less {
leading member in the circles Of fashion. Now
Mrs CPS soul is in great perplexity. fsbe onl.
could be sure that the report about Mrs. ID. u
authentic, why, then, OF course the thing is set
tied regret il as much ss she may, she canno
got through her party without the wine and s
at last comes the party and the wine Mrs. ID
who was incorrectly stated to have had the articl
at her last soir6s has at her next one and quote
discreet Mrs G. as her precedent. Mrs. p.
greatly scandalizcd at this, because Mrs G. is
member Of the church, and Mr.. ID. q leading TEN
perance orator; but since they Mil do u, 1t Is no
for her TO be nice, and 90 she follows the fashion
Mrs N comes home from church on Sunday
rolling up her eyes with various appearances o
horror and surprise.
"Welli ! am going to give up trying to re
strain my girls from dressing extravagsntlyi ~
Of no use trying mo use In the worldn
"Why, mother, what's the matter % exclaimed
the girls aforesaid, delighted to hear such en-
couraging declarations.
Why, didn't you see Mrs. KS daughters cit
ting in the pew before Us with father In the
hornets. II Mrs X. Ia coming out in this way
i shall give up. ] shan't try any longer. an
going TO get just what want and dress as much
~ I've q mind TO- Girls, you may get thos
visises that you were looking at at Mr.. Bis stor,
last week n
The next Sunday, Mrs. K!s girls In turn be.
gin