National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-03-29

"WeIl. YOU know Mr.. Duncan is
very busy. his time is completely oc-
cupied that he cannot attend to It,"
..I'ts aisy enough to find five min
utcs if body likes" muttered Mag
rie. pettishly. The coal Is out, and +.
reckon you'll be after seeing to 1t
sometime. or You'll be widout fire.
| picked up all the kindling tonight,
and What will ye do III the morn
inge' ..,
"Well. he must see to 1t, II that is .
the case" she replied, as she opened .
the oven door to take peep at the /
biscuit. True, they did not present
very tiattering appearance, the
oven was almost cold, and the snowy
circlets as soft as whenplaccd there.
..You must get some wood to re-
plenish the fire, or tea will not be
ready when Mr. Duncan comes
AN. shure. | don't know where
to find it. / have got the last stuck
in the stove"
Mrs. Duncan looked blank. but
we must have something, she eA-
claimed.
There is an old barrel and a
piece of board in the Wood-house,
Maggie replied after a minute )
pause. .'Perhaps we can use them
..Well. YOU may 60 ont and get
1 them.n replied Mrs. Duncan, slight
/ " relieved. Away went Maggie on
| her mission.
..How long she is gone sighed
Mrs. duncan. as she laid down the
poker. after IA truitless attempt 10
rouse the dying embers. u must
90 and see what is the matter.
She found her hammellhe away
at a piece of board with might and
main. "Nhy. Maggie" she eNclalm-
ed. "why don't you take the hatcAet
or the AK z
uOch. indade, ma'am, the Ak was
broke long ago. and the hatchet heW
off at the handle, before eVerl coulo
oct il half cut. | have worked hare
and only got these few pieces
Nv eli. never mind, you may BRING
them IN replied Mrs. Duncan con
soIingly. She could not tind 1t II
her heart to rcproach her, for sh,
knew She did the best she could
She would excuse it. for she wa
constantly meeting with just sucI
, difficulties.
:. The biscuit still presented rath
or doubtful aspect, when Mr.. Dul
: cans well known step was heard l
the hall, and both mistress an
maid knew that there must be Il
delay. for punctuality at meals wa
:. with aim a cardinal virtue. III
= few moments therefore, the tam!l
!, were seated at the table. The chIit
: rem. five in number, were lntelli9th'
brinht.looking ones. but they had o
lhe whole rather a neglected appea
ance. for Mrs. duncan had so man
:, wciuhty tasks to perform, she coui
= never find time to attend TO u
p smaller duties OF llie'
The father was sensible, cas-
=. tempered man, who seldom tfoooi'
: himself about household affairs. i
saw that some things went Wroh
. but confessed that he did not Wo
y der at it. There were SO MAJ
to y things to he attended to IN laln'l
w w and then the days, especially IN WI
ns ter. were really very short. IL !
oi meals were ready i'll season, he MI
W no comments on the domestic !
- raprements. This was altogetl
~ the wisest course for hm' aS G
" tain little duties came under HIS
rd ,uliar province, were sometimes
.ad elected. rcbul>e from MN No'
~ have fallen an ill grace.
,u Occasionally unpleasant views
am dilapidatcd pants. buttonlcSs sun
,.nn and unmendcd hose would Hi 'lcl'
ora his mind, in painful contrast 10
a perfect order i'll which his "lI'u'
,rn had been kept by his faithful me
: ," - er. But then he had become u u
an. to these things, and beside u
ga was no one to blame. He eeollia
oh afford to keep a seamSti'Ns ~
,,,, 49, family. and Mrs. Duncan, aS eve
-, body knew, WAS a hard-Woihuls
,,' ia man. and did not willingly le
.ar, ANYTHING undone. 1t was an oN
hn, to want of time, and TINS Il an
, - which cannot he iemediel ;,
10 !. The evening meal was ieNN el'
). rs - ful than usual. The biscuits Y
,"vs avs decidedly heavy. Mr. DHhcail
aSH -, . ,l.,, vaS not pcrccpl
e"'' improved, by being informed
li.lo the stove couid not he eAPe'''
a..n l'..,. hake we'll. until properly after
o'''' IN If was certainly uiicaSol
.a,;, m1 to expect him toattehd To IL 1t
T;sh could scarcely find 'liie i1t
!, In transaction OF more i'll'o'''
;, pau u. ness. True. il would take pl''
% pe', minutes TO make it all right,
we e,I i somehow the day always passe'
, anu anu fore hc knew it, II was east
,rnnd talk of five minutes '''''i W
them. ,ua.,. Il,
.''' 70 ost boueful. wore an eXpfeSSi'
mean, Joon detection. Little Susie
II can uceP vi ,nd. refused (
X the uoWh h'l ''',, ,,iiin Willie and
X, she my haa u h9l,' a!'', ,y;th u school
i"n sv' " Everybody seemed uhcol'
aid of bic, ana II WI. WIZ G,ishcd
as she the repnS. ,har" wiz exclaimed
little NV eli, "I h'o' u,e ,arlor. II
10 use as slic t'''',' enuyersnti,
he ex- aiter ,ic a ~, Nra. Nutot
in # bp have 1oNtlu uu' - a,