Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-27
D. G., SATURDAY. FEBRUARY n, 1858.

| cupations which were necessary and laudable
fifty years ago, would now be a mere waste Of
time, and that young lady Of the present day,
engaged in spinning or weaving. would be as
much out Of her proper sphere of action as a
buxom, roughhanded farmers daughter Of the
olden time, learning painting and embroidery.
The truth is it is the abuse Of what is called
fashionable that makes men so bitter against
the present state of things, and causes them to
revert to the days when they were not teased
for money to be spent in frippery, nor their
sleep haunted by visions of tradesmen's bills (;
to pay which, mortgages must be given on their
| property for to this very strait have many
been reduced, by the extravaganza Of their
families. Your father is rich man, nor would
he like to see you doing any really laborious
work constantly; it is the principle he con
tends for, because he fears you may be drawn
into the vortex Of fashionable folly, with
| Others"
"No danger, while he holds the purse
strings" remarked Malvina, who had listened
in silence to the conversation.
"As proof Of what / say" continued Mrs.
Mason, che has sent you, Malvina, to the best
school in the country, suffered you to acquire
accomplishments which he no doubt considers
useless, and has purchased piano for your
| qualification; and now, my dear child, he ex-
expects you will not devote all your time to
these things, but assist your mother and Chari-
| ty about the house"
"It is not genteel for lady to do house
work, " said Malvina Euphrasia, affectedly.
/ at was not thought ungenteel in the time
| of our own Governor Wolcott," replied her
grandmother, "whose amiable and accom-
| plished wife and daughters assisted regularly
| in the work of the house, and have seen
them wearing fine thread stockings, spun and
| knit with their own hands. No one ever dis
puted their right to the title Of ladies' in every
sense of the word"
"But about the spinning, grandmother, "
said Charity, returning once more to the start
ing point, "why do you sit all day at your
wheel, when there is no necessity for iti"
~ am old, replied Mrs. Mason, and can be
of little help in any other way. Besides, it
calls up pleasant recollections of days long
past, and while sit at my humble employ
ment retrace again and again the thread Of
my life, and when find a rough, uneven spot,
| endeavour to remember whether 1t was caused
by my own wilfulness and passion, and If so,
try to atone for it by deep and heartfelt peni-
tence, and thus am quietly preparing Cor the
! great change that awaits me-"
There was a pause, but at length Mrs,
| Mason continued:
81 cannot have my favorite spinning wheel
fall into disgrace because the time is past when
it can be profitably employed; it must be hon.
ored for the good it has done. recollect an
instance where it rendered important service to
whole family"
"oh, pray relate it." cried Charity; and
even Malvina seemed disposed to listen.
al am afraid, Malvina, said Mrs. Mason,
"thAt the tale Of Spinning wheel, sounds
very unpromising, after the high-Aown novels
| you read but it may do you good, for it will
show what patient industry can accomplish for
those we love.
at was long, long ago, that two young girls
were walking along the dusty street Of very
small village, engaged in earest conversation.
One, whose name was Jemima Eldridge, was
short and thick, with plump red cheeks, and
very white teeth, which she was exceedingly
fond Of displaying; her person was loaded
with finery of every kind, put on in defiance
Of all taste, and total disregard for harmony
in colors. The other-,Hester Wilson-was
tall and slender, with delicate complexion and
blue eyes, in whose depths the very spirit Of
| kindness seemed TO nestle, while on her ex.
pressive features there rested shade OF sad.
ness, rs IL trouble had already fallen on her
| young heart Her dress was plain and simple
in the extreme, yet far more becoming, in its
beautiful neatness, than the gaudy apparel Of
her companion. do you know, said Jemima,
that school begins tomorrow The new
master has come and father says he is such a
nice young man only little reserved. am
going, and who knows but may make con.
+, quest Are you goingr NO. replied Hes
ter, Il do not think father can afford to send
us all, and the children need IL more than do
What nonsense exclaimed Jemima, tossing
her head; there are pack Of young ones at
our house, too; but am not going to give up
my privileges to them, | assure you. You had
better leave yours at home, and go TO school
with the rest Of the girls Il canno. leave
them all and go myself for have no mother
as you have, Jemima, TO look after them, re-
turned Hester, sorrowfully. Well, would
not give it up so; always tease father until
have my own way, and dare say you could
do the same Hester made no reply, and hav.
ing arrived at the point where their roads sep
aratcd, the girls bde good night, and each
walked quickly homeward, Jemima to assert
her determination Of going to school, and Hes
ter to prepare the frugal evening meal for hcr
father and his motherless children.
Mr.. Wilson sighed as he looked round on
his little flock, and felt that many and bitter
are the trials OF those who, having known
prosperity endure its reverse, and through
that ordeal he was now passing. The death Of
his wife, which followed the birth of little Molly,
was the beginning of series Of misfortunes
which Providence sends like the rain, on the
just as well as the unjust Loss succeeded loss,