The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-08-11

to see them, but the oh she wished
, them further She was obliged to sus-
} pend her labors and comb up her hair
and change her dress ere she could give
) them greeting, and then only moment
| could she tarry, for dinner must be pre-
pared, and as there was company, every
thing must be in perfect order. 1t was
nice, it was excellent, but somehow no.
body enjoyed it. The guests felt in
stinctively that they had intruded.
Mr.. Grey knowing the condition of
: affairs, was i'll at ease, while his wife
, but all women similarly situated will
guess her feelings, and no one can de-
scribe them. There was no time after
the repast to clear the table or dress the
younger children, SO leaving both in
care of Julia, she set out for church,
not to worship, for she was in no frame
of mind to do that, hut to perform a
sort of Sabbath-day duty. We will pass
over the doing up the work on her re-
turn, the getting tea, and putting child
ren, cross, not because they wanted to
be but because they could not hel p it,
into their little beds, and see her enter
the sitting room at eight o'clock, throw
herself on lounge, and hear her cx-
claim {" I'm tired to death"
81 don't wonder at it wife," said her
husband compassionately, two hours
quiet with his fire and books having re-
stored his good humor, somewhat, it
must be confessed, out of the way by
the annoyances of the day. 81 was
sorryto bring those folks to dinner, but
| could not avoid it without being rude. "
A" Never mind that-if | had things
as they should have been, it would have
been well enough but somehow nothing
goes right any more on the Sabbath. |
actually dread to have it come"
"But it was not always so, wife.
Don't you remember how happy we
used to be when we were first married
All it was halcyon day then :"
" Yes, remember well," she mur-
INJURED, and leaning her head in her
hand, she grew thoughtful. Memory
held up beauteous pictures to her; the
happy Sabbaths of child and girlhood
and Of early married life were lived over
again and indeed it was a golden age.
Then in vile contrast came up the
Sabbaths of the last two or three years
aud then spake conscience in a terrible
voice, and uttered the cause and tears,
hot and many rolled down her cheeks.
The only day of the week which her
husband could spend with his family
was despoiled of comfort by herself; she
was bringing up her children to dread
and hate even the day, sacred to church {
worship and homes purest joys; she D
was learning herself to look upon it as
a day of trial, a day of toil-and why
Because mostly of little more sleep
and little more slumber." :,
No words passed between husband y
and wife, till they rose to retire. Then :; :;
taking her hand he said, half seriously, -
half jocosely, "Suppose, Julia, we turn q !.
over new leaf. This is the last Sab = =
bath in the year. Shall we begin new :,
md right one the first of the next ?" =, y
"We'll try" was the brief answer, in : =
/ voice choked with emotion. -
And she did try Let us see the Y
'esult. 1t is a beauteous Sabbath P
a smile upon heaven and u u
,arth, and a smile on the countenance o. J,
# each member of the family, as they !: !:
,ather at half-past seven around the u
leat breakfast table, covered with v, W
10th rivaling the snow in whiteness and ol ..
ct with Shaker-like precision. And ", w.
ne viands, not costly are they, and yet a' m
king might relish them-steaks broiled 81
turn, potatoas bursting into fakes, .,
offee clear as rare old wine, and PAN %
axes, slight as a feather"
And what beautiful group discuss
he meal. Father in bis Sabbath-day m'
nit, in the best of bumor, mother in a no
eat morning dress, every braid in place,
nd children with plated and curled =
'esses and white foreheads open to
lew, and all ip church dress to-ah it
home picture beautiful to the eye we
nd cheering to the heart. "y
The day was well begun and half the he