Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-23

own grester blessings, almost envied her gentle
co,gah hA eha6scfnl life and abundant leisure. !
: GHowdo Yen like The Land and the Book, cou-
sin aearP ASKED Mrs. Hewitt, once more seating
hcEself atlhs SEEDED gas-lght, while Mrs Carleton
laid aside her book and took up her knitting work.
=! William brought home those volumes when it was
first published, more than three months ago, and
have not yet found time to read two chapters; but
you know overworked housekeepers have no time
they eau call their own sometimes feel that am
in state of intellectual starvation Our means are
limited, Ind wacan keep bpt one sersapt so must
be nurse, governess, >and chambermaid, besides
experimenting the kitchen affLrs; and with family
sof four alittle ones, get Completely worn out in
body and mind, and as look in upon you, now and
then, during the, day Ialmost envy you the quiet
leisure yoa enjoy. But 1 never have.a moment for
culture and probably Sever shall have: it is toll,
toll all day, and even the nights are full Of care.
Mrs Hewitt sighed deeply, while dark clouds of
discontent and repining rested On her brow. go
z"You have a kind husband and pleasant home,
Emma, said Mrs. Carleton, gently j.
YES but get so worn out with care and toll,
that sometimes think will coax WifliaD to board
for while, At least till get rested replied Mrs.
"Boarding would only bring You less enjoyment
! and added care" remarked Mrs, Carleton. a..
Perhaps So There is no way for me but to
toll on till die; so may Is wen try to be conteH
ted" And Mrs: Hewitt sighed again, and bent her
head down'0ver her work. to hide the starting tears
Mrs. Carleton was troubled. She had been
panied with frequent expressions of re2ining and
discomfort during tbe few weeks, of her visit and
she feared that 'dfk Hewitt was forming q habit
which would eventually destroy her happiness, and
had been prayerfuay seeking to devise some plan to
show her cousing her error, without giving offence.
Only one remedy had suggested itself; it was Sc
! we're one, but she had resolved to try it.
4 have been thinking great deal about you these
few days, Emma says Mrs Carleton, gently;
| was suggested to my mind; but I think neither
yourself nor your husband would consent to it"
".What is it9 do tell me T. asked Mrs. Hewitt,
with animation. "Wiliian would he as glad as
myself to sec NE relieved from this burden, and
would agree to anything you might propose, | am
! sure.nz9H -.
81 have my doubts in this instance" replied
| Mrs Carleton, with faint smile ;-"but perhaps
| it will do no harm to tell you what came into my
| mind. If begin, you must promise hot to inter,
rupt me-"
-"Hever fssr; am all attention." said Mrs.
Hewitt, playfully a.. ~"
81 have been wife and MOTHER" said Mrs. Car
Teton, and know all the difficulties of your posi-
ton, and sympathize fully with your feelings Of
dependency and today, as I sat here in your
pleasant ,parlor, while you were trying to get the
.
| up and down stairs, and his little fist would rap,
and his little shrl voice call mamma at the nursery
door, in spite Of all my efforts to quiet and amuse
| him; then just baby must have been closing his
! eyes, Bridget would CALL Mrs. Hewitt Mrs. Hew.
ill., frightening the echoes thro the long halls
| Finding could do nothing, sat here thinking,
thinking till fell into sort of waking dream. l
thought it was winter; snow lay on the ground,
and the chill wind whistled without; but we were
warm, and we'll and happy in this pleasant house.
; The long winter evenings were passed in readiig
! aloud, and quiet chat, though that ped-up work
/! basket was your ever present companion.
| "One night We were reused from sleep by the
CHOKING cry and hoarse cough of our baby pet ard
when the morning dawned, the little sufferer lay
| still and cold in DEATH"
| 80, my precious babyp exclaimed Mrs Hewitt,
bursting into tears, Don't Nary pray don't tell
sny more-I cannot hear it!'
IS You promised not to interrupt Inc. must 60
on said Mrs. Carleton, calmly and resoldtely.
passed, when Charley and Minnie both lay seereh.
ling with scarlet fever On the day they were laid
beside their baby brother, Emma, the first born, and
only remaining, sckened and in another short week
she too had passed away. How still and lonely the
house was then! How few cares were yours, and
how you tried to make ourself very busy, that you
might not have tiae.t to think that you might live
| for him, the best beloved, who, more than ever,
{ was your earthly ALL
Winter passed slowly away, the glorious sum-
! mer time, that season once SO joyous, was now
glooLay and sad and then, too the dearest and the
best, was suddenly Frustrated by disease, and at:
ter bri eff season of suffering, went to his Children
and yol. were alone! O, the terrible agbny that
rem. ,ur heart Strings words cannot describe it.
J But u lived, because you must though life was
all dai k. all gooal Your pleasant home passed into
the ands of strangers. and you, with all the mul.
ttud of warm hearted, s7mpathizing. friends, With
co rdal welcome everywhere, yet with desolated
! affections and bleeding hesrt, felt that you were
alone, alt alone, in the wide world :
what to you was abundant leisure for improve.
| ment? There was no ineentive. You tried to be
grateful FOR the love Of friends tried to make others
happy, tried to bow submssivey to the Fathers
will but you were not necessary to the happiness
of any and the sweet voices Of the loved and lost
were ever echoing along memorys halls sad requiem
notes of departed happiness. Emma, dear cousin
thank your heavenly Father that it all dream !!
Mrs Hewitt's convulsve weeping had gradually
subsidized into deep srbs before Mrs Clareton finished
her narration, and she now sat looking like one who
! had really been 0ereavaed
[ Mrs Carletca Used the bowed head and kissed
her tenderiv.- AZ did not wish to pain you thus
dear Emma, said she; SHUT only by death can wiz
and mother be re leased FROM her many cares ant
4 duties Bear your trials patiently, and be Thankful
that you have so many dear ones to love- SO man,
sweet motive for exertion."
! Just them Mf Hewitt's we'll known footsteps
wereheard and with loud cry, Mrs. Hewitt spranl
into the hall :" w ilisn, am so thankful you ar
home safe ? sheexesaimed, slaspng him in her arm
and bursting into tears
l.. "Why Etama, what has occurred to distrub 70,
! so p asked her husband, leading her into the par
lor Receiving no reply, he looked inquiringly a
Mrs. Carleton.
~ am tho occasion Of these tears, and perhap
you will blame me-" said Mrs. Carleton, but fear
ed Emma danot fully appreciate blessings;
I have done wrong fore give me. Twill leave her t.
explain )" and taking lamp, she babe them "goo
night" land :scsaded 70 her chamber. Til lat
hour that night they sat side by side that HUSBAND
and wife, while she. recounted "Cousin Mary
dream" and fully, and with many tears, confesse
| her murmnriass and repinngs under the .pressur
/ Of her burdan Of care and labor. -
] II cannot tighten the burden of care and respon
sibihty, dear wife, said Mr. Hewitt tenderiy, "bu
the labor can bsidone by Others did not kno,
| you were oveEsax ing yourself so much"
''We caanaot sford it," objected the wife; 9TH
b urden will not seetl SO heavy now" =.
| "W. wilieeon omize-in some other direction, 70
happiness is+verY. dear to me Emma"
| NJ know ID W Iliam do forgive me- Yet I di