Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-08-15
WHAT MRS. GILES DID.
BY MRS. $. A. UNDERWOOD.

'DOne ut last" said Mrs, Giles,
speaking to herself, a habit in which
she frequently indulgcd "Now il
dinner was out Of the way, | might
have time to finish Leonards suit this
afternoon, I've had it round so long
If | onlyhad a sewing machine, how
much | could accomplish" and pick
ing up the basket she went into the
house, The prospect within was not
very cheering, the wash-tubs to clear
away, and dinner to place upon the
table. just as she had begun to lay
the table, Mr.. Giles appeared at the
door and said:
put on another plate, that man
will take dinner with us.
Dinner was soon ready and as soon
despatched, for ceremony was one Of
the unknown things in the Giles fam
| ily' Mr. Giles aud the stranger went
to the Sitting-room to discuss the mer-
its Of a new mower and reaper, while
Mrs. Giles remained and cleared the
table. When she had finished and
made herself ready for the afternoon,
she went into the sitting-room. The
stranger was about taking his leave.
Mr. Giles was saying:
''lfyou have any thing newer and
better, anything that will make work
easier, or do more Of it, | am your
man. | am in favor Of all machinery
that will lessen the labor Of man, en-
phasizing the word man. "Why,
bless you, just look around my farm!
1t is run mostly by machinery
''I'rotitablc? certainly replied he
to Il question from the stranger More
than pays expenses. Money in the
bank, he added, never emitting an
opportunity ofmentioning a small de
post in the city bank.
The stranger was gone at last aud
Mrs. Giles sat down with weary limbs
and aching shoulders, to finish a suit
Of clothes she was making for her son
lad of fifteen. Slowly and YEARLY
the needle went in and out, stitch at
ter stitch went in aud out but to little
purpose; it did seem as though she
never would come to the last. But if
stitches progressed slowly, her ideas
flew fast enough The last words Of
her husband fingered in her mind, and
again and again they REQUIRED to her,
yes" she said at last, breaking
forth into soliloquy, her usual habit
when much disturbed in mind
Eyes, men can have their burdens
lightened, but poor women must
drudge, Every year Giles has added
something new to bis farming imple
ments, while | have to plod along
with scarcely sufficient utensils to
cook a decent dinner: an old stove,
without a boiler or whole griddle, and
cracked door. No wouder cannot
bake loaf Of bread decently, Then
here have to sit and stitch for week
ON this suit, when two hours ON a
machine would complete it.
1t is needless to record all Mrs.
Giles thoughts and words, as she sat
stitching the hours away, A dim
consciousness Of her wrongs, and
faint determination to assert her
rights, was entering her mind. She
had so long given up her opinions,
set aside her needs, and fostered the
selhshncss Of her husband, that it was
hard to break through the moshes of
habit which his stern will had woven
around her. The. afternoon wore
away, and Mrs. Giles laid aside the un-
finished garment to prepare the even
ING meal.
The next morning, at breakfast,
she remarked tc her husband that an
agent for II new sewing machine had
called the day previous, and wished
her to try one ofhiS machines.
81 told him. she said, che might
leave one when he came next week.
''Nlr Giles laid down his knife and
fork, and sat with utter amazement de
picted on his countenance.
"a sewing machine !" he gasped,
when he recovered himself. He
needn't leave any Of his new tangled
humbugs. | have no use for them"
"But | have" interrupted his wife.
You" exclaimed he, "dont see
what 90" have for a machine. You
could never learn to use it, or if you
did, what have you to sew ? Only
my clothes and the boys Women
nowadays are getting mighty indie
pendent, wanting machines to do their
work too lazy to do it themselves
Suppose they want time to CAD about
and talk about their neighbors."
"Why Phillip uI
"Woman's work is nothing" con-
tigned Giles, not needing the interrup
ton. My mother had not as many
conveniencies for doing her work as
you have, yet she always had her
meals regular, and well cooked, which
is more than can say for you. No,
] don't want any sewing machine
about my house. God made as good |
sewing machine as I want when he
made woman.
With this ultimatum, he left the
table, and taking his horse, he mount
ed and rode away to look at a new
reaper he contemplated buying.
One by one the members of the
family finished their breakfast, and
passed out leaving Mrs Giles alone
She sat with her head resting on her