, 1874-07-26
Ro11y's Mother.

From the 4fe,o YorE Tribune.
While everybody lends wllllag ego and ear to
Woo3 and wins her Nay through tho world. Pol
ly's motlor SO suddenly finds herself hustled
into tho unnoticod crowd that she almost loses
her BREATH If Polly should lisp belief in Cog
or Mngog, or profess herself Thug, It would bo
held Us pretty caprice but the stout middle
aged matron id iumo1cd in no yasaries OF orin-
ion or action, cold Neglect drills her to keep
step with the rank and tlie Of orthodoxy, or TO
pay hard penalty; her easiest. securcst honor,
she knows, oven in these days Of freedom for
Women. lies i'll her lack Of distinction. Polly
has sprung up besido her, she hardly knows
how or when- It was ouly few wovks ago
according to her tablo Of time, that she was
packing her own dresses-dounced siik tissues,
stveted 81, l more snuquss-for Saratoga or tho
White Sulphur, Or dyeiDg her sash in pokeber1y
juice to wear TO sing. ng school. Sho has grown
few pounds heavier, and acquired sod fund
of experience since then is expert in curing
beef or conducting Dorcas Societies, or can chat
ter OF Darwin or tho comet lcarncdly but the
men who used to flock about her turn insiif1er-
emily away now that sao has something to say
worth hearing, and II thrs Poor, superanuuated
Polly should happen TO be still roso-tin1cd,
saucy, and gay. feeling herself not a dag older
euperciious eyes, and pronounce her ga tine
woman, and we'll preserved, With an in1u1-
geuco that brings tho indignant blood to
her heart and the tears TO her eyes. A. for
Poll-nobody loves the child as she does, OF
course. Il was only year or two ago that
aud Group. The little girl has not had the
measles yet, and is sLock;ngly bohindhaud
with her tables and arithmetic, but sho is
almost broken OF her habit OF giggling. So
which she meaus shall bring forth little
motllcrly hen just like herself; sho does not
sec the bird OF paradise that has Clipped
the she'll and become the delight of tho world
for day: There ia nothing paradisiacal to
her in Polly; she is the plu1npest Of her girls,
not half 20 steady or intelligent as Jane,
thinks moro Of her mutton chops aud wafllcs
than any OF the others, and is unfortunately,
more given to fbbing. Her mother is delighted
whon from the kltchen-door she sees Lawyer
Pratt rein up at the co1-yard to talk to the girl
at her milking; or ncroHs the drawing room OF
the Newport cottage finds her surrounded by
gray y-headed Judges and Congressman, as we'll rs
bea1dless boys; but she il amazed too. What
can the giddy child ind to say2 Sho goes nearer
TO listen and help her, that she may not Disgrace
herself by too great sllliness. Phil and bob she
recognizes rs men, and codes their place to them
when newly brceched; but Polly is never grown
up to her mother. The mother will shake lor
head over Polly's children some day, and wonder
Why Providence should give babies to imbccilo |
young people.
II folly's mother belong to tho Woodworking
classes, sie will quietly submit to giyo up all .ha
good cheer and frolc and ease OF hlo to her |
o4AA0 oAo tAAIaA 3Oit+E A1EU} auA lQIu llLU |
harder work until old age give to her as to the |
Did marc in the shafts, right to rest to tho e::d
u her days. and 10 q certain kindly considera~
ion. These il no class in this country driven to
such hard, persistent, wearing work Us the raw
ooned, Lig:l-Hhoulde1ed, rnidde-aged women.
[n tic Eastern, Middle, and Western States, |
hey form an admirable orthodox plaan1,- per
oetual in well-dolng, Of bread-baklng, bacon
rylnG, and potato-peeliue. i1reproachabie in vir
ue, and OF an aspect which sets the teeth on edge
link n tnS St11f1, fha tt,n |
.a1ne class lakes part of tho ied-work; you shall
'eo them IN their ono garment Of homcspuu wool,
heir gray hair hnottcd in w,sp behlnd, piow-
ng side by side with tile lazy negro, or staring
ence at the passer-by. All tho scrimping and
Of q woraan'B life in the middle
'lass in this country eets in, as may gay, |
'otween tie ages Of 20 and CO.. The boys are to
% educated, Polly dresses; or perhaps p,or
'oliy comes back penni1ess widow with her
lildren. The mother stints her own dress first.
'he goes about shabby and patched. Il Father
nd the boys " ere ashamed Of it at first, then
hey grow used to it, satisied it should be 20.
'ac thinks they will think Of What ehe has done,
nd tlla1lE her for it when sllc is dead. But lore
8 4 toll which it is safer to take nil along the
oad-
In higher classes Polly's mother is apt to re-
ent her neglect BY society. She is fond Of tell
ag Us 1t Is not 30 in Europe That American eo-
iety is rendered vapd and loud By the uomna-
ion of young people, ETC., etc. Iu tho South
no usually has such a succession OF infant:le
'olliee coming yearly on tho ecene that she las
o time 70 plan any course OF action. She las
o middle age. To-day she is going to her
ousiis on visit with the last baby, and col
red nurse, and bottle Of milk, aud tomorrow
no IL an old woman. Bat III tho long in.crreg-
um OF middle age in tho North, rolly's mother
as tco often time to harden md matte 1u,abia
Or h1e the weaknesses and vhims which were
0 vague and charming in her as a loug-aro |
oily. Sue sits in the background at bali or
pe1a, and decides '.who's who " with tint sharp. |
orroslve slang OF gentility Which beioago 10 |
very would-be exclusive circle, or shs runs
rom friend to a1essmaker cLatterinr The |
ear round Of po1onaiscs, and laces. stona
atneoe, or che taxes come little creed OF eome
tile church and calls that religion aud, shutting
e1se1 aud her felloW-belcyera into its IRON
AIRED heaven together. stands ut tho gate bark
'g like an auiable Cerberu. at all the world ont