The Sierra citizen., 1854-09-02
Sunday at Home.
RY "OLO BLOCK.

RY "OLO BLOCK.
Itais beautiful May morning. The
suarrises brightly DER the eastern horizon.
Thesair iaa scented by sweet flowers; the
fruit trees are in bloom; the birds are
hopping from twig to twig; and the old
lthcmestead-the home of our hearts-nev-
,er appeared more lovely.
How quet and still everything is-Na'
ture itself aeems softened and subdued, as
il it vas taking rest after a busy week OF
toll. The least noise seems to echo thro'
the air as ii never docs in week day, and
the shrill scrowing of the cock, or the cut
.cut-cardaeda of the old hen as she leaves
her nest, rings out in tones that disturbs
the stillaess which universally reigns, and
you.can't help feeling in your heart, icon,
found these noisy chickens, they ought
mot to crow today
How. quietly mother steps about the
house, preparing breakfast while father,
swith his coat off, his shirt sleeves rolled
thalfxny.up to his elbows, the collar turn
ed back-exposing his bare neck, his hair
--now turning grey-lays back half neg
diligently On his head, is quietly strapping
Ahis razor, giancing now and then with a
sloOk of love at ambitious little Susy, as
.sshe is bringing bowl Of hot water for
Assher to shave with, who, half afraid to
st.ust his darling, cautions her with, "be
careful, dear; don't scald yourself" James
.and Lucy, not yet dressed for the day, are
sitting in corner by themselves, looking
lover the Sunday school lesson and reciting
TO each other so many verses, that they
mny be perfect when they recite to their
teacher; and even old Caesar, that fine old
New Foundland, and Tippy, the cat, have
ceased hostilities and are quietly laying
down together in the sunshine at the door,
as If the one never worried and the other
never spit at the other, when Jim, for
week day frolic, made them belligerent.-
Father has taken off his beard and put on
has Sunday suit-all but his coat, which
hangs on the chair, ready brushed. Mother
llAs, with tiny Susy's help-for she will
lselp all she can with her little hands, and
thinks she helps great deal-has set the
things on the table, and then, going softly
uprshd laying her hand upon his shoulder,
Gays in her quiet way "as if she was a child
herself" "Come, father, breakfast is rea-
dy;" shil'e Susy, getting hold of his fore
iasger, tus,s away, repeating like mother,
"Come, pa, come to breakfast and leads
him smiling to the old arm chair, which
she shovel up to the table herself-she
can't lift il, and nobody else must put it
there sfor "dear father" Seated around
the table, with bowed heads, but uplifted
hearts; the happy circle listen reverently
to the ,worel Is, "Our Father, who art in
Heaven we thank thee for thy blessings"
- they fall from the lips of their father
now in life.
Breakfast is over. the hearth is swept
clean, the children's clothes are laid out
by mother; Susy, washed clean, stands in
her white stockings and new shoes, her
neat petticoat and Iantalettes, with her
little arms bare, at mothers knees, who is
curling her hair in ringlets to fall down
her neck, while the larger children are
putting on for themselves their best Sun
day "bib-and-tucker, soon to join father,
who is sitting in the old arm chair, his
hair combed straight, spectacles on his
nose, engaged in perusing some useful
book. Last of all, mother, who has put
the finishing touch on Susy-making her
look like little angel, all but the wings,
row retires to rig up for Sunday herself