Eastern times., 1855-09-06


and here Mary began to shed few tears,
Mary, do you know that my expenses for
the last year have considerably exceeded my
income .
what has that to do with me q
Everything, Mary. 1t grieves me to be
compelled to say there is no economy in the
house. That girl, Bridget, does pretty much
as she likes. Everything is going TO destruc-
tion and waste and am very suspicious that
much is stolen and given away to other people,
That's right-accuse every servant girl Of
being dishonest, because she is a servant
How generous you are
AT any rate, she must be discharged
'Oh, discharge her, of course; and then go
to the trouble of finding another stranger,
whom nobody knows
see no necessity for any servant at all.
What little work there is to do about the
house for you and I, should think you capa-
BILE of performing, or at least, by hiring
woman one day in the week 10 do the washing.
As it is now, with Biddy the sole mistress of
the kitchen, there is an enormous waste, and
what victuals are cooked, are not fit to eat
Everything in the house is going to ruin
The crockery is broken, grease spots are on
the carpet, cobwebs hang on the walls, and
the yard is cluttered up with pals and tubs,
broken table, stove, sack bedstead, old
brooms, and lot OF other rubbish. 1t did not
use to be so when
That's right. Twit me about your mother
1t is very unkind of you.'
Dear Mary | would not be unkind to you
for the world. speak for the best of motives,
and upon a subject which concerns you as much
myself. You must try and help me along like
good wife. 1t is discouraging to work hard
from week to week, and then have the results
of your labors wasted. Twice the amount of
labor | would perform cheerfuly to promote
or insure your happiness. How happy you
could make this home for me. What a cheer
ful appearance you could give to everything.
The mere employment of servant care not
so much about, if you would only exercise
proper supervision of the house, and certainly
you can do as much as that TO please me. But
Bridget must be discharged at any rate, for /
am convinced that she is not honest
oh, you can discharge her as soon as you
please-to-night if you choose but I must
have some one in her place. l am not able,
and cannot do the work of the house.
Will you not try it, dear Mary, for
month Come, if you will, you shall have
new silk dress. I am certain you will be so
well pleased with the experiment that you will
not wish to discontinue it, Won't you promise
met
Oh, James why do you want to tease mel
But do as you please. You may discharge
Biddy as soon as you like. There are three
months wages due her.
Three months wages Why, Mary, l
gave you the money to pay her every month
Well, spent the money for something
else, and that is all know about it,
James was grieved as much as disappointed.
He began to see into his wife's character, and
he shuddered as he looked forward into the fu-
ture. A dreary waste seemed stretching before
him. 1t was melancholy prospect, but he
made up his mind to struggle manfully. His
affection for his wife, though perhaps waning
little in its ardency, was still sufficiently
strong, and what had been lost, she might
easily have won back by the least effort
The next morning Bridget was paid off and
discharged, and Mary Harley, true to her
word, assumed her proper position as mistress
of the house. For few days the experiment
worked well, and James began 10 feel encogr-
aged. She even consented to take walk with
him one evening after tea, and it certainly
seemed as though there was fair prospect of
his realizing his golden dream. But alas it
was but dream. At the expiration of
week, Mary had resumed her old habits
Breakfast was not ready in season in the morn
and tea he frequently had to get for himself
This state of things could not be epdured long,
and another servant was therefore engaged,
and matters went on again as formerly under
the Bridget regime.
Months in this way rolled on, and James
Harley at last despaired. The condition of
his wife grew worse and worse. She began
to neglect her own person, and a marked dis
regard to all the rules of cleanliness and pro-
prety was plainly discernable in her appear
ance. His own clothes, too, were neglected.
Nothing was in order, and ready for him,
when he wanted it and thus step by step, as
it were, his doom marched down upon him;
while he was obliged 10 stand still, like one
paralyzed, and let its dark waves break over
him. Ii seemed strange to him that he, for
no fault of his own, should be made to
suffer the penalty for another's sin; yet still
he struggled, and struggled with his fate, like
some brave swimmer against river torrent,
all the while knowing the depths to which it
was sweeping him. He had long since ceased
to demonstrate with Mary. He had found that
love, argument, pleading, were all in vain.
A few months later, and James, at the close
of his days labors, sought his home reluctant
ly, as though its attractions had departed
Still later, his absence became more frequent
and prolonged. He frequently had to resort
to the tavern for his meals, and this brought