Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-27
THE SPINNING WHEEL,
BY MRS. M. ST. LEON LOUD.

q double railway over the spot, or excayated a
canal, or divided the beautiful farm into town
lots; but there did stand at the date Of my
story, in the loveliest Of New England vallies,
large, old fashioned, rambling, many-winged
house, which every attempt to modernize would
have rendered less picturesque. One high
peaked gablc-end fronted the road, and from
each side Of a latticed porch over the door, a
hardy vine, had clambercd upward, clinging
by its root-like fibres, until the whole gray and
weather-beaten front was covered by drapery
Of the richest green. Here and there, the lux
uriant screen was parted away from the small
narrow windows, which peeped out like bright
eyes from among clustering curls. At the
other end Of the house, venerable willow Of
immense size, spread its branches protectirgly
abroad, while the summer wind made sweet
music through its waving top. Everything
around bespoke comfort Of the most substan-
tial kind, but had the proprietor yielded to the
4 superior taste Of his wife and eldest daughter,
the shady old homestead that had sheltered its
four generations, would soon have been i'm
proceed, as far as possible, into mere Chinese
pagoda. But considering all improvement as in
novation, and actuated moreover by q sincere
veneration for the home of his fathers, Mr..
Mason, stoutly resisted the entreaties of Miss
Malvina, that the vines might be torn from the
old wall, whose imperfections they had SO long
and lovingly concealed; and coat Of white
paint substituted; or that an unsightly wing
might be pulled down, or the shrubbery cut
awav, and rows of poplar planted to form an
avenue, and afford prospect; or even that
the garden beds might be changed from the
triangles, quadrangles, and all sorts Of angles,
which they exhibited, to the more ornamental
figures of plan she had drawn.
But it is time the reader was more particu-
larly introduced to the family inhabiting the
mansion we have described, which consisted
of Mr.. Mason, his wife, his aged mother, a
stately and interesting relic of the olden time,
and two daughters. On the eldest of these,
Mrs. Mason, who had just been reading " The
Children Of the Abbey" bestowed the twice
romantic name of Malvina Euphrasia; while
Mr.. Mason claimed the paternal privilege of
naming the yougest Charity. Mr.. Mason him
self was fine specimen of New England
farmer, some years ago. His father, sharer
in the Revolution, had well nigh impoverished
himself by his devotion to the cause Of liberty,
and, at his death, left his son little mole than
the house in which he was born, and few
acres, adjoining; but, during his lifetime he
had endowed him with that which no vicissi-
tudes could take from him, treasure of great
er value than houses or lands--a contented
disposition, sound and correct principles, and
frugal, industrious habits: by the exercise Of
which he had added field TO field--built barns
and filed them, and secured to his family cve-
ry comfort of life. At middle age, he found
himself the independent owner of large and
valuable farm, on which 1t was no longer ne
cessary for him to labor As is not unusual
in these latter days, there was division in the
family Of Mr. Mason /; for while he strovc to
perpetuate the good old primitive habits Of his
ancestors, his wife, whose only dowry when
he married her, was a pretty face and abund-
ance Of pride, contcnded that her daughters
ought to be exempt from all labor, go to n
fashionable, that is, expensive boarding school,
and dress as well as other young ladies in the
institution; in no other way she declared,
could they ever become fitted for society. By
dnt Of perseverance, she carried her point so
far as to obtain her husbands consent that
Malvina should receive what her mother called
the advantages Of education" while Charity
was to remain and attend really excellent day
school in the next village.
With this arrangement Mrs. Mason was fain
to comply, for as she said, II was labor lost, to
try to make Ia iy Of Charity, but in reality
she was unwilling to dispense with the active,
and efficient aid rendered BY her youngest
daughter in all household affairs. The result
of these different systems was, that when after
two years, Malvina returned tinselled over with
snowy accomplishments, Charity had laid up
a treasure Of the sterling ore Of knowledge.
Malvina, who was her mothers favorite, inher-
ritcd many OF her peculiar traits Of character,
and had profittcd SO well by her instructions,
that she looked upon the necessary avocations
of farm house with sovereign contempt To
her fathers expressed desire that she should
assist about the house. she pleaded delicate
health, and, to establish her plea, never arose
till after the family had breakfasted. But
sweet Charity Mason--no wonder that she
was the life and soul Of the place, as blooming
with health, her fair round face dlmpled with
smiles and her blue eyes bcaming with cheer
fulncss she performed, not only her own, but
her sisters share Of the household duties The
earliest carol Of the lark was sure to be an
swered by her blythe voice from the garden,
where there was some spray to be tied up, that
had broken loose, during the night: or from
the dairy, where she was experimenting the
disposal of the brimming pans Of milk or
from tho orchard where she was gathering the
early ripe apples that had falltn, before the
pigs and poultry devoured them; or from some
other place where she was making herself use
ful. And no wonder that she was the pride
I and comfort Of her father, and the idol If her
doting grandmother.
The southern wing Of the house, containing
two rooms, was appropriated to the use Of the
elder Mrs. Mason, and more delightful retreat
. f,r ags, could scarcely be imagined. On each
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