Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-10
a New Means of Grace.

"Seek no. further And. since there
chances 10 be preference in names,
Ethel was the Seek-no-further. Neat
as a primrose, punctual as the town
clock, orderly as drlll-sergeant, and
yet merry as music box, and often
wished for where she was not
Her face was seldom snarled, either
in babyhood, girlhood or womanhood
Sunbeam" and clark" were her faith
ers favorite eI ithets when she was
around.
Poor Edith. She could not see why
everything came so easy to Ethel, or
how she could always have patience
enough, and time enough, not only for
her own annoyances and cares, bet for
those of half,a-dozen people about her.
There was some secret about it; wheth-
er internal or external, Edith was sure
she could not tell. Her face was as
handsome as Ethel's; her curls as CLOS
sy and long and golden; and their dress
as nearly alike as her mothers purse,
and impartiality could make it. And
yet, while Ethel was always loved and
courted at school-in little parties every
where, something was sure to go wrong
with Edith.
Both were finally married, and equal
ly well, so far as love, looks, and money
were concerned but here the differ
ence in the two grew wider in proper
ton to the increased Wilderness of their
new spheres Edith's home was dis
turbed, unsettled, hurried. There was
a chatting, restlesness, worry something
that broke the charm of the word Home
She twas sure she tried her best"
She worked early and late-was always
either ;'doing" or 'overseeing,' but
usually like her elegant parlor clock, "a
little behind time"
1t almost provoked her, in visiting
Ethel (whose home fortunately or un-
fortunately was some hundreds of miles
from her OWN to see the cheerful air,
the quiet, restful, leisure look that set
tied over everything. Why, even to
stand at the door of her ''sitting room"
or "Winter parlor' and take a good
look in, Was almost as refreshing as an
afternoon nap.
1t rested one; the perfect neatness,
the blending Of soft colors-the few
fragrant pants-the neat willow basket
stand for sewing-the attractive book
shelves-sunny pictures, and chastc,
we'll filed brackets and now and then,
the music coming through the half
open door, of children's happy voices
from their own play-room adjoining,
sweeter than any notes she could
wake from her own piano, and in strik-
ing contrast with the peevish wall or
boisterous mirth too often making dis
cord at her own home Edith noted it
all, and still wondered what could make
the difference.
One day, some months after her re-
turn from flying visit to sister Ethers
"Nook" as she was pleased to term her
elegant but no less genial and cosy
home, Edith received from Ethel let
ter of earnest invitation for her Oldest
daughter Ruth to spend the coming
Winter at her home Ruth was Il
charming girl, now seventeen, and with
beating heart she awaited the decision
which in turn awaited consultation with
her father. who was out of town for
few now interminable days. At their
close Ruth was delighted to know she
was actually to realize joyful little
hope that had long awaited a future
sometime in her quiet heart-a
visit to Aunt Ethel
The visit was made; and never did
four months pass to eager maiden with
swifter or more silver footed hours.
And when the visit was over, Ruth
reached her own home again, it was
easy to see that the pleasure expressed
from time to time in her letters had
been vastly conducive to her improve
ment in every possible way. And,
keener-eyed than her mother, Ruth had
discerned the secret which had made
the contrast in character and homes and
brought with her the key which should
unlock it for her mother.
"Order is Heavens first law" were
the words, which, if not on her lips, yet
fingered in her heart, and were hummed
ever to herself as she began soon after
her return to put in execution the
changes she had so long been eager to
commence. And from the attic to the
cellar there was ample room to illustrate
the proverb, so that even Edith must
come to "see' at last, what the life
long trouble had been. Ruth did not
say, "Mother | see great difference,
here and at Aunt Ethel's She has
everything in apple-pie order, and it
makes things 60 on SO much easier
can't we have it so p and then 90 on
"practicing" and crochetipg, and en-
broidering, ond spinning Street -yarn),
and leave order to take care of herself
'out in the cold" No, she said moth
ing but she went first and looked, SO
as to be sure her field for labor was as
as fair as she had thought. And first
in the cellar. Here she found large
bin of potatoes-many half decayed-
some tired of their old life, striking out
for new, toward the light; and among
them, turnips. onions, few carrots,
and now and then poor spindled beet
intermingled in sort of millenial har-
mony. a barrel of greetings and an
other of russets stood near, but on
pushing the apples about a little with
her resolute finger, an eye of an in