The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-01-19

and stockings, and at the bottom of the
bedcloths, found the missing pants.
Anything more wanting by these
wicked children?"
"Yes mother, some breakfast. Dc
hurry too, cause l am so hungry | cani
wait"
At another time the mother might have
smiled on her boy, but she had no heart
for smiles then, on that beauteous Sab
bath morning, and the snow-c!ad earth
were radiant with glorious sunshine
Two hours comfort" in the early morn
had rufflcd her peace and troubled her
Joy for the days She needed, indeed, to
turn over new leaf.
A worrying time had Mrs. Grey that
morning preparing breakfast, and when
ready, which was not till after nine O.
clock, it was, as the children said, only
half breakfast. And the children, in
! what a sad plight did they come to the ta-
BILE. Julia's long braids loosened by the
mornings frolic, hung about her face and
neck very much as though high wind
had been sporting with them, while Hen
rvs long ringlets of which his mother was
unusually so proud, were in snarl that
spoke terribly of future retribution, while
Frank and Mary's short locks completely
yelled their beautiful brows And their
mothers head instead of its usual neat
arrangement, looked in expressive Ian
guage very much like an oven broom
And the table-a sight. Julia had set
it and her mother not having given direc-
tions, she had put on the soiled cloth that
had done weekly duty, and being in a
hurry and out of humor had huddled the
dishes on with but little regard to proper
place. 1t was not indeed calculated to
restore calmness to the sluggards's heart
or promote the cheerfulness of the sinned
against family.
"How's this wife," said Mr. Grey as he
seated himself, "no meat this morning
I thought 1 sent home steaks yesterday"
al forgot to bring them from the store
room last night, or rather [ thought [
should have plenty of time to thaw them
this morning, but l haven't and SO we
must get along without them"
"And We haven't had any pancakes Ell
ther," said Frank. "Mother, you prom
ised last Sunday that we should have
some to day. Are big folks wicked when
they don't do what they said they will?
cause if"
The mothers conscience smote her ter
ribly. Her precepts were treasured
what if her example should be followed
As is almost always the case, she found
scapegoat, and interrupted "her cues
tioning child with the remark that children
as naughty as hers did not deserve pan
cakes"
"Your potatoes are not half done, wife:
indeed they are not fit to eat. l am a.
fraid We shall have but poor breakfast
And the husbands's tone was rather sui
len, for he had been brought up in the
country, and of course accustomed to
good cheer in the morning, and scant
breakfast table always put to flight his
good humor. "Can't you give us bit
of your Sundays roast? We can't make
out our breakfast unless you do" and he
deliberately gathered the potatoes which
he had distributed to the children, and
returned them to their dish. This action
annoyed his wife seriously, and she bust
led into the pantry with little grace, and
returned with her spare rib, which was
cooked on Saturday when there was plen-
ty of time, and was very beautifully
DONE"
"Ah yes" exclaimed her husband as
he brandished his carver, this will do fine
ily."
"And what will become of your dinner
meanwhile" murmured his wife.
"Ob, we'll have the steaks; you know
there will be plenty of time to thaw them. "
Husband and children, half-starved, as
they said, by long waiting, relished the
roast and nice bread and butter, but Mrs.
Grey could hardly swallow morsel, and
instead of entering into the lively prattle
of the little ones, spoke only to bid them
hurry and eat or they would be late at
church.
Breakfast despatched and new trouble
commenced. II can't get you all ready,
that's out of the question. Julia and
Henry can 60, and Frank and Mary must
wait until afternoon"-at which the two
set up lusty cry which continued till
they were shut up in the bedroom with
the threat of being punished, unless they
stopped Immediately, and knowing from
experience that mother did sometimes
whip on Sundays, because "she was al
ways cross then, the two children agreed
to make the best of it, and agreed that
they should go fishing, which meant
bend mothers pins into hooks. and use
her welting cords for lines, and Chamber
on the bureau and have fine sport, till a
bottle ofcologne should have been knock
ed off, and box of tooth powder upset.
With the mother and the elder children
it was scold and cry, cry and scold, till
the bells pealed their last tone, when
with red faces and sullen hearts, they
took their fathers hand and started for
church. AS for Mrs. Grey, she said she
never expected to 60 out again in the
forenoon.