Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-06-24
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH
OUR MARTHA.

BY MRS. H B. STOWE.
MEssRs. EDITORS Now that our Charley is
SO admirably disposed of, we have moment
to spare to look after his mother. We shall
find her in the nursery, her basket piled with
clean clothes from the wash that need mending
her dress is neat but very plain for she says
she has not time to attend to more elaborate
toilette; the children's sewing must be atten-
ded to first Now this matter of sewing that
Martha spike OF, has become a very serious af-
fair. 'Tis true / hastened to buy her most
approved sewing-machine as soon as such an
article was heard of. Now, Martha said 1,
here is machine that will do your sewing
all up by magic, SO farewell to work basket,
needles, and thimbles-let me see no more of
those weafis0rne things Martha was delight
ed with my gift, and soon learned to use it
skillfuly but, if you'll believe me, she works
as constantly as before; and to all my inqui-
ries and renonstrahces only replies " Oh, you
men have nc idea how much fitting and finish
ing there is to be done" Between you and
me, really believe my wife has multiplied the
number of garments in proportion to her facil-
ity for making them. (There's a dozen of
shirts beautifully stitched for myself; now those
to Charley, Jane, and Fanny, and says she
sees on children better dressed ON the street,
and her motherly heart is satisfied but must
she wear out her valuable life for this? She
has suffered greatly from neuralgia during the
past year. | consulted our doctor he said,
1t is getting to be very common disease,
Gerry common, particularly among females the
nervous system is easily prostrated, she must
be eareful-try aconite and belladonna-let
her take exercise in the open air-have freedom
from care-if she is not better, call me in."-
Exercise in the open air Why, that is wholly
out of the question. Martha is busy within
doors all day long. She makes capital pies,
cakes, and preserves, and will not trust any do
mestic with this department of cooking to tell
you the truth, should not fancy these things
made by any other hands. Then she prefers
ironing her own muslin, the children's under
sleeves, etc.; servants tear fine things so. So
with many other little matters about home
But these things would be pleasure if she
could rest after them. But there are our chill
dren were there ever such noisy ores before
I suppose So as they are really an institution.
Jane and Charley are SO nearly of an age, and
both are favored with such remarkably inven-
tive powers, that they aid each other in getting
up slf kinds of mischief and noise. Now on
the back of a chair, reaching over the open
CRATE to the mantle piece, now at the sewing
machine, arranging an old stocking under the
pad and hurrying to get through before MAN.
ma appears; now galloping up af7a down the
room like wild horses, which last operation,
being most harmless, is Submitted to by poor,
meats on the lounge. But there goes Fanny
The Dlear little thing used to be perfect sun
'a",sm i'll the house but she is irritable from
teething, and Eanirla must rise and take her.
l tried to get nurse for her, but the careful
mother discovered so many defects that she
preferred looking after the children herself
In all this have not touched upon the numer-
Gus guests, who, finding Martha's housekeeping
excellent, and her table so abundant, often
claim our hospitality. When can she take the
fresh air? When can she find freedom from
care? What shall be done for Our Martha
A year or two ago Marthas sister spent
some time with us. She was returned mis-
sionary from India, and from constant associa
tion with the English residents there, had be-
come thoroughly English in her tastes and feel
ings. Our manner Of life evidently disturbed
her. She felt no sympathy with our nervous
hurry and excitement. Oh, you Americans
do not know how to enjoy life,' she would say;
you need to take>a few lessons from the Eng
lish. They sacrifice far less to outward show,
but enjoy infinitely more in their families. The
money you all spend in equaling or out-shining
your neighbors, would purchase for them
host of simple pleasures" l pondered her
words. 1t is true thought /, that take Mar
tha and the children drive every eve, after
business is over, but that is all. The children's
noise disturbs me; they are hurried to bed,
and are not up when l start for the store, so [
seldom see them, and can of coure do little for
them. Recently | came across a little book,
written by Mary Hewitt, at the solicitation of
friends describing their manner of educating
their daughter; and there I had nearer
glimpse of English life. The mother read the
life Of our Savior, and pointd out the lessons of
practical wisdom and piety to her child the
father led her out into the grand old woods
and there pointed out the sublime beauty of
the prophets whilst from the book of nature
he learned her the voice of every warbler she
listened to, and the name Of every leaf and
tree she gazed upon. And when the little girls
health seemed delicate, the mother at once re-
moved to one of those charming cottages
which the English ever seem ready to lend or
hire, ready furnished, to one another and there
in a quiet farmhouse, on the shores of beau
tiful lake, she drank in the fresh air, and gath
cred strength from long rides on her little pony,
or equally long walks through the woods with
| her mother. And when her father could find
| Io1- 5,x- L +,l-
his little boat, and stopping for his wife and
daughter by the lake. they would row out to
some beautiful island, and there under wide
spreading trees spread their table and enjoy a
| few delicious hours, ere the father returned to
the city and the mother and daughter to their
pleasant retreat Do you wonder that the
daughter recovered her health, or that Mary
Hewitt is so fresh and youthful in her feelings!
| Cannot we Americans do something of this
kind l know many do and if we live til
next August Martha and l will join theil
ranks. Farewell to Niagara and Saratoga
rich dresses, late hours, and little uncomforta
BILE rooms we will seek out some quiet farm
house among the hills, or by the seaside takC
all the children and let them run wild in thei
old clothing, whilst we with books and ponie
and picnicking in the woods, will forget for
few brief weeks that there are such things a
counting-h houses sewing machines, or bad ser
wants
MARRIAGE ON SHORT AC-
QUAINTANCE.
There is not city, there is not a township
that does not number among its inhabitant
women who have married on very short &C
; quaintance, only to be abused, deserted, AM
left burden and a lifelong sorrow to thei
families in which they were born and reared