The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-05

turn IN getting breakfast for the entire
family. If you believe me, my dear, /
never In my life had the meal ready in
time, unless one of my sisters volun-
place."
"Oh. what a naughty, shirking
auntie " laughed Lizzie, much inter-
ested in this-to her-astonishiDg
story.
:" Yes, indeed. But you see when I
was married had no kind sister to do
duty for me. So for the first year of
welded life my poor Steve never knew
at what hour breakfast would await him,
or whether he could count on having
any at all. Being very much in love,
he bore it patiently at first; then he
began to grumble a little then he
scolded, and on one terrible morning he
told me that even a fool required no
more than nine hours sleep; that as
evidently needed ten, I must be
he, as sensible man, would live no
longer with a simpleton and then my
poor old boy flung himself out of the
house in rage"
Mrs. Bent leaned back in her chair
and laughed heartily at the remin-
iscence, but Lizzie looked rather serious.
"What did you do then, auntie ?''
Why, first I cried till made my
head ache then I dressed myself and
sat down to think; and I came to the
conclusion that Steve was right and
that was simpleton. Then did my
work, prepared the incest dinner could
think Of, changed my wrapper for a
dress, put on clean collar and cuffs
for to tell you the truth, Lizzie, on ac-
count of rising SO late very often had
no tune to make myself tidy for din
ner-and sat down to wait for Steve"
"Well?"
"Well, my dear, Steve didn't come !;
neither did he come to tea; and when
he finally did put in an appearance, at
nine O'Clock at night, he coolly told me
that he had taken his meals at his moth
er's house all day, and should breakfast
there in future, SO that need not cur
tail my hours of Sleep"
"What o shame 70 cried Lizzie, indie-
nantly. 6" / think his treatment was
very harsh indeed"
"Not one whit too harsh, dear" re-
piled Mrs. Bent, gravely, "for from that
time I earnestly strove to overcome
habits of sloth. Next morning I sur
prised Steve with an early breakfast,
and we had a nice little talk together,
making mutual concessions. OF course
he did not go to his mothers. 1t was
very hard, at first, to rise at stated
time; but when found how much more
easily my house was kept in order, and
how much more time had for sewing
than in the old days, ambition helped
my laggard inclination; and before two
years had passed I found myself an
early riser without effort"
Lizzie was studying the fire very in
tently as Mrs. Bent concluded. and re-
mi ar a6 e1,
asked,-
lively necessary that Uncle Steve should
breakfast SO early? He was in business
for himself, wasn't he 2''
+" Yes, dear, in a small way, He was
consequently his own master But his
presence was required at the shop early
| and late. A business won't prosper in
strange hands, he used to say to me.
And industry and punctuality form the
corner stone of success Why, he would
discharge any man who was late three
times in succession. have no use for
sluggard, he used to say"
FUSED he ?" said Lizzie, with a faint
smile. "What a fortunate thing it is
that Harvey's employer isn't that sort
of man !" she added. thoughtfully.
" 1t IS indeed, Lizzie" was Mrs.
tician that she was, the kindly lady
changed the subject, and after pleas
ant chat on other topics took her leave,
satisfied that she had done good work
in her nephew's cause.
And SO it proved. Young Mrs. Ellis
was a thinking woman as well as an
amiabIe one, and pondered well the
lesson contained in her aunt's story.
Setting aside all personal considera-
tions, she viewed the subject with Har-
vey's eyes, and admitted that she had
sadly tried his patience in the past by
her " one fault, as he termed it /; and
she resolved to overcome habit which
threatened the overthrow of her domestic
happiness.
OF course she succeeded, for earnest
effort rarely fails. It was hard at first,
as Mrs. Bent said, to rise at stated
time; and many a morning found
Lizzie red-eyed and languid, really
suffering for want of sleep indeed
sometimes she was fairly obliged tc
'ttake a nap" in the afternoon, thai
she might be bright and wakeful wher
Harvey came home. But all that wore
of in time. We are creatures of habit
no more nor less-as Lizzie discovered
for ere many months had passed
she found it no hardship to ris,
with the sun, while the improved ap
pearance of her house under the new
system surprised and delighted her.
"You see, auntie, " said. she to Mrs
Bent, long while afterward, "when
lay a-bed so late of mornings was con
tinually hurrying to make up for los
time was always behindhand with m,
work, and consequently always tiree
when night came. But now it's all g
different! I have time for everything