The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-02-24
Select Story.
Novel Reading and Manual Labor.


eur at the momeut. Without pausing
at the parlor door, he kept on to the
room from which came the sound Of
in lustry.
Mrs. Thornton did not observe the
entrance of her husband. She was
bending close down to her work, and
the noise Of her machine was louder
than his footsteps on the floor Mr..
Thornton stood looking Mt her for some
time Without speaking
"Oh DEAR" exclaimed the tired wo.
man, letting her foot rest upon the
treadle aud Strengthening herself up,
"this pain in my side is almost beyond
endurance"
"Then why do you sit killing your.
self there 7" said Mr.. Thornton.
MIR. Thoruton's aspect was unusually
sober.
What's the matter? Why do you
look SO serious ?" asked his wife.
HAS anything gone wrong?' Mrs.
Thornton's countenance grew slightly
troubled. Things had gone wrong in
her husbands business more than once,
and she had learned the occurrence Of
disaster
Things are wrong all the time" he
replied, ia some impotence of manner.
"lu your business 7" Mrs. Thornton
spoke little family.
No, nothing special out of the way
there, but it's all wrong at home"
l don't understand you, Harvey
what IS wrong at home, prayY"
Wrong for you to sit in pain aud
exhaustion over that sewing machine,
while an idle daughter lounges over a
novel in the parlor. That's what |
wish to say"
1t isn't Effio's fault. She often
asks to help me. But | cant see the
child put down to household drudgery.
Her time will come soon enough. Let
her have little ease and comfort while
she can"
eff We said that of our sons" said
Mr.. Thornton, "and acted on the word,
what efficient men they would make for
Iife's trials aud duties"
" You are wrong in this thing-all
wrong, continued the husband. Aud
ii Effe is a right minded girl, she will
have more true enjoyment in the con
seriousness that she is tightening her
mothers burdens, than it is possible to
obtain from the tnest novel ever written.
Excitement for the imagination is no
substitute fer the deep peace of mind
that ever accompanies and succeeds the
right discharge Of daily duties. 1t is
poor compliment to Etiic's moral sense
to suppose that she can be content to
sit with idle hands, or to employ them
in light frivoli,ies, while he. mother is
worn down with toll beyond herstreugth.
Hester, it must not be -
"Aud it shall not be p said quick,
firm voice.
Mr. Thornton aud his wife started,
turned to the speaker, who had entered
the room unobserved, aud been listener
to nearly all the conversation we have
recorded.
" 1t shall not be p and Efie came and
stood by her father. Her face was
crimson her eyes flooded with tears,
through which light was flashing her
form drawn up erect her manner res.
olute
" 1t isn't all my fault" she said, as
she laid her haud on her fathers arm.
I've asked mother great mauy times
to let me help her, but she always puts
me off, and says it's easier to do a thing
herself than to show another. May be
I'm little dull-but every one has to
learn, you know. Mother did not get
her hand in fairly with thar sewing ma.
chine for two or three weeks; | am
certain it would not take me any longer.
II she would only teach me how to use
it, could help her great deal. Aud
indeed, father, am willing"
Spoken in the right spirit, my
daughter" said Mr.. Thornton, approx
ingly. "Girls should be usefully en-
ployed as well as boys, and in the very
things most likely to be required OF
them when they become women in the
responsible position of wives and
mothers Depend upon it, Efie, an
idle girlhood is not the way to cheer.
ful womanhood. Learn to do now the
things that will be required of you in
after years, and then you will have an
acquired facility. Habit aud skill will
make easy what might come hard, and
be felt as very burdcnsome.
And you would have her abandon
all self Improvement" said Mrs. T.
"Give up music, reading, society"
There are" said Mr.. Thornton as
his wife paused for another word, "some
fifteen or sixteen hours of each day, ia
which mind or hands should be rightly
employed. Now let us see how Eihc i
spending these long aud ever recurring
periods Of time. Come, my daughter,
sit down; We have this subject fairly
before us. 1t is one of great Importance
to you, and should be we'll considered
How is it in regard to the employment
OF your timer Take yesterday for in.
stance. The records of the work of a
day will help us to get toward the re.
suit after which We nre now searching
Ellie sat down, aud Mr.. Thornton
drew chair in front of his wife aud
daughter.
Take yesterday, for instance" said
iather, "how was it spent YOU rose M
seven, / think"
~ es, sir; came down just as tho
breakfast bell was rung," replied Efie. |
" And your mother was un AZ b.lf