Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-21
A Good Days Work.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

do another said Mr.. Barlow, rubbing his
hands together, wisely, and with the air Of a
man who felt very much pleased with himself
! 'And so have l." Mrs Barlows voice was
| in lower tone, and less exultant, yet indica,
tive of spirit at peace with itself
"Let Us compare notes" said Mr. Barlow, in
the confident manner of one who knows that
triumph will be on his side, "and see which
has done the best days work"
'tYOa, of course" returned the gSntlehearted
I'VE shall see. Let the history of your day q
dOings precede mine" s--vi-
mo, )" said Ms. Barlow, lyon shall give the
first experience"
Barlow began:
4YOu remember the debt of Harheld about
which I spoke few days agO!"
"Yes."
II considered it lespeYats-wOuld have sold
out my interest at thirty cents on the dollar
when left home this morning. Now the
whole claim is secure ! had to scheme little.
1t was q sharp practice. But the thing is
done. IdOn't believe that another creditor Of
Warfelds win get third Of his claim" o.
"The next operation" continued Mr.. Bsr-
low, al consider quite as good About year
ago took fifty acres of land in Erie county,
for debt, at a valuation of five dollars an acre.
! sold it to day for ten. don't think the man
knew just what he was buying. He called to
see me about it, and asked ten dollars an acre
| at a venture, when he promptly laid down one
hundred dollars to bind the bargain. If
should never see him again, / am all right
That is transaction number two. Number three
is as pleasant to remember. l sold a lot of
goods, almost year out of date, to a young
county merchant, for cash. He thinks he has a
bargain; and perhaps he has; but would have
let them 90 at any time during the past six
months at loss of thirty per cent, and thought
the sale desirable one."
Now, there is my good days work. Jenny,
and it is one to be proud Of Itske some credit
TO myself for being, upon the whole, pretty
bright sort of man, and bound to go through,
Let Us have your story now"
The face Of Mrs. Barlow flushed slightly
Her husband waited for q few moments, and
| then said:
"Let US hear of the yards of stitching, and
the piles of good things made"
"No-<nothing of that" answered Mrs Bar
low with q slight veil of feeling covering her
pleasant voice. 81 had another meaning when
l spoke of having accomplished good days
work. And now, as my dOiDgs will bear no
comparison with yours, think of declining
their rehearsal"
"a bargains bargain, Jenny" said Mr.
| Barlow. "Word-keepng is a cardinal virtue
So let your story be told. You have done a
good days work in your own estimation, for
| you said so. Go on. am sll attention"
Mrs. Barlow still hesitated. But, after lit.
tie more urging, che began her story Of good
| DAVIS work. Her voice was a little subdued,
and there was an evident shrinking fIomihe
subject about which she felt constrained to
speak.
81 resolved last night" said she, "after pas
| sing some hours OF selfe examination and self
upbraldings, that would, for one day, try to
possess my Sonl in patience. And this day has
been the trial day. Shall go on!'
! Mrs Barlow looked up with timid, half
bashful air at her husband She did not meet
his eyes, for he had turned partly away.
"Yes, dear Jenny, go on" The husbands a
| buoyancy of tone was gone. In its place was
something tender and pensive.
Little Eddy was unusually fretful this morn
ing, as you will remember. He seemed per
verse, thought-cross, as We call it. was
tempted to speak harshly two or three times;
but, remembering my good resolution 1 put on
the armor ofPatience, and never let him hear
tone. Dear. little fellow When 1 went to
one of his ears, small, infamed boil. 1t has
made him slightly ieverish AMI worrysOme all
! day. Oh, wasn't glad that patience had ruled
my spirit!
''After you went away to the store, Mary got
| into one of her peryerse humors. She didn't
want to go to school, to begin with; then she
couldn't find her slate; and then her shoe pinch
ed her. felt very much annoyed; but recalls
| ingmY gsod resolution, | met her irritation
with calmness, her wiltfulness with patient ad-
monition, her stubborn temper with gentle
rebuke; and so l conquered. She kissed me,
and started for school with cheerful counte-
nance, her slatein her sstchel, and the pinching
shoe unheedej And SO had my reward.
"But my trials were not over. Some extra
washing was needed So I called Ellen, and
| told her that Mary would require a frock and
| two pairs of drawers to be washed out, the ba-
by some slips, and you some pocket handker-
chiefs. A saucy refusal leaped from the girls
quick tongue, and Indignant words to mine. Pa
tisnce! patience! whispered q small still voice. I
stihed, with an effort, my feelings, restrained
my speech, and controlled my countenanee.--
! Very calmly, as to sl exterior signs, did look
into Ellens face until she dropped her eyes to
the floor in confusion.
@'You must have forgotten YOURSELF said /,
! With some dignity OF MANNER YET WITHOUT. a
sign of irritation. She was humbled at once
confessed the wrong, and begged my pardon
I forgave Eer, after reproof, and she went back
to the kitchen, something wiser, think, than
when I summoned her. The washing l re-
quired has been done, and well done and the
girl has seemed all day as if she were endeav-
ing to atone, by kindness and service, tor that
hasty speech. If mistake not, we were both
improved by the discipline through which we
passed.
"0ther trials have had through the day
Some of them quite rs severe as the few have
mentioned; but the srmor of patience was
whole when the sun went down. was able
to possess my soul in peace, and the conquest
of self has made me happier. This is my
l'dsy's work. It may net seem much in your
eyes."
Mr. Barlow did not look up nor speak as the
voice of his wife grew silent. She waited
almost minute for his response. Then be
bent forward, suddenly, and kissed her, saying
as hs did 30
"Mine was work, yours battle-mine sue
cess, yours conquest-miDe easy toll, yours
herOism! Jenny, dear, since you have been
talking, I have thought thus: Ny good work
has soiled my garments, while yours are with
out stain, and white as angel robes Loving
monitor! may your lesson of tonight make me
a better man. Your good days work gives {
tWo-fold bleSsing!"
/ TonfsI,tfva Summary