The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-05
Idle Hands
sx 7. as4aus.

in'1er hands. The whirEof his wife's sew
ing machine struck on his ears at the same
moment. Without Ssusing at the parlor, he /
kept on TO the room from. which came the
sound Of industry.
Mrs. Thornton did not observe the en-.
trance of her husband she ives bending
close down over her wosk, and the noise Of
her machine was louder Than his footsteps
on the floor. Mr.. Thornton stood looking
ct her some moments without speaking.
. -s0h, deer I sxclsimessth eA4ifeS @onsns:
letting her foot rest on the trsadls, and
Strengthening herself up, this pain 10 my side
is almost beyond endurance
Then why do you sit, killing yourself,
there = suid Mr.. Thornton.
Mr.. Thornton's aspect was unusually so.
ber.
Whats the matter! Why do you look
80 serious = asked bis wife.
Because | feel serious,' he answered.
Has any thing gone. ~rong?' Mrs.
Thornton's couutenaucs grew slightly trou.
bled. Things had gone wrong 10 her nus.
baud's business more than once, and she had
Learned 10 dread the occurrence of disaster.
Things are wrong all the time WAS re-
piled with some impotence OF manner.
in yonr busln ess = Mrs. Thornton spok g
little family.
No; nothing specially out of the way
there; but it's all wrong at home
Il don't understand you, Harry. What is
wrong at home pray!'
Wrong for you to cit, in pain and ex.
hsustion over that sewing machine, while
an idle daughter lounges over novel In the
parIor. That's what wished TO say
Il; isn't Efie's fault. She often asks to
help me. Bot I can't see the child put
down to household udgery. Her time will
cone soos enough. Let her have a little
ease and comfort while she may
IF we spid that OF cur sons replied Mr.
Thornton, 'and acted on the word, what eff.
cient men they would make for the worlds
work How admirably furnished they
would be Tor lies trials and duties ?
you are wrong in this thing-sl wrong
continued the husband. 'And as to eQse
aid comfort, as you say, il Effie is right
minded eHl, she will have mere true enj>y.
ment in the consciousness thai she is )iaht
sniDg her mothrr's burdens, than it is posi-
BILE to obtain from the finest novel eveI
written. Excitement OF the Imagination is
10 substitute Tor that deep peace of mine
which ever accompanies and succeeds the
right dpchsrge of daily duties. 1t is a poo
compliment TO Effie's moral sense to sup
pose that she can be content 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 be =
And it shall no, be = said a quick, firm
voice.
Mr.. Thornton and his wife started, ant
turned to the speaker, who had entered The
room unohserved, and been a listener tc
nearly all the conversation we have record
ed.
1T shall not be father y And Effie camt
and stood by Mr.. Thornton. Her face wa
crimson her eyes flooded with tears
through which light was flashing !; her form
drawn up erectly her manner resolute.
1T isn't all nv fault she said. as she lai'
her hand on her father's arm. 1--we aske'
mother, great many times, to let me hell
her, but she always puts me off, md say
it's essier to do thing herself ,hnn to SHOW
another. Maybe am a little dull but ev
cry one has to learn you know. MOthe
didn't get her hand in fairly with that sew
ing machine for two or three weeks, and In
certain it wouldn't take me any longer.
she'd only teach me how to use it, coul
help her great deal. And indeed, father
Pm willing |!
Spoken in the right spirit, my daughter,
said Mr.. Thornton, approvingly. Girl
should be usefully employed ss well ns boys
and in the very things most likely to be re
quired of them when they become women il
the responsible position Of wives aud mo
thers. Depend upon it Efie, an idle girl
hood is not the way to cheerful womsn
hood. Learn and do now, the very thing
that will be required of you in after years
and then you will have an acquired facility
Habit ard skill will make easy what nigh
come hard, and be felt as very burdensome.
sAnd you would have her abandon al
self.improvement,' said Mrs. Thornton
'Give up music, reading, society-'
'There are,' replied Mr.. Thornton. as hi
wife paused for another word, some fiftee
or sixteen hours in each day, in which min
or hands should be rightly employed. No'
let Us see how Efie 10 spending these Ion
and ever.recurring periods Of time. CONF
my daughter, cit down.. We have this sui
ject fairly before Us. II is one of life.loD
importance to you, and should be well cor
sidered. How is it in regard to the employ
ment Of your time. Tske yesterday for il
stance. The records Of day will help u
to get toward the result after which we ar
now searching.
Efie sat down, and Mr. ThorDtou drew
chair in front of his wife and daughter.
r T. n ~ r