Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-01-28

foregoing couveraiion rnshed iorsibly over
her memory.
81 declare" said she. ~ have balf
mind to run over TO Mrs. Merton's this af.
ternoon,and cross question hor, ill learn
her secret. Such life n I am living il
unenduraiHe. | cannot stand II any longer.
II she can end time I know can. II only
know how"
And true 20 her resolution, Tor though
seemingly hasty, II had been for some time
maturing IN her mind alnos, unwitiir ely
she found herself a, an early hour Mt her
friends parlor, her bonnet and shawl
thrown aside. and herself, work bag in hand
snugly ensconced in low rocker beside her
little worksiand.
" You have not finished your collar them
she observed to Mrs. Merton, after while,
by way OF leading the conversation in the
desired channel.
30 ys, indeed" answered the hostess,
tossing her head to one side giily, with q
pretty airecta,ion Of pride. " Diin't you
notice how becoming 1t wa.2"
"And commencing another so soon ?"
Only basting on the pattern 80 as TO
have |, ready Tor some moment.
Z" Bu, how can you bear to spend 50 much
time in embroidery Why not purchase Il,
at once'-it is 50 much cheaper ia the end. :
:" For the wealthy Il Is and for those not
very wealthy. II their eye'isht is poor. or
II lacking taste and needle skill. Bat I find
1t cheaper 10 do 1t myself. Ny husbands
salary does not allow US many luIures, and
the small sun we can spend Tor them pre-
fer should 90 TO purchase what my own
fingers cannot make. can embroldcr col.
lars and sleeves. not 50 perfectly 1t {. true.
a. they do in foreign cIimcs, but handsome
lyenough to suit my own and husband.
cyes-but I cannot writo books, IN, ,aIi mes
reviews or newspapers, and they are luIu.
rie' more essential to happin"s, than these
articles Of dress. 80 | do my own needle
work, and with the money thus saved. we
purchase something that wall never 20 ou,
Of iashion-in intellectual heritage for our
little ones, Us we'll As perpetual feast for
US"
Z" Bot how do you find time to do 50
much work. ! cannot conceive how, or
where"
Well. hardly know myself" said
Mrs. Merton laushingly. Ny husband
some times tells me he believes that the fai.
ries belpme. I seldom set down 10 ii IN
earnest, but | catch il up at odd moment,
and before | am aware Of 1, myself it is
done"
"0h, dear" and Mrs. Nelson sighed, ~
wish had your faculty. Do pray, Mr..
Merton, tell ms the .ccre, Of your sucee..
in everything. How DO you always find
time for everything.
"Do You question me seriously or only
moekingly 10 remind me how much leave
undone2'
Seriously. veIy seriously. To own the
truth It wa. TO learn ,hi. that came over
here today. There are thousand thing. I
long to DO, because they would not only ini
crease my own JOYS, bu. those Of my house.
hlld but cannot Gnd tho time. Yet YOU
do them, and You have more care. and du-
ties than |. II you will tell me your secret
believe me, | shall feel under deep ohllga.
tion' to you"
+ Her friend hesitatsd a moment. She was
not wont TO speak very much oi herself. be.
lieying that character should reveal itself by
actions mostly. and eonsciou. that IL will,
too whether it be perfect or faulty one.
Yet there was such an urgency a, length it
conquered the scruples Of modes,y.
:" am afraid shall remind you Of great
I, II undertake IT," SAID sho with a blush,
"yet | can hardly give you my experience
without suSjecting myself to the charge Of
egotism. Yet as we are alone, and as you
seem to think that have avoided some Of
the bssettins evils Of ,hi. life, why will re.
veal to you what you call my secret.
My mother early ins,illed into my mind
and heart, by precept and example, a lew
rules Of action that have seduou.ly en-.
dcayored to follow, and which, | believe al
most NOR. than anything else, have contrib
uted to my domestic peace and happiness.
One Of them, is to always have time for
esery ordinary duty to have that time at
such day. or such an hour OF the day. as
is best adapted to i,s perfect iulflment, and
always extraordinary cases only excepted to
perform the duty at the time.
For instance. my general sweeping day 10
on Friday, because to my mind, il is the
most suitable one in the week. And tho
best portion Of the day to do 1, i' very early
in the morning. 6r then can throw open
my doors and windows TO the freshest pur-
est breezes We get at all, aud am not dls.
turbed by the din Of travel, nor annoyed by
tho dust. and then by pos,poning my bath
and breakfast toilet, merely throwing on a
wrapper and cap to sweep in, till the house
is clean, why am tidy for the res, Of the
day.
Whereas, if I wait ill after breakfast.
must spend time to take another bath. and
make another change Of dress. Now, CON-
fess 1t is hard 'Oue,imes To keep to this
rule. When my sleep has been broken by
the restlessness Of the baby, or when some
thing has kept me up later than usual the
previous evening, feel strongly inclined to