The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-10-18
Prom Hours at Home.
THE WIFE'S AMBITION.
CONCLUDED. !

could think Of and then, surely.
the next hour she would have no
thing 10 do but try to understand the
mysteries Of her self-imposed task,
She would not yet acknowledge that
1t was difficult, nor was it quite sim
pie, it seemed thus far. The short.
easy sentences ia the first few pages
OF grammar were readily translated,
rules committed, declensi0ns and CON
jugatiOns conned over and over; and
this morning, determined to spend
but a'single hour. she seated herself
by the sleeping babe, aud with work
basket by her side, in case OF inter
rupti0n, and book in hand, she was
soon obliyious TO all earthly things
but the exercise before her
Charley made dirt pies to his hearts
content, somewhat ast0nlshed that
mamma did not call him in to pre-
pare for dinner; the hour came and
went, and Horace, waiting for the bell
to summon him, and being more than
usually interested in matters before
him, fingered half hour longer, then
went TO tho nursery, and found baby
Just reaching out its fat arm for
mamma.
Is dinner ready, Katie?" he
asked.
Ready no why, what time is it?"
Half-past dinner time Where y
Mary2" M u
Gone home, answered the wife,
with blank look. didn't know
it was so late. Really, Horace, you
must take Pet and I'll have dinner in
few moments.
But Charley must be looked up and
brought in How she flew around for
half hour; her cheeks burned at
the thought of her neglect. How
ever, she was not without resources;
even to prepare dinner at short no
tice. The potatoes were cut into
slices and boiled tender in fifteen
minutes, then mashed nicely in cream
and formed for the table the steak is
quickly prepared, the table arranged,
bread cut, and sauce and the pie for
dessert ready; so that Horace waited
scarce a half hour. and came out
when the bell rang, with baby growing
in his arms, aud somewhat funny
expression about his mouth and eyes
that Katie in her disturbed state
failed TO see.
The dinner passed more happily than
usual and the young wife was rejoiced
TO think thst Horace did not suspect
the cause of its delay. But she need
ed more time for study, she did not get
on rapidly enough; she was astonish
ed that she could not more rapid
ly translate the simple extracts in the
reader; she was sure she had under
stood the rules she had learned. Many
times in the first few weeks she was
tempted to beg Horace to assist her;
but no, she could not be laughed at,
she would contriye in some way TO get
more time.
She had never been called an early
riser, but now her student habits had
made her wakeful, and she would rise
at daylight every morning; the child
rem would sleep on without her, while
Horace never walked until the bell
called him. ttiA
For time this worked we'll she
seemed to be doing finely; the sum
mer passed, and so much progress
had been made that Mrs. Stoughton
felt herself at liberty to lay aside the
grammar and reader and take up
something different. Suddenly It
flashed upon her that the city was
full Of Germans; Of course some of
the more intelligent ones among
them had magazines or papers in
their own beloved language she
woald inquire, and borrow some if
she could, and then'she might trans
late for some of our m0nthlies she
had heard that good translations were
literally paid for. What a triumph il
would bel How proud Horace would
be to see her name in print She
could not patiently wait; aud so,
dressing Charley and herself for the
street, she left the baby in the care Of
faithful Mary, and went forth to call
on some of her German friends.
There was one family with whom she
had become slightly acquainted with
through the children, who were mem
beers of her class in Sabbath School.
They were wealthy and intelligent
people, aud to them she would apply
first.
Did they take a German paper?"
oh yes; they could never give
up all interest in their fatherland,
though il had been years since they
left ii. " iHf DO Ha IHH ,bntM Ct $40
Would they loan them occasion
allyPhiH74" NJ fa8a tial gHo Li9e
Gladly. Mrs. Stoughton was well
come to them, and the magazine, too,
which was far better-so many ro-
manees, beautifully written. Could
Mrs. Ctoughton read German"
But little" she replied. "She
was learning, aud thought it would
advance her more to read modern
writings
With many congratulations and ex-
pressions OF interest they babe her
call again, promising to send regularly
the books and papers as they came.