Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-09
IDLE HANDS!
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

Mr.. Thornton came home at his usual mid
day hour, and as be went by the parlor door,
he saw his daughter, young lady of nine
teen, lounging on the'sofa with a book in her
hands. The whirr of his wife's sewing
machine struck on his esrs at the same mo-
ment. Without pausing at the parlor, he
kept on to the room from which came the
sound ofindustry. s--
Mrs. Thornton did not observe the entrance
of her husband. She was bending close do yn
over her work, and the noise OF her machine
was louder than his footsteps on the floor
Mr. Thornton stock looking at her for some
moments withou speaking.
"Oh, dearP exclaimed the tired woman,
letting her foot rest on the freadle, and
Strengthening herself up, "this pain in my
side is almost beyond endurance"
"Then why do you sit killing yourself,
there p said Mr. Thornton
Mr.. ThOrntou's aspect was unusually
sober.
"Whats the mstter7 Why do you look
so serious p asked bis wife
" Because feel serious, he answered.
g Has anything gone wroug2" Mrs. Thorn
tons cOuntenauce grew slightly troubled
Things had gone wrong in her husband busi-
ness more than once, and she had learned to
dread the occurrence Of disaster.
Things are wrong all the time" was
replied, in some impatience otmanner.
ain your business?' Mrs. Thornton spoke
q little family.
"No; nothing specially out Of the way
there; but its all wrong at home.'
az don't understand you, Harvey. What
is wrong at home, pray Z"
Wrong for you to sit, in pain and ex-
haustion, over that sewing machine, while an
idle daughter lounges over novel in the
parlor. That's what wished to say"
alt isn't Efies fault She often asks to
help me. But Ican't see the child put down
to household drudgery. Her time will come
soon enough. Let her have a little ease and
comfort while she may.
alive said that of our sons, replied Mr..
Thornton, "and acted on the word, what
efficient men they would make for the world 5
work. How admirably furnished they
would be for lifes trials and dutiesP'
You are wrongin this thing-all wrong"
continued the husband. Andas to ease and
comfort, as you say, if Efie is a right minded
girl, she viii have more true enjoyment in
the consciousness that she is tightening her
mothers burdens, than it is possible to obtain
from the finest novel ever written. Excite
ment Of the imagination is no substitute tor
that deep peace of mind that ever accompanies
and succeeds the right discharge of daily
duties Il is poor compliment to Efie's
moral sense to suppose that she can be con-
tent to sit with idle hands, or to employ them
in light frivolities, while her mother is worn
down with toll beyond her strength. Hester,
it must not ber'
"And it shall not bsF' said quick, firm
voice.
Mr. Thornton and his wife started, and
turned to the speaker, who had entered the
room unobserved, and been alistener to nesrly
ell the conversation we have recorded.
alt tshall not be, fatherW And Efie came
and stood by Mr. Thornton. Her tnce was
crimson; her eyes flooded with tears through
which light was flashing; her form drawn up
erectly; her manner resoluts.
a It isn't all my fault" she said, as she laid
her hand on her fathers arm. "Tve asked
mother, a great many times, to let me help
her, but she always puts me of, and says it's
easier to do a thing herself than to show
another Maybe l am a little dull. But
every one has to learn, you know. Mother
didn't get her hand in fairly with that sew
ing machine for two or three weeks, and I'm
certain it wouldn't take me any longer. Il
she only teach me how to use it, could help
her great deal And indeed, father, Pm
willingW
"SpOken in the right spirit my daughter
said Mr.. Thornton, aPpFovingly. "Girls
should be useiully employed as well as boys,
and in thRTery things most likely to be re-
quired of them When they become women in
the responsible positions Of wives and mothers
Depend upon it Efie, an idle girlhood is not
the way 10 q cheerful womanhood. Learn
and do, now, the very things that will be
required of you in after years, and then you
viii have an acquired facility. Habit and
skill viii make easy what might come hard
and be felt as very burdensOme."
| "a And you would have her abandon all
selfimprovement,' said Mrs. Thornton
&" Give up music, reading, society"
"There are, replied Mr. Thornton, as hi!
wife paused for another word, "some ffteer
or sixteen hours Of each day, in which mind
or hands should be rightly employed Now
let US see how Efie is spending these long anC
ever recurring periods of time. Come. my
daughter, sit down. We have. this subjec
fairly before US. It is one of liie-long-im
pOrtance to you, and should be well considered
How is it in regard to the employment o
your time. Take yesterday, for instance
The records Of q day will help Us 10 ge
towards the result alter which we are nov
searching" sre
Efie sat down, and Mr.. Thornton drew
char in front Of his wife and daughter.
aTake yesterday, for instance" said Ii,
father. eHow was it spent2 You rose a
SEVEN, I thinkPl '
Yes, sir; came down just as the break
last bell was rung, replied Ef6e.
And your mother was up at halEpsst I've
/ know, and complained Of feeling SO veal
. that she could hardly dress herself. But 70
All this she was at work until breakfast time
Now, # you hadrisen at six, and shared you
;; mothers work until seven, you would hav
taken an hour from her days burdens, an
certainly lost nothing from your music, sell
T improvement or social intercourse. HOY
/