Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-09-23

By LIMA BELL.

4
"ls my cashmere vest ironed2 ] wal
it and my white duck pansaioons thi
evening"
This interrogatory was addressed by
very fashiona bly-d young man I
his sister. " no was not so fasbionabl
dressed: in fact. had on only neat calico
She was putting The bandto a beau,ifull
made shirt. which was for the aforesai
fashionabl dressed ividual.
"No. Harry. it is not You know thi
IS washing-day, and It is hardly dry"
There is time enough to dry it b,
the stove. and I must have il. for an
going to wait on Miss Mo thecou
cert tonight. So don't forget" and h,
took his hat and walked out.
His sister. for it ,c0s to her he was
speaking. flushed, and i. must be told
looked angry but soon laying aside hel
work. went out, got the things eff the
line. sprinkled and folded them; then
making fire in the stove, she put hel
irons in. and sat down to take few
stitches while they were heating And
while she is doing 50, will tell you
SOM thing about her. oa - .
The young man. her brother. belonged
to rather a numerous class. He was a
clerk getting a fair salary He lived at
home. paying no regular board, bu, help.
ing with the ex penses of the family. He
dressed as most clerks do, quite fashion,
ably: wore the nestest made shirts. and
incest smoothei clothes. all Of which
was done for him by his sister. She took
great pride in the appearancel OF her
brother, and bestowed more physical
labor in keeping him looking SO nice.
than he did in return for his good salary.
But lately he had become, quite exacting,
and ordered her in iather,a peremptory
manner, and a. inconvenient times, to
do such things as he had just asked her.
She had a great deal to do in assisting
her mother with the family. besides at
tending to his wants !; and his demands
at times appeared arbitrary. Yet she
never refused him. He is not the only
one whom a sisters toll has enabled 10
make a better appearance in the world
at less expense than otherwise could
have been done. These extra calls on
her labor. and want of appreciation OF
them had only been made since his ac-
quain,ance with a certain Miss M
lie was continually praising her as one OF
The most angelic beings in existence. per-
fecily beautiful, with the sweetest little
hand. not broader than three of his I'm.
gers. and so white and soft; and he
would glance Involuntary al his sisters
hand, which was not SO very smai l and
white; and how could it be when she
had to stand for hours at he ironing.
table, besides sweeping. busting and
making beds-in fact, leading an active
and useful life Yet the comparison
would hurt her feelings, and she often
wished he would not talk 10 her of Miss
NJ, for she knew If she had done
her duty, her hands would moi be sosyery
soi. and white, for she had seen her
mother scr bling down the steps aud
washing the yard. although Harry had
told her Miss NJ said her ''Ma had
delicate health"
The more the young man th' ught OF
Miss M, the LEES he seemed to care
for Lizzie. and the more he asked her TO
do for him And no matter how much
she toiled. he never had time TO do the
slightest favor for her. SO occupied was
he with his courtship to his angel
Now, to let you into the secret. Miss
NJ had something to do with this.
She had learned the character OF his
devoted sister, and fancied her lover
would expect something like i, from his
wife. So she had weaned him from her
purposely: and from the very cause tha,
should have made him think more of her
he actually thought less. He unconclous
ly imbibed the very common idea, ,ha,
so!t hands and fine airs are indispe nsa bic
in making a lady. His sister no, having
either, be felt little asham med Of her
notwithstanding his owledge of hel
sound sense and :rue heart. He was toe
much in love with pretty face to refiec
if she performed the duties called for by
their circumstances, it would be impos
isbIy for his lady love to be SO. They
were very well performed. however. by
her mother, who tcas some,0hat aiiing g
1t Is true.
When at last the young man married
his angel, though Lizzie shed tears a
their separation. her labors certainl
were considerably lightened, and he
hands had better chance Of becoming
soft. She loved her brother. and like
true woman hoped he would be very hap
py. and that his wife would keep hin
nice This had been her especial pride
and every wife ought to consider it
duty. But when in very little time
she saw him wearing soiIed vests an
crumpled bosoms, she very easily kne,
10 whom The blame belonged. He bega
to look frowning, and speak cross an
complaining. aud at length was take
very sick. When Lizzie went to se
him, he begged her SO hard 10 stay an
give him some s'real old time nursing.
She now learned that angels get ver
tired waiting on "fretful" sick people
who have been "spoiled" by too muc
attention at home. They were enoug
TO kill one with fatigue. And ho,
many cross looks the sister got Will
attending quietly but constsn,ly TO h'
brorher's wants! The bro,her-look can
back to his facs. and he got so muc
better in one day that Lizzie offered
stay ali night with him. And the al
gel determined to sit up with her. on
lying down 10 take a short nap-whit