The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1869-07-01
Mrs. Stofane's Dream.

so "washing day." in a house where
the family consisted of husband ant
wife and five small children, the latte
of whom were gifted with a perfectly
marvellous faculty for "rending and de
stroying,' and especially for soiline
beyond hope of redemption, every
clean garment with which their mucl
enduring mother provided them dur
ing the week. Mrs. Stefane, like al
other mothers, was proud of her chill
dren, and liked to see them neat and
cleanly dressed, even beyond the aver
age necessity of her child's simple toll
ct. Consequently her washing basket
on Monday morning was sight cal
culated to strike awe and terror into
the soul of any young maiden on the
brink of matrimony.
She sat idly tapping the red covered
washing book with ivory pencil, while
her eyes rested on The basket at her feet
but not with that usual calmly satisfied
glance. Something was evidently
wrong. What was it7
"Eighty-five dollars for the lace pock-
handkerchief she carried" said the wife
of twelve years standing, musingly !;
"and five hundred and fifty for her
shawl; while that silk dress of hers
would positively stanl alone. All
me! il is well to be her! And l might
have been Judge Howell's wife myself;
for he asked me to marry him six
months before he ever saw her, and
was fit to blow his brains out when ]
refused him. At least he said he was.
All me!'
And then the lady sighed again, and
gave the washing basket spiteful
shove with her slippered foot.
"Mother can't find my shoe"
"Mother do you know where my blue
tic is?'
"Mother will you come and fastcn
this frock it is so tiresOmc
"Mother isn't breakfast most rca-
dy:'
"Muzzcr me ties you ...
These cxclamations burst upon her
car, as the door of the nursery sudden
ly opened, and showed five curl Y head
ell rosy checked, healthy girls and boys
who looked at her wonderinglv as she
neither rose nor replied TO their qucs-
tions.
"Mothel isn't breakfast most ready!
called out the most vcnturOus Of the
little brood, the blue eyed Tommy,
who had already asked that question
once before.
The interruption sounded harshly.
The mind of the thoughtful woman
was absent from the body at that mo-
mcnt, wandering back through the ro-
sy paths of the past, where handsome
and wealthy lover came TO WOO. And
now, in the present, she was the hard
worked wife of a poor and struggling
man, the mother of five troublesome
young human beings, for whose sake
all such beautiful vanitics as lace hand
kerchiefs and India shawls and silks
that "would stand alone," must be for
ever given up.
The contrast was very decided, and
by no means pleasant one. She look
ed up.
$50 away children, all of you at
once she said in harsh voice. Break
fast isn't ready yet, and I'm sure l don't
know when it will be, and such pack
Of young troubles TO look after. There
60 down stairs, every one of you, and
don't speak to me till ! get this wash
ing list made out" Looking at each
other with a mortified and crestfallen
air, the children stole away, one after
The other, and went down to the break
last room. where the father sat read
ing his paper and waiting patiently for
The morning meal.
Presently the sound of many voices
md much laughter penetrated the up
ger room where the mother still sat
Drooding alone. She listened moment
Dr. two and then rose from her chair.
"What noise they d. make when
hey are oil together" she said fret
'ully. "And oh, dear, how discour-
.ged and weary Of it l do feel! l will
lie down for five minutes, and Ann can
AXE in breakfast for them all II they
lave that they will not miss me! How
strange my head does feel! Eighty
I've dollars for.one single pockethand-
serehief! 1t is really too bad that l
should be drudging here, day in and
lay out, with hardly a decent gown
'nce year, while She"
A strange drowsy feeling overcame
Ter, and hushed her trouble and repin-
ng together. Her eyelids closed. Her
lead sank back upon the pillow. She
lept or seemed TO sleep! - =
Rising up from that long slumber at
ast. but still feeling strangely heavy