The Nevada journal., 1861-04-05

been here, there has been no water in nv
room, and have had to come down, In the
morning, add get it for myself"
"Oh, Mother That is too bad To think
that Margaret should have been so care
lessl" The daughters face crimsoned.
"Now if you had been q careful house.
keeper; or thoughtful one, you would
have visited my chamber, to see that all
was right there. You would never have
left your mothers comfort dependant on
the uncertain administration Of q servant.
Next, the room hasn't been busted twice
since l have been here. Ny fingers are
soiled with every thing touch, and am
sure it hasn't been swept under the bed or
bureau, for month. But this only affects
your guests-is only so much taken from
their comfort. Let us look to some things
that involve the comfort of your husband !;
for these are of highest consideration. You
asked him, yesterday morning, to get you
some pink-lined envelopes. He brought
them at dinner time. Heasked you to darn
a rent in . black alapaca coat, SO that he
could wear it. Did you do as he request
ed? No, you read, and toyed with fine
needlework all the morning, but never
touched the coat: and when asked for it,
what reply did you make. Oh, you hated
darning above all things and told him he'd
| hetfer dirAcf htu tas1or 70 (or Tho
day had become unusually warm, and he
had to 60 out after dinner, wearing a thick
cloth coat, just because you had almost
wi!fully neglected to perform so light a
service for your husband. Do you imag-
inc that he never thought of your failure
to do for him what he asked? That he
didn't feel your indifference to his comfort?
Your kiss, depend upon it, Martha, touch
ed his lips coldly; and your loving words,
if any were spoken, were as sounding brass
and tinkling cymbal in his ears He look
ed past all lip atfirmatlons and saw the
failure in the deed.
"And failure in the deed seems to be
the rule under your administration of his
household, instead of the exception. Most
especially is this the case in what apper-
tains to the diningroom and kitchen. The
meals are always badly cooked and badly
served. The slovenliness with which Mar
garet sets the table, is a disgrace to herself
and standing rebuke to her mistress.
havn't seen really a clean dsh-ss regard
cleanlincss-since l have been here. Nor
q clean knife or fork. Your cruet stand is
offensive to the eye. There is smeared
mustard bottle, with smeared spoon-a
ketchup bottle with half an inch of tomato
ketchup at the bottom, and on oil bottle
empty. Pepper and vinegar bottle will
not describe. The crue: stand itself is as
dark as lead; and the napkin rings and
spoons not much better"
"Pray, stop, mother!" said Martha, in
terposing, with face rather nearer to scar
let than white.
"No; ! must say a word or two farther.
Can such things be, and escape your hus-
bands observation? Can such things be,
and not prove daily offence and annoy
ance to him7 Can such things be and not
irritate him, at times, into unkindness
He would be more than mortal, my child,
were he to be tempcr-proof against assaults
upon good nature, like these
Martha was not fool-though there are
too many in her position, we are sorry to
say, to whom the word most significantly
applies. She saw through her mother s
clearer vision, the blindness in which she
had been, and the folly of her defective
household administration saw that, in
holding herself above domestic duties and
manipulations, she was governed more by
pride and incidence than a just regard for
wifely or womanly dignity; saw that, to
hold fast her husbands love, she must do
something more for him than offer loving
words; for, life being real and earnest, de-
manded earnest work from all-from the
delicate wife as well as from the more en-
during husband.
On the next morning, as Edward lifted
his cup to his lips, he said, with smile Of
pleasure: "What fine coffee, Martha
don't know when have tasted anything
so delicious. Your handiwork / infer ~
And Edward looked from his wife to her
mother.
"No.' said Mrs. Barton; nit is none Of
my handiwork."
"But it is mine," said the young wife
who could not keep back the acknowledge
ment-her pleasure in seeing her husbands
pleasure was so great.
"Yours?" Edward sat down his cup
and looked across the table in real surprise
ayes, mine. l made the coffee this
morning."
"You did7 Well, as said, 1t is deli
ciousi wouldn't give this cup of coffee
for all the stuff that has been in the house
since we entered it."
The steak was praised next.
"Did you cook this also7" asked the
husband.
"I superintended It," she answered.
1t is emily necessary for some people to
look at things, and they will come all