The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-16
r,,r MOTHERS RESOLVE.

m, back parlor, in their coi:'mo 'io"> anu com
Portable house in Boston. Mrs. Mci "vn was
sitting Lv the fire awaiting the return OF ':'r
husband from his store. William and Annie.
the children, were rudelv racin. round the
room. overturning chairs and stools. and
tllreatcnin. every moment to upset the tea-ta
bic.
.Stop. children, this moment" said Mrs.
Merwvn Annie. open the door for your IA
,her: Willie, ring the he'll for Bridget
Father has a nisht-kcv and he can open
the door himself" said Annie upon which
she commenced desperate struggle with
Willie, to recover toy he had snatched from
her.
Mr.. Merwyn entered the room with adcd
and sad look. and sat down ly the fire. Soon
after. Bridget came in, with plate of toast
in ore hand and a crcam-pitcher in the other.
The children. quite beside themselves in the
caccrncss OF their quarrel, ran against her.
knocked the dish of toast from her hands,
AMI it ,o"s"n:s were spread upon The carpet.
Mrs Ncrwvn ~ thnr, anu >crEin;- tI.,.'.
o,c, in turn. boxed their ears sonndlv, ac-
comranvins her castigation with severe re-
o.o,cs ~ never saw anything like it IT,
Va, ,re the worst behaved children ! ever
hoh.,1, You a.; the plaques of my life =
I:., ,or y. re both Of YOU a hundred miles
-r, 7. =. sure cannot imagine how came
~, &c so bad children. 90 to the table. this
.nnutc, and see if YOU can behave yourselves.
Ysu make it very pleasant for your father,
,ho has been working tor you all day, to come
home and Grd the house in such an uproar.
and the carpet spoiled and the toast gonc."-
With such expressions, she drove the children
to the table.
They were really pretty children, thoncl,
pale and delicate: but now. with their unnat-
uraly flushed faces, di>hcvcIcd hair, and an
cry looks, their appearance was anything but
agreeable. They began to eat in moody 81
lence. The parents were silent also. Al
length Mrs. Mcrwvn said, "Wilic, don't eat
so much of that rich cake; take some breat
and butter and Annie, stop helping yourself
tc so much swcatmcats; YOU have eaten two
s,rccrs full already"
IL don't like bread and butter" said VII
lie, in a surly tone, "and won't eat what
don't like"
Annie. with look of contempt at her mo
ther, cooy helped herself to the last of th'
preserves, and ate them.
The evening passed as uncomfortable as i
began. When tie tea things were clcare,
away, the study table was set out, for th'
children had lessons to recitc on the morrow
which must be learned in the evening. Blu
they were cross and iil-naturc,l to each other
and their father, after trying half an hour t
read pamphlet, which he had brought wit
him, threw it aside and seated himself, wit
heavy sigh, by the fire.
81 say. MOTHER" said Willie, "wherc's Tt
rim"
II don't know exactly: look it out on til
map"
IL can't there's such a crowd of little name
here: and. what is more, | won't. | don
care if 10 miss in my lesson have cot
low in my class now. would as lief be at tn
foot as anywhere else
"Mother, is good noun, or an adjective
inquired Annie.
'IIow should know" replied the mott
or: "Can YOU not tell from the way it
used :"
No, can't" said Annie.
''Studv your rules. then, and not tease n
about it, said the mother.
The books were put away. Nine OclOc
came, and the children lief; the room for bee
Annie complaining OF the headache, and W
brading Willie tor breaking her glass bird.
After >ittn. for half an hour looking ste;
dily into the fire. Mr.. Merwyn turned roun
TO his wife, who was seated near the tabl
with her head upon her hand; the needl
work had fallen upon the floor.
'llelen," he said, "whv do our children b
have as they do: | want a cheerful, plea
ant. orderly home | have built this hous
and furnished it handsomely, and am sure
supply YOU literally with every means Of con
'crt; ard yet. how uncomfortable We are