Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-07-19
A GOOD DAYS WORK.

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air of man who felt very much pleased
with himself
And so have t.
Mrs. BarlOw's voice was in lower tone.
and was less exultant, yet Indicative Of a
spirit at peace with itself
Let us compare notice. said Mr.. Barlow
in the confident matIner of one who knows
that triumph viii be On bis side, and see
which has done the best days's work
You, of COURSE returned the gentle
hearted wife.
We shall see. Let the history of your
days dOings precede mine.'
No. said Mrs. Barlow, 'tOn shall give
the first experience
Very well.' And full of the subject.
Mr.. Barlow began:
You remember the debt Of Warfeld.
about which / spoke few days sgoP
Yes
i considered it dosperate-uouid have
sold outrmy interest stthirty cents on the
dollar when left home this morning
Now the whole claim is secure. I had TO
scheme little. 1t was sharp Practice.
But the thing is done. / don't relieve chat
another creditor of WarGeld will get a
third of his claim.
The next operation, continued Mr..
Barlow, Il consider quite as good. About
a year ago / took fifty 6crss Of Iand in
Erie county, for debt, at q valuation Of ave
dollars per acre. sold it to-day for ten.
don't think the mun knew Just what be
Was buying. lilo called to see me about
it, and asked ten dollars an scre at
venture. when be promptly laid down one
hundred dollars to bind the bargain. i'll
should never see him again, ! am a u right.
That Is transaction number two. Number
three is as pleasant to remember. sud
lot of goods almost year out If date to
young country merchant, for cash. He
thinks he has bargai;I-and 2erbaos he
bas-but would have let them % at sny
time during the past six months at q loss
os thirty per cent, and thought the sale
desiretle one.
Now, there is my goVd days work,
jennie, and it 10 one 20 be proud of. / take
some credit to myself for being; upon the
whole, pretty bright sort Of q man, and
bound to 20 through. Let us have your
st,ry now
The face Of Mrs. Barlow flushed slightly.
Her husband waited for few moments,
and then said:
Let us hear of the yards of stitching,
and the piles of good things made
'NO-nOthing of that answered Mrs
Barlow, With slight veil of feeling cover
ing her pleasant voice. Il had another
meaning when | spoke of having accom-
plished a good days work. And now, as
my doings will bear no comparison with
yoors' l think Uf declining their rehear>
SAL
"A bargain is bargain, Jennie said
Mr.. Barlow. 'Wofd-keeping is a cardinal
virtue. So let your story be told. You
have done good days work in your own
estimation, for you said SO. Go on, am
al attention.
Mrs. Barlow stall hesftated. But after a
little more urging, she began her story of
good days work. Her voice was little
subdued, and there was an evident shrink
ing from the subject about which she felt
constrained to speak.
i resolved last night said she, after
passing some hours of self-examiuation
and self-upbraiding, that l would, for one |
day. try to possess my soul in PATIENCE !
And this day has been the trial day. Shall |
/ go on ??
Mrs. Burlw looked Up with q tithid,
half bash'ul air at her husband. She did
not meet bis eyes, fer he had tGrned them
partly away.
bands buuyancy of tone was gone. 10 It's
place was something tender and pensive.
Little Eddie was unusually fretful this
morning, as you will remember He seem
ed perverse, L thCpght-cross, as we call
it. Twas tempted to speak harshly two
or three times; but, remembering nv good
resolution l put On the amor of patience.
and never let him hear a tone of nv voice
that was not loving tone. Dear little
fellow When | went to wash him. after
breakfast, found just behind one of his
ears small iDfamed boil. 1t has made
him slightly feverish and worrisome all |
day. Oh, wasn't glad that patience had !
ruled my spirit
After you went away to the store; Mary |
got into one OF her bad humors. She didu't |
want 70 60 to school to begin with; then !
she could't find her slate; and then her
shoe pinched her. felt very much an
noyed, but recalling my good resolution, |
met her irritation with calmuess, her sinh.
born temper with gentle rebuke; and So
conquered. She kissed me, and started to
schooi with cheerful cOuntenance, her
satchel. aud the pinching shoe 6nbsedsd
And so l had my reward.
But my trials were not over. Some e1-
ira washing WIS needed. So l called
Ellen and told her that Mary would re-
quire frock and two pairs Of drawers to
De washed out. the baby some slips, and
you some Observation-Disclosures. A saucy
refusal leaped from the girls quick tongue,
ana indignant words to mine. Patience
panehce whispered a still small voice. !
stineo' with an offrt, my feelings. res
trained my speech, and controlled nv
countenance. Very calmly, as tS all ex-
terror signs. did | look into Elen's face,
until she dropped her eyes to the floor in
confusion.
You must have frrsottah YOURSELF
said ], with some dignity Of manner, yet
without sign Of irritation. She was
humb'ed at once, confessed tbs wrona,
and begged my pardon. forgase her
alter reproof, and she ment bnck TO the
kitchen. somewhat wiser. | think, than
whea | summoned her. The washing |
required hes been done; and the girl has
seemed all day as If che were endeavoring
to atone, by kindness and service. for that
hasty speech. III mistake not, We were
both improved by the discipline through
which we passed.
Other trials | have had through the |
day. Some of them quite as severe as the
few | have mentioned; but the srmor of
patierce was whole when the sun went |
down. / was able to POSSESS my soul IN |
peace, and the conquest Of self has made |
me happier. This is my good days work.
1t may hot seem much IN your eyes,
Mr.. Barlow did not look up nor speak
as the voice Of bis wife grew silent. She
waited almost a minute for his response. |
Then he went forward suddenly and kiss- |
ed heT. saying, as be did so:
Mine was work, yours battle-hine |
success, yours a conquest-mine easy toll,
yours herOismi Jennie, dear; since you
have been talking have thought thus:
My good work has soilsd my garments,
while yours are without stain. and white