Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-01-07

g lsa s.se4s ssa e SIS - aaasfsE ssI1as.s
= Is sss3sasssos qzssa a7e@ag ~ Bsssa9s5
-.
T breakfast was one hour late. This lost hot
Z Mrs. James could not recover. EIeve
O'Clock came, and her morning work ha
i done. With a mind disturbed and deprea:
! ed, she left things in the suds as they wer
d and retired punctuaIIy to her study. Sh
J, found, however, that it was impossible to Fl
] her attention upon anything which require
thought. Neglected duties haunted her a
: ghosts do the guilty conscience.
Finding that she was really doing no;hin,
with her books and wishing not to lose tn
: morning wholly, she commenced letter
!, when Bridget came to her door before sh
had written half a page.
i What shall We have for dinner. ma'am
There aint no marketing come, and you di,
not tell me what to GET s
sE5.yo ssg1,r,,os8 s,,sals szaisi SIT e tfssssE'
esWe hain1 got none.' '.-''4s.i' ''.sss-' =
well, viii send for some.' -
i. Now there was no one to send but Amy
and Mrs. James knew it. With a sigh she
put away her letter and went into the nur
sery. sa'a''a 2 = 44.4l=-a- 8. = 2 -
4 Amy. Mr.. James has forgotten the mar.
keting wish you would run over to the
I provision store and order some beef steaks:
| will stay with the baby -
Amy was none too well pleased to be sent
4 on this errand. She remarked that she
must first change her dress,' go
! BE as quick as possible, then,' said Mrs
james, 'for am particularly engaged this
/ morning.
] Amy neither obeyed nor disobeyed; but
] managed to take her own time in reality,
though without any determination to do So
Mrs. james thinking she might get along a
sentence in the nursery, took her German
book in; but to this arrangement Charlie by
no means consented. Mamma must show
him the kitties IN the book; whether there
or not, it was Ill one to him-but amused
| he must be. Half her second days time of
/ trial was gone, when Amy came in; and with
/ a sigh Mrs. James returned TO her ROOM
/ Before obe O'clock she had been called down
| to the Kitchen twice on important business
relating to The dinner, and for this day not
one entire page Of letter had been written.
On the third morning she rose early, made
every preparation. for dinner and for the
| comfort of the family, which she deemed
necessary, and elated, she entered her study
precisely at eleven O'Clock. Now she was
to have fine time OF it. Her books were
opened and hard lesson summoned to the
conflict Scarcely had she read a line when
she heard the door be1lring,
Somebody wants 10 see you in the parlor,
Mrs james,
TELL them I am engaged. Bridget
i told them you were to home ma am, and
they told me their names, but did not ex-
actLy understand
Mrs. James was obliged to go. To smile
when she felt sober, 10 be attentive when
her thoughts were elsewhere. Her friends,
however, seemed to find her agreeable, for
they made her a long call; and when they
rose 10 go others cane. So in the most un-
satisfactory chit:chat all this morning went. |
On the next day Mr.. james invited some
company 70 tea, and Mrs. James was obliged
to give the morning to prepare for it. and
did not enter her study. On the following,
she was obliged to keep her bed with sick
headdce; on Saturday, Amy having extra
work to %, the charge of the baby devolved
upon her Thus passed the FIRST week.
True 10 her promise Mrs James patiently |
persevefeds for d month, in her efforts to Sc
cure to herself this fragment of broken time,
with what success the weeks history can
tell. With IFS close. closed the month of
December. Being particularly occupied on
the last day of the old year, in getting ready
for the morrow's festival, it was near the
last hour of the day when she made her
good night call in the nursery. She went
tosthe crib to look at the baby; there he lay
fast asleep in his innocence and beauty.
She Kissed the rosy cheek gently. and
stroked his golden hair, and pressing his lit
tie dimpled hand within hers, she drew the
warm covering more closely around him,
carefully tuckfng ii in, then stealing one
more kiss, she left him in his slumbers and
sat down on her daughters bed. She was
lso sweetly asleep, with her dolly hugged !
close to her Her mother smiled. bot soon
il seemed asi graver and sadder thoughts |
filled her r:sind, as indeed they did. She was
thinking Of her disappointed plans. To her /;
not only the past month, but the past year, /
seemed to have been OF fruitless effort; it !
seemed to her braken and disiointed; even |
her hours of religious meditation had been
encroaehed upon and distracted. Sac had
accomplished nothing, that she could see,
but keep her family; and to her saddened !
thoughts even this seemed to have been but |
indfferently done.
She felt, she was very sure, no desire TO
shrink from duty, however humble; but she
sighed for some comforting assurance of
what lcaS duty. Her pursuits, conflicting
as they did with her tastes, seemed to her J
friviloas. She felt there was some better !
way of living, which she, from want of
energy or principle. had failed of discover
ing. AS she leaned over her child her tears
fell fast upon her young brow.
Hsw earnestly wished that mother that
she could shield her child from the disap
pointments, and self-reproaches, and mis-
takes from which she was suffering; that
the little one might take up life where she
could give it to her. mended by all her own
experience. 1t would have been great
comfort could she have fought the battle for
both. - gs"0
Yet she knew it could not be SO; that we
must ali learn for ourselves what are those
things which help make our peace. With |
tears still in her eyes, she gave the good
night to the child, and with soft step enter !
ed the adjoining room, and there fairly kissed !
out the Old year off another rosy cheek !
which nestled among the pillows; then she
sought her own rest.
Soon she found herself in singular place. !
She was traversing vast plain; no trees
were visible save those which skirted the |
horizon; on their top rested wreath of
golden clouds. Before her, travelling to-
wards that distant light. was female. Lit
tie children were about her side. As she |
journeyed on she busted herself caring for
them. Now she soothed them when weary |
now she taught them how to travel, and