Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-10-22
A Word about n siinbeairs.


vas busy day with me. How many
such, did every week bring with it Morn
ing "chores' in abundance-little lunch
baskets to prepare for school-little faces
and hanHs to wash-refractory books, miss
ing buttons, knotted strings, all, to be ar
ranged at the moment. Fretful baby to
quiet and amuse-an early dinner to get
table provision to be made for company, up
on the shortest notice--house to be set in
order to receive them-and worse than all i,
as sharp goad In the side, under all this
burden, lay that easily besetting but careful
ly-concealed sin, the determination that ev-
erything should be done with Just so much
nicely and exactness as | deemed essential to
'good housekeeping"
Surely never before, was baby half so ir-
ritable as this day never half so unwilling
to sit upon the carpet and please himself
| had some misgivings as remembered the
difficulty with which he had cut the former
teeth and the possibility ola return of the
convulsions; yet how many items in the or
der and arrangement of my house, must
neglect, if give my time to him? And the
rest OF the children too-it seemed as if they
would never get off to school. Books mis-
laid-slate lost-an excuse wanted for de-
ficient composition thought Job certain
ly had never tried mothers perplexities,
when he won the palm for patience. Yet,
secretly, conscience was worrying ME sorest
of all-for it | would but omit the polishing
of certain articles of table use, upon which
[ was bent, knew might soon find little
Emma's book, and as for Charles slate,
remembered that some little school-mates
were amusing themselves with it the day
before, seated in the woodshed, where no
doubt it was left But was too much pro-
voked by the succession of vexatons to be
willing to redeem his carelessness SO easily.
As the children left the house, Emma
sobs had not yet ceased. Anna was cross at
the long delay. But Charlie turned his
large loving eyes upon his mothers te1ed
and careworn countenance and murmured
such cautious, sad "Good by, ma" that
the words fairly stuns me. An angels re-
proof lay all over that fair young face with
its earnest gaze, With nervous haste bu-
ricd mysalf in domestic concerns
At last, although fatisueI. heated, and
restless in spirit, all was completed. Each
room had received the last touch every de-
sired arrangement had been brought about
even blby had dropped into quiet sleep
Before the arrival of my guests, and for a
short interval was conscious of enc of those
pauses in which the soul is ready to speak.
just then, walking slowly across the room
to replace broom which had been in use
| observed shred or string lying upon the
carpet, Surprised that even this small REM
nant Of untidincss should be left. where |
thought all had been IN complete order.
paused, and set about removing the intruder
swcpt--but it remained. STOPPING down
to pick it up with my fingers, | found it a
sunbeam a tinny sweet sunbeam had stolen
between the daracned blinds and actually
nestled in the carpet, where hustle and hur-
ry and ann oyances had banshcd every ves-
tage Of sunshine from the heart. A light
from that peaceful sunbeam shone into my
deepest soul as ifit were lightning's flash
that had poured in upon me.
In my ignorant nicety, had been trying
! ! IL,
On, how many bright beams had L, on that
very day, swept and washed aud cleaned out
ofmy house. The faces Of my little chill
dren pcGred up from the ray on the floor
and-how they did plead to a mothers
heart. The soothing, forbidding tone with
which my husbhnd had met the fretful COM
plants Of the morning-this too, spoke out
from the little sunbeam. Iquivered under
the sound of it, No angry reproofs could
have pierced my heart with half so many
sorrows As all my folly and ingratitudc
stood unmaskcd before me, my anguish was
incxprcssibe. Sinking into chair, buried
my face in my hands, and while the scall-
ins tears h)wed, such prayers went up from
my aching heart as trust have never been
/ forgotten or lost.
How trifin5-how unimportant, now ap-
peued the vain emulation which so constant
" spurrcd me to endure labors. Every
household article might shine by the toll.
of peatncss, but how was my soul, day by
day, darhening with impotence, complaints
and unthankfulness. How small matter
in the sight of God, and now in my owl
sight, was the enved reputation of Il house
k,eper in comparison with that gentle pa
tiencc, that loving sympathy and aid, which
my children required and deserved at my
hands. longcd for their return from schoo
that mi sht begin to retrieve my injustice
to them. Peace, sweet peace, how had
shut it out ofmy heart-shut it from my
family-ah how busy had b'en sweeping
it all away,
love the remembrance of that gentle mon
itor, the sweet sunbeam date renewed
existence from the day it s.raycd 50 unbid
den into my parlor. trust | have learned
to devote my energies to life that is salts
fled and eternal, rather than aim to deserve
ever 50 well the need of human applause 70,
its own sake. | now question the virtue cl
that degree of household order, neatness, OF
taste which has become so absorbing and
cxactlng as to render the little kindnesscs
and charities of ur home life interruptions
of our main plan, which has usurped the