Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-05-17
Self.Made.

cl0S, ne ID Bell. Iuduo HAL IL was |
evident she could add nothing to that. |
"No, no, thank you," echoed Ber-
tina, laughing, 'snone of your self-made
people for me I've seen enough Of
that" 800
"Enough Of that! Why, they are the
very best made people in the world,
those who have made themselves.
''Not so fast, my sage cousin f; tastes
differ, and here I must presume to diff
fer from you"
ssBut why, my child !? especially in
this case. What have you to say about
William ?" '
"Simply this, cousin mine-that /
would not, on any account, subject him
to the penalty of bigamy." So
"Bigamy You shocking child, what
do you mean?
"simply what I say; he is welded
already"
"Another wife Never, it can't be.
It is some malicious SANDER"
ooh! I don't mean exactly married
by bell, book, and candle, or that sort
Of thing. Nevertheless, his heart is
preoccupied !; he is welded to his pro-
fession, I want no second place, and
that should most assuredly have l
am too late to take the first, in spite Of
all his protestDtiors. Can't I see? I
have just been spending three months
with Julia, and she married one Of
your self made men I'D sooner be an
old maid. He neglects her just as en-
tirely as if she had no claim upon him.
She is dutiful wife, devoting herself
to his comfort when he is at home, and
small thanks she gets. He is welded
to his business, and gives himself to it,
body and soul. The force Of habit is
so strong, that he has no idea there is
any other way. You see, Mr.. Paynes
began life by devoting all his energies
to making his own way and having
his own way to make, there is little Of
him left for anything else. He has no
idea but that the time is wasted that is
spent in any other way than getting on.
He set success before him as his aim,
and success is a balloon, that ever rises
as you reach w to it. He has been SC
long in the habit Of marching over OF
setting aside all obstacles to his pro-
gress, and his gaze is so fixed upon
the goal, that wife and children ore
just as readily set aside as anything
else that stands in the way. AS far as
he is concerned, Julia spends her life
utterly alone, and yet he would be as.
tonished at any 1mputation of neglect
| She is always provided for; his home
is pleasant he lets her do as she
pleases, and supplies her with all sht
wants Does he Poor Julia ! I hav.
seen her sigh, when her woman's hear
was too proud to complain or too full
to speak,"
"But Mr.. Paynes has fine socia
qualities !; he is very agreeable"
:. 81 grant you, he can be agreeable
when it suits bis purpose, but he wants
the early training, the feeling that it il
not beneath his notice to try to make
aome pleasant, to do his part TOWARD
it. lie was educated in an atmosphere
Of work, and be is always restless
The household never has an air Of re.
pose. You can see in his eye, if he il
caught for moment in household en-
joymcnt, that nc really grudges TIT
time. All is wasted that is not speD
in getting on. Nay, none Of you
self made men for me. I never saw
one yet, who was a good husband o.
father. The habit Of life is too strong.'
"But, my dear Bertha, men mus
work"
"But, my dear Clara, work is no
mans chief end. You learned better
than that in your catcchism. Employ
ment is good and healthful overwork
labor, is the curse, and wo be to hin
who hugs his curse. and tries to make
it out blessing! Sorrow for the cap
tive who learns to love his chain!"
"Well, Bertha, dear, there may b,
some reason in what ycu say but il
this land, where Will you do better p
cpd trust TO Providence. and il
| there be nothing better, I'll live alone
It is no more than Julia does, ant
there is no law against it -
"But Julia has position and inAu'
.ence."
eyes; and, poor child, she tries t.
console herself with that-rather cold
comfort, especially as she has no am
bition, and has warm and loving
/ heart"
"Wei!. remember, child, your uncle
is self-made too -
Giant help it. Isn't he almost at
! bad ? The curse follows him. Imagine
him ptacticing any of the sweet chart
ties Of life! Picture him to yourself
in society, or taking days recreation,
or Spending an evening at home with,
out going to sleep! You know BETTER
he IS fastened to the car like the rest
Of them, and thinks he must move OF
be crushed. Oh, ! am weary Of this
constant atmosphere of work--no rest,
no repose. Repose! Do you suppose
any one knows what it means No !; if
there happens to be On hour in which
there is nothing TO 60, it is spent in
planning how the next task is to be
perfolmed-as if it would not come
soon enough, without going out to
meet it. No wonder men are crazy or
paralized, end don't live out half their
days. Good night.''
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