The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-07
NO. $40.

eympathy-yet, during the ladys Vislt case
that had troubled the youthful wife for several
days still weighed upon her spirits and cast its
gloom over her countenance, and refused to be
shaken off.
Mrs. Attridge, with housekeepers sympa-
thy and woman's tact, OWNED the cause, and
with rude but kind prompttude drew the
trouble out to light, by suddenly asking
What do you intend to do about your rash
ing, my dear for it is all nonsense to sup
pose that you could wash"
1T is, indeed said Resale and that IL
Just what disturbs me 80. | can manage TO
keep our cabin tidy and dress our little meals ,
but | cannot wash--indeed cannot | at
tempted to do so, but after having exhausted
all my strength, and made myself almost i'll,
failed. And when | know that every pioneer
housekeeper needs to be competent to the per-
formance Of all her domestic duties, | feel tho
roughly ashamed Of my helpletsness in some re-
spects. And when | see my husband so patient
and cheerful under domestic annoyances that
no daylaborer with an efficient helpmate ever
has TO suffer-oh you know | must feel so
cruelty disappointed in MYSELF
Mrs. Attridge made no comment, but looked
upon her young neighbor with considerate,
fond protective expression on her honest eoun-
tenance And after few minutes Resale
spoke again
"Can you advise me what to do, Mrs At
fridge for have resolved that, in our present
circumstances, my husband shall be put to no
expense for these matters
ooh! pshaw! you can neve- do it; aud some
other plan must be though: Of " said the visiter,
refectively.
"Yes, it is real incapacity on my part-a
want Of the requisite physical strength. am
not constitutonally weak but the muscles Of
my arms and chest have never been trained to
great or continued exertion, and strengthened
by that process-more is the pity Look at
my wrists"
And Rosale, smilingly tearfully, held out
two delicate, fair, tapering arms And Mrs
Attridge took and held them affectionately,
while she said
al know know-it would be useless and
cruel to expect hard work Of you and yet the
expense oughtn't to come on him, neither, Just
now. ! have been thinking since sat here.
of an Irish family of the name of Mallory, who
live in a shanty about quarter Of mile from
this on my road home The man works at
our furnace, and the woman washes for bache-
Tors. Now, although they are thriving, she and
her family are always ragged, because she is
as ignorant as a savage of the use of q needle
and, besides, she says she hasn't time to sew.
Now" said Mrs Attridge, half laughingly, as
she arose to depart, suppose you were to bar
ter work with Judy Mallory, and pay her for
washing by making up clothing for her chill
drcn At any rate, will call and see JUDY
on my way home, and send her over to you"
Rosalie cordially thanked her kind friend
and held her hand, and felt unwilling to allow
her to depart
81 shall send Billy over with more fresh milk
this evening And lyou must not mind his
grumbhng-he grumbles at me and Mr.. At
fridge all day long sometimes, and won't allow
us to touch a thing in the garden till he thinks
proper, without deal of grumbling"
Mrs Attridge, after promising Resale to
walk over and see her often, and spend whole
days whenever it was possible, took leave, and
departed.
That evening Mark Sutherland returned
| home sooner than usual His c0untenance was
cheerful with good news, and he threw into
Rosalie's lap packet Of letters and papers
from home-the first that had been received
since their separation from their frienfs
| There was a letter from Colonel Ashley, full
of kind wishes, and something more substantial
in the shape of check on the st. Louis bank
for his niece. He informed them that he was
| again alone-that his son, st. Gerald, having
lost his election, had, under the disappointment
yielded to the wishes of his wife, and taken
her TO her Southern home; and that he ex
pected his own eldest daughter now widow
| TO return and take the direction of his house
| hold.
There was also letter from Valeria tc
Rose, and one from Lincoln to Mark.
By these letters they learned that Mr. and
Mrs. Lauderdale had joined the Ashleys at
Cashmere, and remained the guests of Clement
Sutherland for a month before proceeding to
their own home in Louisiana.
Valeria wrote that the Valley of the Pearl
was still the loveiest vale on earth, and Cash
mere the brightest gem on it's bosom but that
the enved master OF this Eden was more sullen,
morose. and unhappy, than ever-that it was
rumored his affairs were not as prosperous az
before-that he had engaged in ruinous spec
ulations---that Mr.. st. Gerald Ashley since
losing his election, had lost his good temper
and amiability, and sought more consolation
from his generous wine " than from his I'M
loving wife - that all these circumstances
weighed heavily upon the health and spirits Of
tho beautiful India who had changed sadly
within the last few months. The kind-hearted
but volatile Valera touched lightly and reuc-
seemed always divided between her spirit Of
communicatvenoss and her conscience.
Mark Sutherland and Rosalie read with
regret, and turned from the sad contemplation
with sense of relief to rest gladly upon the
image of yaleria and Lincoln Lauderdale, now
happily settled upon their beautiful estate of
Fairplsins, in Louisiana, and engaged in the
gradual emancipation Of Valeria's slaves.
Witbu1 khiu a ba ,ny avanin "A tho vOnuU
cottagers--a festival Of gadness, such as can
be fully enjoyed only by cxles feasting upon
long desired letters from home.
The next day Rosalie was somewhat sur
prised to receive visit from Judy, and very
we'll satisfied to effect with her an arrangement
by which Judy was to do all the washing and
ironing for Rosalie, who was TO repay her by
making up frocks and aprons for her children.
And 90, before the end Of the first week Of
housekeeping, Rosalie's domestic circumstances
were providentially arranged in all the order
and comfort consistent with log. cabin life.
IL would seem a lonely life she led now, yet
Rosalie found it not 80. The solitude was
peopled with her multitudinous rich affections,
high purposes, and bright hopes Of the future.
Through the day she sang at her active house.
hold work, or fell into pleasing reverie over her
needle. In the afternoon, when Mark return
cd, they partook of an early supper, rested,
and then took pleasant woodland walk, or
occupied the evening hours with book
On the first Sabbath Mrs Att6dge called in
her carryall to offer the young couple the two
vacant seats to church a favor which, after
some little hesitation and reflection, they
frankly and gratefully accepted. And after
wards, Marx Sutherland was much pleased
when it fell 10 the way Of his profession to do
Mr.. Attridge q gratutous service-a favor
which il was rather difficult to make honest
Paul Attridge accept, who answered to all
Mr.. Sutherlands grateful Acknowledgements
and expostulations
"Thst neighbors should be neighbors, but
that professional men should be paid for their
services
As passed the week so passed the autumn,