The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-16
flor tie ganies.
PARLGgg DAUGHTERS.
BY \ BACHELOR.


and perhaps a sermon.
A few days since, called upon young
lady. l may as well say that, having been
considerably impressed by her beauty
and brilliant conversation at several eve
ming social parties, | had resolved to prose
cute the acquaintance will not affirm
that there had not floated vaguely about
in my brain certain pleasing rose colored
: Bachelors reyeries, in which figured
conspicuously the beaming face and ele-
giant figure of Miss f.
Be that as it may, called and, being
ushered into the parlor, sat down, and
awaited with some impatience the appear
auce Of the lady.
My attention vas arrested by two voices
in an adjoining apartment, and the door
being ajar | was pcrforcc listener.
"Oh. Carrie" said yerv weak voice,
"if you would only have assisted me three
hours day, this attack might have been
averted but now It's too late. | know
that weeks, if not months of illness, are
before me. [ am all tired out
"Why mother replied voice, almost
petulantIy-I had admired it the evening
previous for its spirited yet a,niable tones
:" Why mother, nob1dy does kitchen
work now; at least, nobody that is any
body, just ;hink Of Irs Slnythe, or Miss
Brown, or Mrs SouIe, assocatlng with
your kitchen girl with her dingy hands
Why, the idea is absurd and besides, |
hate n0usr-work' .r ..
'tWe H. replied the invalid voice, 4
don't know what would have been thought
Of your assisting me about the house a
rev hours each day, but | do know, that
for The want Of this help, l am now i'll.
Yes Carrie, for the wait Of your help |
lave been obliged to overtask myself"
Miss T. soon made her appearance, with
her winning smile, gay laugh, aud brilliant
repartee but, somehow, the image OF her
ovcr,asked IDoUher constantly came be-
tween her and my previous admiration
20, after a few ill-at-ease attempts at cuu-
yersarion, | took my leave
As slowly walked away, musing, d
change came . ocr the spirit Of my dreaus,'
\ daughter VINO : hateth housewhOrk' v to
such a d degree, as to ALLOW her mother
. get "ai tired out ? aud Ill, from being
verta>ked, could such daughter be-
come tilaC. ntost inestl,-aaD.e boon this
ide OF Heaven, 4 coed wiz
What if her husband had wealth, and
ailcd her house with troops OF servants !;
could he have quiet, neat, we'll ordered
loGue Would ais children nave true
mother? No. a paffor daag|lfar viii
make purlor artc. Brilliant, fascinat-
,ng--a rare and costly ornament-chal
ieuging the admiration Of tie world, II
may be, but never the holy source and
centre OF the comfort and peace Of her
family.
Aud thus rudely my rose oolored rev
cries were changed to somble hued rcali-
lies. [ queried. was Miss T. an cxcep
ION to this rule ! How many young la
uiies of lny acquaintance were really "helps
20 their mothers' in domestic affairs
low many would not blush with shame
at being seen making bread-not cake,
bu. bread? How many could cook and
-et on the table good dinner, or super
intend aud direct such an undertaking
low many to whom the oid-fashioncd
" dish-clotl" is not a "horrid thin4 =
iiow many could stareh-ana iron ashIrt-
bosom OF collar, So 1t would look respecta-
bly, ~
Alas how few could | recall wLo
would not properly be numbered in the
long list OF those to whom these things
were not only mysteries, but absolutely
disagreeable and undesirable.
say g alas !" for il is sad thing, not
only for US young men, the future hus-
bands of these frail g lilies of the field, !"
who toll not, neither do they spin" but
to the daughters themselves.
Look at them-look at them yourselves,
young ladies. Where is the round, plump
solid arm and cheek of your grandmother
at your age Where is her power of en-
Iurance, her exuberant spirit, depressed
by no circumstances /; her energy and self
reliance, equal to her emergencies ana
where in the future are you to obtain
strength to pass unscathed through the
oerils of maternity, as did she.
Look around You at the young wives
and mothers; what pitiabe specimens OF
feminine humanity; what discouraged
disheartened obiects of administration !;
what traces Of pain and illness are written
upon their shrunken visages before the
fifth anniversary of the honeymoon.
Look at the unhappy countenances of
hall the young husbands you meet Do
they not speak Of pleasing anticipations,
followed by unpleasant realities /? How
lmany husband, who in his bachelor