The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-30

Continued from Ecenaeg telegraph Of Saturday.l
The warm kindness of the girl was not to be
borne down. | ate to crafty her, and was re-
freshed. The fire was kept burning, and the
can of water boiling, in expectation OF my hus-
bands return. My watch had stopped, and we
could not mark The time. l sat on box with a
shawl over my head, leaning it against the side
OF the fireplace, overpowered with fatigue, aud
doing, letting Bridget come and 60 unques-
toned. Presently we we're startled bV loud
knock, and in q few moments my husband en-
tered, with the tidings that the furniture had
not arrived, and was not likely to do so before
morning.
''Weil lust have to sit up then all night; any
how, we've got some coal" said Bridget, undis-
mayed by the prospect, and Dusily proceeding
to pour out some tea; and then pushing the
bread and butter towards him. said, Sure it's
thatn cheer We up"
My husband looked first at one, then at the
other, then at the tea and burst into an uncon-
trolabe ft OF laughter. The empty house rung
with his hilarity. His mirth was catching for
Bridget looked cheerily up, saying, at might
be worse"
''True, Bridget, for we have only to picnic in
an empty house instead of in the green wood in
a thunderstorm"
This seemed rather beyond Bridget's compre-
hension for she Instantly asked:-
but how'll the missis SleepW
Very WE'LL my good girl; but what will you
dom
''Ill lust make fire IN the big room overhead.
My husband gave her his thick wrapper, and
after, as she termed, "settlin the room" which
we were in, she departed; and how thankful
was that her CHEEKY help had been given to me
With wrappings and conversation and bright
fire, the early part of the night passed away; but
the morning chill awakened us from our uneasy
slumb before daylight. Wecouid hear Bridget
throw up a window, and soon she came to
announce that heavy wagon was numbering up
the road. The good news proved true Our
household goods had at last arrived. Now L
should again make home. EXultation in the
future swallowed up present discomfort. To
enter into all the mishaps we endured, to
enumerate our damaged furniture, our battlings
with those we employed "to get a tair days work
for fair days wages" and thousand and one
other disagreeables, not 10 mention the constant
recurrence to our daily account OF expenditure,
would only render my narrative tlresome without
benefting any person.
We will now pass over six months; my husband
did not become Richard Fenton's substitute in
his Office for longer period the practice was
sold, and he went abroad. For some weeks
Fred's health had failed him, not sufficiently so
TO call for advice or to cause alarm, but still
he seemed to have a disinclnaton to active
eXertions.
"Somethine oppresses me; I cannot throw it
of, Mlly," said he. "and have need tor work. "
so days and weeks went on and at length
another little cherub born to I'LL the latters
place. "Now," thought l, ''Bridget's temper
viii be tried; if l do the work myself, will
have no thoughtless girl as help" On my re-
storation to my domestic duties, one grave error
quickly fell into. The child was scarcely
ever permitted to be out OF my arms, day or
night. had been reasonable mother before;
now husband, house, servant, ALL were neglected
for my infant. Bridget was a good-almOst
invaluable-grl in carrying out orders, but
had no faculty to contrive or think; indeed, the
want of the latter power was her Chief falling
known as well to herself as to me. 'If had
but the sinse to think !" was her constant ex-
clamatiOn. Hitherto our dinners had been
neatly and nicely served, and our expenses kept
with IN, hOtt No inn mad haar Tar,fn
excepting 50 much as would amount 70 two
shllngs week; Bridget did the rest. Ironed
all but my husbands shirts; these felt was
not accomplished enough IN the art for; and
thus about a shilling week was saved.
At first my husband felt hurt at this exclusive
devotion to my child, more particularly as 1t
sensibly injured the chid's health, which was
pining for want of the fresh air. / could not
give IL; my own strength was insufficient for the
burden ol carrying the babe.
Let BRIDGET take the child out this morn
inG;n said my husband testify,
Every well" said, las you like; but we must
dine later il she does"
That will not signify, so that the child gets
health and YOU relief"
And so Bridget not very reluctantly, was
made head nurse for the time being. | always
suspected Patricks proximity 10 our nelghbor-
hood, and, from her excessive readiness ior the
walk. IN my inner mind tancied he was not far
distant We usually dlned at four o'clock; it
was now one. and my last words we're, Bridget,
recollect you have not prepared for the dinner;
be sure you are at home at two" Three O'Clock
came and Bridget had not returned. In my
anxiety for my babe, thought nothing of my
husbands meal, and, indeed / am not sure
that | could have cooked a dinner If had
des,red 10 do so. Soon after three, Bridget en-
tered, with my boy sweetly asleep, and well
wrapped up. | saw at once no harm had come
10 it.
/ said, very Grossly, Bridget, where have you
beenW "
I'll soon see to the dnEer;" and that was all
that was done to It. The potatoes we're half
cooked, the meat soddened, cinders mad got
inio the gravy, and the whole affair was de-
Time after time the same thing occurred, till
even my husbands patient sweetness of temOer
was fast giving way, and my own was becoming
almost shrewish. I took myself seriously to
task; how was this to be remedIed? Expenses
were getting shead too; substitutes of eggs or
bacon were often had recourse TO, to cover up
the deficiency of dinner which was uneatable;
extra tea had to be used Tor the lack OF boiling
water and forethought of mine, for Bridget
could not think-this was her falling My hus-
band was, at the time engaged in reading up
for his profession and desired only to have the
house kept quiet while at the came time good
and digestibe food, regularly served, was abb
solutely necessary for his health, which had
ever been dependent upon eXtraneous circuni-
stances, and. though not requiring to be nUfsed,
he had no robustness to draw upon. Somehow,
the baby had turned our little world upside
down. Washing day was now positive dis
comfort, whereas before II was little seen or
needed; the muddle l had got myself into
looked dangerous.
sat one evening with my BABE asleep Ia my
lap my husband was in his studej was mustng
on all my past lite, and sbadderlng at the
future. felt the want Of higher Leading than
my own capricious will, and prayed earnestly
even without moving or audible utterance-
as had seldom nravad that might be led 10