Litchfield enquirer., 1858-09-23
A GOOD DAYS WORK.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

do another,' said MT. Barlow, rubbing his hands together briskly. and with the air of man who felt very we'll pleased with himself.
 'tAnd so have I' Mrs BarIow's voice was in lower tone, and less exultant. yet indica- tive of spirit at peace with herself. Let us compare notes,' said MT. Barlow, in confident manner of one who knows that tri- -umph will be on his side, 'aud see which has done the best days work
 You, of course, replied the gentle-hearted wife.
 We shall sec Let the history of your days doings precede mine.
 No,' said Mrs. Barlow, you shall give the first experience.' ="
 Very wel' And full of his subject, Mir. Barlow began:
 You remember the debt of Warfeld, about which spoke few days since'
 Yes.'
 l considered it desperate-would have sold my interests at thirty cents on the dollar when l left home this morning Now the whole claim is secure. l had to scheme little. It was sharp practice but the thing is done. don't believe another creditor of Warfeld's will get third his claim.
 'The next operation continued MT. Barlow, I consider quite as good. About year ago I took fifty acres of land in Erie county for debt, at valuation of five dollars an acre. Il sold it to day for ten. l don't think the man knew just what he was buying. He called to an acre at venture, when he promptly laid down one hundred dollars to bind the bargain If should never see him again I am all right. This is transaction number two. Number three is as pleasant to remember I sold lot of goods, almost year out of date, to young country merchant, for cash. He thinks he has good bargain and perhaps he has /; but l would have let them gone at any time during the last six months at loss of thirty per cent and thought the sale desirable one.
 Now there's my good days work, Jenny, and it is one to be proud of l take some credit to myself, for being upon the whole a pretty bright sort of g man, and bound to go through Let us have your story now.'
 The face of Mrs Barlow flushed slightly. - Her husband waited for few moments, and then said:
 Let us hear of the yards of stitching, and the piles of good things made-'
 No, nothing of that answered Mrs. Bar low, with a slight veil of feeling covering her pleasant voice. | had another meaning when l spoke of having accomplished good days work. And now, as my doings will bear no comparison with yours, think of declining their rehearSai'
 A bargain is a bargain, Jenny said Mr. Barlow. Word keeping is cardinal virtue. So let your story be told. You have done a good days work in your estimation, for you said so Go on--I am all attention.'
 Mrs. Barlow still hesitated, but after little more urging, she began her story of good days work Her voice was little subdued and there was an evident shrinking from the subject about which she felt constrained to speak
 l resolved last night said she, after pass ing some hours of selfexamination and self-up- braiding, that would for one day try to pos sess my soul in patience. And this day has been the trialday. Shall go on ?
 Mrs. Barlow looked up with timid, half bashful air, at her husband She did not meet his eyes, for he had turned them partly away
 Yes, dear Jenny, go on.' The husbands buoyancy of spirit was gone. In its place was something tender and pensive.
 Little Eddie was unusually fretful this morning, as you we'll remember. He seemed perverse, thought-cross, as we call it. I was tempted to speak harshly two or three times but, remembering my good resolution, I put on the armor oc patience, and never let her hear cross tone. Dear little fellow When I went to wash him, found just behind one of his ears, small, infamed boil. It has made him slightly feyerish and worrisome all day. Oh, was not glad that patience ruled my spirit
 After you went away to the store, Mary got into one of her perverse humors. She did not want to go to school, to begin with then she could not find her slate; and then her shoe pinched her. felt very much annoyed but recalling my good resolution, met her irrita- tion with calmness, her willfnness with patient admonition, her stubborn temper with gentle rebuke; and so 1 conquered. She kissed me, and started for school with cheerful counte- nance, her slate in her satchel, and the pinch ing shoes unheeded. And so I had my re- ward. e
 But my trials were not over. Some extra washing was needed :; so called in Ellen, and told her that Mary would require frock and two pair of drawers to be washed out, the ba- by some slips, and you some pocket-handker- chiefs. A saucy refusal leaped from the girls quick tongue, and indignant words to mine.-- Patience, whispered small, still voice. sti- fled with an effort my feelings restrained my speech, and controlled my countenance. Very calmly, as to all exterior signs, did l look into Ellen's face, until she dropped her eyes to the foor-in confusion.
 tYou must have forgotten yourself, said l, with some dignity of manner, yet without sign of irritation. She was humbled at once, confessed the wrong, and begged my pardon. forgave her after reproof, and she went lack to. the kitchen, somewhat wiser think than when summoned her. The washing requi- red has been done, and well done, and the girl