The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-07-28
MISCELLANEOUS.
PARLoR DAUGHTERS,
By A BACHELOR.

mothers too. Just listen moment, for
have short story to tell you: and
perhaps at the close of it we will find a
''moral," and perhaps sermon.
A few days since I called upon q
young lady. Imay as we'll say that,
having been considerably Impressed"
by her beauty and brilliant conversation
at several evening social parties, l had
resolved to prosecute the acquaintance.
will not affirm that there had not float
ed vaguely about in my brain certain
pleasing rose-colored Bachelors reve.
ries," in which figured conspicuously
the beaming face and elegant figure Of
Miss E.
Be that as it may, I called and, be-
ing ushered into the parlor, l sat down,
and awaited with some impatience the
appearance of the lady.
My attention was soon arrested by
voices in an adjoining apartment, and
the door being ajar. l was psrforce
listener.
"Oh, Carrie" said a very weak
voice. IF you would only have assisted
me three hours day, this attack might
have been averted but now tits too
late. know that weeks. if not months
Of illness, are before me. l am all tired
out"
"Why, mother" replied voice, al.
most petulantly-I had admired it the
evening previous for its spirited yet
amiable tones-"why, mother, nobody
does kitchen work now at least, nobody
that is anybody. Just think of Mrs.
Smythe, or Miss Brown. or Mrs. Soule,
associating with your kitchen girl, with
her dingy hands. Why, the idea is
absurd /; and besides, l hate house
work."
"Well" replied the invalid voice, II
don't know what would have been
thought of your assisting me about the
house a few hours each day, but l do
know that for the want of this help
am now i'll. Yes, Carrie, for the want
of your help have been obliged to
overtask myself"
Miss F. soon made her appearance,
with her winning smile. gay laugh, and
brilliant repartee but, somehow. the
image of her overtasked mother con-
stantly came between her and my pre-.
vious admiration SO, after few ill-at-
ease attempts at conversation. l took
my leave. .
AS l slowly walked away, musing.
"a change came DER the spirit of my
dreams" A daughter who "hateth
Homework" to such degree as to allow
her mother to get call tired out" and
i'll, from being "overtasked''-c
such daughter become that most in
estimable boon this side of Heaven, q
good wife
What if her husband had wealth, and
filled his house with troops of servants !;
could he have quiet. neat. well-order-
ed home? Would his children have a
true mother? No. A parlor daughter
will make a parlor wys. Brilliant, fas-
cinating-a rare and costly ornament
challenging the admiration of the world.
it may be, but never the holy source
and centre Of the comfort and peace of
her family.
AS thus rudely my rose -colored re-:
veries were changed to sombrs- -hued re-
alities, ! queried. was Miss F. an ex-
ception to this rule? How many young
ladies Of my acquaintance were really
helps to their mothers in domestic af-
fairs? How many would not blush with
shame at being seen making bread
not cake, but bread? How many could
cook and get on the table good dinner.
or superintend and direct such an un-
dertaking? How many to whom the
old.fashioned 'dish-cloth' is not 'hor-
rid thing?' How many could starch
and iron shirt-bosom or collar, so it
would look respectfully.
Alas how few could I recall who
would not properly be numbered in the
long list of those to whom these things
were not only mysteries, but absolutely
disagreeables and undesirables.
/ say alas + for it is a sad thing, not
only for us young men, the future hus-
bands of these frail 'lillies of the field
who toll not, neither do they spin. but
to the daughters themselves.
Look at them-look at yourselves,
young ladies'. Where is the round,
plump, solid arm and cheek of your
grandmother, at your ago? Where is
her power of endurance, her exuberant
spirit, depressed by no circumstances !:
her energy and self-reliance. equal to
her emergency ; and where in the future
are you to obtain strength to pass uu-
scathed through tie perils Of maternity,
as did she?
Look around you At the young wives
and mothers; what pitisble specimens
of feminine humanity; what discour-
aged, disheartened object of commisse-
ration; what traces of pain and illness
are written upon their shrunken visages
before the fifth anniversary Of the hon
ey-moon.'
Look at the unhappy countenances Of
half the young husbands you meet
Do they not speak Of pleasing anticipa
tions. followed by unpleasant realities ?
How many a husband. who in his bache-
lor days fondly dreamed Of bllhe,
cheerful. neat housewife. whose lark
like song should testify each morning
that household duties were we'll spring
of pleasure, has found. by sad expe-
rience. the wide difference between ro-
nance and reality. And how many
young man of manageable age and fine
prospects. seeing the rude dispelling OF
this or that companions dream Of do
mestic enjoyment. takes warning and
holds himself sternly aloof from all mat
rimonial entanglements. ! assure you.
ladies. know many young man. con-
sidered by calculssing mammas and
anoiable daughters as decidedly . GOOD