The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-02
Volume 10.
Gbs STORY Gellsr.
"HADN'T TIME FOR TROUBLE"
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

uSainss hek hoPP'hSS, ouu '"NAN'o'S 80 w ~
regarded, taking the ordinary significance OF
the term, as unfortunate.
Wealth gave Mrs. Caldwell leisure for case
and luxurious self-indulsence, and she ac-
ccpted the privileges Of her condition.
Some minds, when not under the spur, sink
naturally into state of inertia, from which
when any touch of the spur reaches them,
they spring up with signs Of fretfulness.-
The wife and mother, no matter what her
condition, who yields to this inertia, cannot
escape the spur. Children and servants, ex-
cept all other causes, will not spare the prick
ling heel.
Mrs. Caldwell was, by nature, kind
hearted woman, and not lacking in go1i
sense. But for the misfortune Of having a
rich husband, she might have spent an ac-
tive, useful, happy life. 1t was tho oppOr-
tunity which abundance gave for idleness
and ease that marred everything. Order in
a household, and discipline among children,
do not come spontaneously. They are the
result of wise forecast, and patient, untiring,
never relaxing effort. A mere conviction Of
duty is rarely found to be sufficient incentive;
there must be the impelling force OF strong
handed necessity. In the case Of Mrs. Cald-
we'll this did not exist; and so she failed in
the creation of that order in her family with.
out which permanent tranquility is impoSsi-
BILE. In all lives are instructive episodes
and interesting as instructive. Let us take
one Of them from the life of this lady, whose
chief misfortune was being rich.
Mrs. Caldwell's brow was clouded. 1t
was never, for q long time, free from clouds,
for il seemed as If oil sources Of worry and
vexation were on the increase; and, to make
matters worse, patience was assurcdly on the
decline. Little things, once scarcely OBJ
served, now-gave sharp annoyance, there be-
ing rarely any discrimination as to whether
they were OF accident, neglect OF wiituiness.
'Phebe, she called fretfully.
The voice Of her daughter answered, half
indiiIerently from the next room.
why don't you come when l call your
Anger now mixed with fretfulncss.
The face of girl in her sventeenth year,
on which sat no very amiablc expression
was presented at the door.
is that your opera cloak lying across the
chair, and partly on the floor"
Phebe without answering crossed the room,
and catching up the garment with as much
carelessuess as il it had been an old shawl.
threw it across her arm and was retiring
when her mother said sharply:
Just see how you are rumpling that cloak.
What do you mean?
I'm not hurting the cloak, mother, an
swered Phebe, coOlly. Then, with shade
of reproof, she added, 'you fret yourself for
nothing
DO you call it nothing to abuse an elegant
cloak like that?' demanded Mrs. Caldwell.
To throw it upon the floor and tumble it
about as if it were an old rag
All of which, mother, mind have not
DONE
And the girl tossed her head with an air
OF light indifference.
Don't talk to me in that way, Phebc.-
I'll not suffer it. You are forgetting your
SELF
The mother spoke with q stcrnness of man
ner that caused her daughter to remain silent.
AS they stood looking at each other, Mrs.
Caldwell said, in different tone Of voice:
What is that on your front toothg
a spcck of somethins-I don't know
what; noticed it only yesterday
Mrs. Caldwell crossed the room hastily,
with disturbed manner, and catching hold
of Phebe's arm drew her to window.
Let me SEQ = and looked narrowly at the
tooth. Decay, as liye.'
The last sentence was uttered in tono Of
alarm.
You must 90 to the dentist immediately.
This is dreadful. If your teeth are begin
ming to fail now. you'll not have one left in
your head by the time you're Twenty-Five
Its only speck,' said Phebc, evincing
little concern.
"A speck! and do you know what speck
means? p demanded Mrs. Caldwell, with no
change in tho troubled expression Of her
face.
what does il mean?' asked Phebe.
.why, it means that the quality Of your
teeth is not good. One speck is only the
herald of another. Next week second
may show signs OF decay, and third in the
week afterwards. Dear! Dear! This is
too bad. The fact is. you arc destroying
your health. Two talked and talked about
the way you devour candies and sweatmeats;
about the way you sit up at night, and
about a hundred other irregularities. There
must be a change in all this, Phebc, as I've
told you dozens Of times
Mrs. Caldwell was growing moro and
moro excited.
Mother. Mother! cried Phcbe, don't