Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-05-15

occupied already. Iii
81 know that; but Mr.. Murke says you
can get worlds of work out Of children I
keep Ellen at home from school awhile; the
rest from study will do her good. Ned can I
wait upon you and set tables; and the little
ones may gradually be drawn into harness"
"My children are not colts" Mrs. Lightc
had never addressed her husband with so
much asperity before. at is but a little
they could do at best, and why compel them
to this3 Are we not sure that in after life
care and toll win enter; and we'll for them
poor things, il it do not make up the whole
sum Of their livesp
"Lct us prepare them for it, then, by car
ly teaching"
ayes, by tho teaching Of example; wo
shall never make them industrious men and
women by disgusting them with work in
their childhood; let US accustom them to a
cheerful, orderly household, to palatable |
food, and decent clothing; they will not
readily submit to change in after years. |
Let US mako our children remember home
as pleasant place, not as theatre Of
exactions, notifications and querulous COM
plants"
The ghost came once moro, and the chill
dren siding with their mother, this time the
influence of the Murkes was vanquished and
annihilated.
"Carrie, Murke and have been compar-
ing expenses aud 1 frightens me to find my
own triple the amount of his; we must re-
trench"
ain what wayi am ready"
ain hundred ways; our house is too
largo, our fires too bright, our table is too
luxurious, our children dress too we'll, we
we have too much company, our pew Mt
church is too expensive; the Murkes have a
pew close to the door, they hear quite as
well, and pay only half the tax that is re-
quircd for ours; they close two-thirds Of
their house, and thus are rid of the expense
of heating it."
"Wait a minutel Their water pipes have
frozen and flooded it several times this win
ter; the expense of repairing it costs more
than several tons of coal"
"That was only an accident. Murke COW
ers his fires with ashes, and tho coal burns
half as long again in consequence"
"Yes, and their sitting room slike Green
land"
"Cool rooms make children hardy"
| "Oh, father" broke in little voice, "don't
heat our room with ashes and water, don't! |!
Comming home from school the other day,
| should have cried with cold, but I kept
thinking of our good, bright fire."
"Yes outspoke another, "and last week,
called Willie Murke in here to warm his
hands, he looked so cold as he was running
by; and he stared as if he had never saw a
; parlor before, and asked me if we always
kept our piano unlocked, and lived in the
parlor, and had silver spoons on the table,
and other plates for pudding. He said he
wished he had mother like mine. Why,
you can SEQ sparkles of ice on Mr.. Murke's
hall door all winter long"
"Hush, children, don't interrupt when
your mother and / are talking. The butch
er calls here, Carrie, twice a week; and
Murke says they use salted and dried meat,
which they procure at wholesale and pickle
themselves"
"Do you like pork very much9" whisper
cd Lizzie Lighte, pulling her mothers sleeve
"And Mrs Murke doesn't use butter nor
pork for frying griddle-cakes; little dry
salt, they assure me, answers every purpose
II know one thing, I'm glad mother don't
have griddles creased with salt" ventured
Lizzie.
'Then these potatoes, small and poor as
they are costs over cent apiece. Murke
substitutes Indian dumplings."
"Boied in water, suppose, palatable -
Give mo another piece Of chicken, Charles,
!. if you please" was Mrs. Lighte's only an
swer
"What do they make instead of sweet
, potatoes r. asked Lizzie, who was very fond
of the latter delicacy.
J Mrs. Lighte looked smilingly for her hus
= !. bands answer.
! "They do not cat such Injuries, my child
Mr.. Murke is saving against he grows old.
"Why, father, we'll take care of you
, when you are old; and l mean to have q
home just like ours. sweet potatoes and all,
said the child; "yet the Murkes do have
some luxuries, for when the cake gets burnt
- Mary often brings the crusts to school fo
her luncheon; she says her mother tolC
;, her that they'd make her breath sweet, bu
n solid cake was poisonous; l shouldn't thinl
she'd give poison to her company"
The ghost was banished; but the thrift
woman known as Mrs. Murke, came on
! = last time to the home of Charles Lighte.
There was to be funeral on the morrow
the sofa by the fireside was empty, and dus
J was gathering over the work-box that stoot
on the comfortable; group of childrel
I were budding together as if their heart
: would break.
4 After the long-life work, she had folded
. her hands at last, and the corpse lay wait
ing for burial. Carrie the sympathisine
: mother, the faithful wife, the good, gentle
, sympathising friend had gone; and a
: Charles Lighte stood watching her, will
sorrow too deep for tears, Mrs. Murke cans
TO offer consolation. She said:
eyes, she was good and kind neighbo
o TO me. shall never forget her early infu
> ence over my husband but Mr.. Lighte, w
d must not waste time in grief; and ever,
It sorrow has Its compensations. You hav
d now one less to support in these hard time.
p Your wife had great many children, an
was ambitious for them, and liked to kee
Al up good appearance in the world. Sh
was an. excellent woman, but you may fin
K another that win do as we'll as she and sas
" your money beside" 81 &