The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-02-09
Modern Pictures.

People, as appears from communica
tions of CORRESPONDENTS, and otherwise
are just now thinking good deal Of
the training of the young. We have
been thinking of the same thing, and
will now relate as applicable to the sub.
ject, what We CHANGED to hear one day
and shall entitle it
THE WOULD BE YOUNG LADIES AND GEN.
TLEMEN.
Where's your father, Margaret p"
'sI suppose he's in the shop, sir.''
"Always hammering away, summer
and winter, from morning till night"
Yes, sir, father is very industrious;
l really believe he works because he
loves it."
And where's your mother, Mara
ret ?'
"She is in the kitchen, sir; mother
does so like to cook, and wash, and
sweep"
"That you and your sister Harriet
rarely have chance at the griddle or
broom, it is likely"
"Oh, never, sir; we take care of the
parlor, which for us would have no
tenant"
"You and your sister are, then, my
dear, your parents lilies of the parlor,
who neither sew nor spin; but contin-
ue to be arrayed as beautifully as Sol
omon, by the sewing and spinning of
Others"
"Sir?"
"And your brother Henry, does he
blow the bellows, or play second ham
mer to your father"
"Oh, dear, no, sir, he never works !;
he rides or promenades, goes to the
theatre, and visits the ladies. And we
60 to the play, receive the gentlemen,
and take drive, or walk"
"And what do you do the rest of the
time, for l suppose there is little
left %
"We are getting ready, SIR"
''This really seems very nice and
pleasant arrapgemeut-tot three of you
at least. Doubtless it is all agreeable
to your parents! They like their end
of the yoke, do they not ?''
What, sir P"
"Your father and mother like the
arrangement, which you speak Of
they are content to take their dividends
of life in work. They prefer to llbor
themselves, and don't seem to mind if
other people are always idle or not p"
60, dear, no. You can't imagine
how proud they are of being busy.
They would not be doing nothing if
they could, really believe. Father
was unwell week some time ago, and
idlenoss seemed to weigh upon him as
much as his disease. He was glad
enough to be active again once more,
| assure YOU"
Perhaps his unremitting labor is
necessary to enable him to maintain his
family ?"
"Why, perhaps it may be. Pm sure
| don't know"
"In that case, it is possible that
when his income is stopped by illness,
he may not be entirely easy in his
mind his prospects may not be clear
and pleasant"
"I don't know how that matter may
be, sir"
'sBut, of course, if anything should
happen to prevent your father from pro-
viding, there is your brother, and he
might"
"Ha, ha! What, brother Henry !?
He can't split stick to kindle the fire
with, and does not know how to keep
it going after it is made, unless it is to
let it go out. Brother would rather
have both hands chopped off than to
see them spoiled with work. He would
die, bofore he would let Christopher
Cherrywit or Tom Tweezer know that
he ever touched hammer or spade.
And as for his sister and me, you don't
imagine, hope"
"Not at all; there is not the least
need of your doing anything, 1 see."
"That is it, sir. The old folks would
not be easy without labor; they have
neither known what it is to rest, and
be amused; and we are ignorant of
anything else. So we are both suited.
w ork seems to be their only delight,
and it is lucky for us that is so. Don't
you think SO yourself, sir ?"
We did not hear the reply.