Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-01-20

busy, is to be in worry over too
much work"
"But you don't mean to say you
never st,.that you never get tired =
"By no means. | both rest and get
tired, and many times each day, But
rest does not always imply cessation
from labor. Sometimes it does, |
grant, and when, after any unusual ia
tlgue, fad myself inclined to lie
down and sleep, always indulge the
feeling 1t is one of Natures prompt
ings, which, to insure health and joy,
should be needed And / do not feel
that ever lose any time that way, for
the half Or even hours sleep, 80 in
vigorates me, that | can work with
twice the ability afterward, that |
could, if | had striven on with weary
limbs and trettcd nerves. But many
times, a change of employment or oc-
cupation, will rest one as much, nay
more, than idleness. You know your
self, after a busy forenoon on your
feet, that it rests you to sit down in
your rocker and busy yourself with
sewing. And sometimes, when l
have been handling heavy clothes,
such as coats and pantaloons for my
boys, till my arms and fingers ache, |
rest them by taking up some light
garment for my babe or little girl.
Or when my limbs ache, severely
from some arduous duty, and yet
have no inclination to sleep, as is fire.
queotly the case after rocking a wor-
risome child to sleep, lie down on
my old fashioned lounge and rest my.
self in body by that course, while l
soothe, and gladden. and improve my
mind by reading, always being careful
though, to put by the book just SC
soon as I feel that | am enough re-
cruited."
"But suppose you get behlndhand
with your work from sickness, or com
pany, or some other cause, what dc
you do then 2"
81 never allow myself to get behind
hand from the latter cause-visitors.
| never allow them to interrupt my
domestic affairs. | never invite com
pany except on those days ofthe week
that have the lighter daties. And if
casual visitors come along, they vii
not disturb or hinder you if the rule;
| have given you are implicitly fol.
lowed. You are always ready fol
chance company. And with these
rules, even sickness, unless long con
tinued, will not vary the domestic
economy. But if | do get behind.
hand, make it up as quick as posi-.
bic. Irlse an hour earlier every morn
ing, and deny myself the luxury Of
visiting. till the accumulated work il
performed
Excuse me, but | must ask one
more question. What do you mean
by odd times You said you should
work your collar at odd times"
81 can answer you but by some ex
amples. Yesterday afternoon was
going to cut and baste q dress for my
self. But unexpectedly, a friend
from the country came in to take tea
with me. Now l did not want to lit
ter the parlor with my pieces, so
went to my basket and took out a
pretty little sack for Harry and spent
the time in sewing on that, | always
keep something in my basket suitable
for such odd times, and when | have
nothing really necessary, take up my
embroidery. And then you know we
wives are frequently obliged to wait
till a considerable time has elapsed
for the appearance of our husbands at
the table. and those odd moment.
usually to women 50 irksome, are very
precious to me. l always mean tC
have the meals ready at the hour, bu
| if Mr.. Merton is not here then, ant
being head clerk, scarcely day pas
ses but some meal must wait, insteat
of watching the clock or thummins
on the windows, I read the newspa
pers and magazines. l assure yo'
I never take any other time to rea'
them, and yet am never behindhan'
with them. And when | have nom
of them at hand, catch up some pop
ular story that I want to read, anc
yet don't want to give that time to
which | usually devote to solid read
ing. The volume l lent you-Mrs
Nelson blushed; she had had it
. week and read only the first chapte
|