The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-05-28
From The London Times !.
THE RECOR DING ANGEL.

From The london Times.
THE REC0R DING ANGEL.
IA woman's work is never done," sale
Mrs. James; II am sure thought SHOULD
get through by sundown, and here is thi!
lamp, now, on which I mnst go and spend
half an hour before it will burn"
"Don't you wish you had never been
married." said Mr.. James, With a good ma.
tured laugh.
"Yes," rose to Mrs. James lips, but .
glance at her husband and two little ur-
chins. who, with sparkling eyes and glow
ing cheeks, we're tumbling over him, check
ed that reply.
81 should like the good with the evil, il
could have it." she said.
81 am sure you have no great evil 10 en-
dure," replied her husband.
"That is just all you gentlemen know
aboutit. How should you like it ifyor
could not get an uninterrupted half hour to
yourself from morning to night? What
would become of your favorite studies ?"
81 don't think there is any need of that
know your work could be arranged so sys
tsmatically as to give you some time to cal
your own"
"Well, all 1 wish is" was the reply,
''that you could follow me round for one
day, and see what have to do.''
When the lamp was trimmed the cow er-
sation was resumed. Mr.. James hsd been
giving the subject some thought.
"Wife," said he, 81 haye plan to pro
pose, and l wish you to promise me that
you will accede to it. It is an experiment
and wish you to give it fair trial to
please me-"
After hesitating awhile, rs she had great
reason to suppose it would be quite lmprac.
ticable, she at length promised.
"This is my plan. want you to take
two hours out of every day for your own
private use. Make point Of going up into
your room, and locking yourself in, and let
the work go undone if it must. Spend this
time in the way most profitable to yourself
Now, l shall bind you down to your pro-
mise for one month; at the end of that
time, il 1t has proved total failure, we will
try some other way"
"When shall begin ?"
Tomorrow ~
Tomorrow came. Mrs. James had Sc
lected two hours before dinner as the most
convenient for her and as the family dined
at one o'clock, she was to have finished her
morning work, be dressed and in her room
ct eleven. Hearty as her efforts were to ac-
complish this, the appointed hour found her
work but half done; yet true to her promise
she retired to her room, and turned the key
in the door.
After spending perhaps half an hour in
forming her plans for study, she drew up =
table, placed her books before her, prepared
pen and paper, and commenced with much
enthusiasm Scarcely was the pen dipped
in the ink, when there was tramping of
little feet alony the hall, and loud pound
ing on the chamber door,
Mamma, mamma, cannot find my nit
tens, and Frank is going out with me to
slide"
"Go to Amy, daughter; mamma is busy
now"
"Amy is busy, too, and she says she
can't leave the baby"
Upon this the child began to cry. The
easiest way for Mrs. James to settle the diff
ficulty, and indeed the only way, was to 20
and hunt up the missing articles. Then
parley must be held with Frank to induce
him to wait for his sister, and the little
girls tears must be dried, and little hearts
must be set right before the children were
sent out to play, and little lecture given,
too, on the necessity Of putting things
where they belonged. Time slipped away,
and Mrs. James returned to her study; her
watch told her that one hour was gone
She quietly resumed her task, and was get
ting we'll under way, when heavier step
vas heard, and her door was once more
tried. Now, Mr.. James must be admitted
"Mary," said he, "do come and put en-
string for me. There is not bosom in my
drawer in order. am in hurry. I
ought to have bssp down town an hour
ago."
Mrs. James went to her work basket and
followed him. The tape was sewed on.
then button needed fastening, then rip
in his glove must be mended.
Mrs. James took his glove and stitched
away at it, with smile lurking in the Ger:
ners Of her mouth.
"What are you laughing at'" inquired
her husband.
ITO think how famously your plan works
replied she. So
~ Declare" exclaimed he, twas this YOU
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