Randolph County journal., 1859-10-27
m 7. .. ARTHU,.

tnere Tor ever SO iOhg time, ana i
want to go so badly
Didn't say no?' The lady frown-
ed severely.
Blu, the child fingered by her moth
er. who. being too busy to attend to
her any further, pushed her firmly
aside. and bent down again over her
work. Not three minutes passed be-
fore the cry
Mother! was ringing through the
apartment again. AS before. there
was no response.
Mother! Mother!'
Still no answer.
Il say. Mother. why don't you an
swer when | speak,
An angry spot was burning upon the
child's face. and her tones were any
thing but filial.
Anna, said the lady. looking up
from her work, and addressing her
in an offended voice. DO you know to
whom you are speaking?'
Why don't you answer me them
Hush this instant! You impudent
little girl; how dare you?'
And there was an upward movement
of the lady's hand. as if she were
tempted to inhict blow. Somewhat
frightened at the threatened conse-
quence, Anna retreated from her moth
er. who again bent over the sewing in
her hands. And what was the work
which so absorbed her attention that
she had no ears for her child-that the
word mother. found no quick echo in
her heart? We answer, a piece of
elaborate embroidery, designed for a
garment to adorn the body of this very
child. There was to be u little one S
party at neighbor's, and Anna hav-
ing received an invitation, her mother,
more in pride than true affection. had
undertaken to embroider for her skirt
.and body to be worn on the occasion.
The pattern was very rich, and took
mere time for its execution than she
had at first thought would be required.
Many home duties were neglected
for the sake of this piece of needle
work. saerd home duties. that can new
er he omitted without wrong. The
baby, not SO well as usual, had been
permitted to lie for hours fretting in
its cradle, when it should have, been
nesting upon its mothers bosom; and
worse than that, the mind of the child,
fer the adornnent of whose body the
elegantly wrought garment was in
tended, had received many dis6guring
marks. There had been inattention
to ker requests, neglect of her wants,
and angry repulsion when she had in
truded those wants too impatiently.-
As the garment grew in beauty under
the mothers skillful hands. fretiulness,
impstience. anger. and disobedience
were doing ,heir evil work upon her
soul.
For nearly two whole days. every
thing had been neglected for this bit
of vanity; and the greatest sufferers
were the children-baby and Anua.-
Yet. 80 absorbed was the mother in her
work. that she had only dim percep-
tion Of her error. She did not. of
course, escape the jat of discord that
ran ia disturbing pulsations through
her household. and so her own spirit
lost honsly measure of self-possess-
ion- Light causes disturbed her, little
annoyances fretted her beyond control;
even the smallest obstruction in the
current of her thought sent the hot
blood to her checks and temples. Her
husband felt, and was made unhappy
by the change in her temper. Her do
mcstics were chsfed by her impatient
way of speaking to them; and we have
already seen something of the effects
produced on one of her children.
Little Anna. after being repulsed
and threatened. retired to distant
part of the room, aud, ,crouching down
in the corner remained silent long
time. The baby, after having fretted
in the cradle half an hour. lost itself
in sleep. Aad SO the mother worked
on in peace, greatly to her satisfaction.
the rich flowers growing into form and
beauty under her skillful fingers. and
spreading themselves over the garment
she was decorating for her child. And
what of that child now? She had driv-
en- her away angrily. little while be-
fore; anu since that time she had nei-
ther heard her voice. nor the sound OF
her footstep. All at once thought of
Anna came so distinctly into her con-
sciousness. that she looked around
quickly to see if she were in the room.
'Anna!' she called. But there was
no reply.
'Annal' The silence of the apart
ment gave her a strange feeling. and
laying down the garment upon which
she was at work. she arose.
Anna! she called again. as her eyes
rested upon the form OF her little one
lying upon the floor. Passing over
quickly. she stopped and caught the
child in her arms, repeating her name
over and over as she did SO. But Anna
was fast asleep, and did not answer.
So she laid her upon the sofa. and bent
over her with tender. yearning emo
tion at her heart. And now the unu-
sual redness of Anna's cheeks attract
Ell her attention. and she placed her
hand upon the soft flesh. nervously.-
IL Was above the natural heat. She
caught up one Of the little hands ca