The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-15
mained silent for some time. Then she

NAMED silent for some time. Then she
asked
Aunt Nancy, why was it impera-
lively necessary that Uncle Steve should
breakfast 30 early? He was in business
for himself, wasn't he ?"
Yes, dear, in q 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 punctuslity form the
corner. stone of success Why, he would
discharge any man who was late three
times in succession. / have no use for
q sluggard,' he used to say"
used he ?" said Lizzie, with faint
smile. "What fortunate thing it is
that Harvey's employer isn't that sort
of a man !" she added, thoughtfully.
eft is indeed, Lizzie" was Mrs.
Bent's earnest reply. Then, wise tao
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 csuse.
And 30 it proved. Young Mrs. Ellis
was thinking woman as well as an
amiable 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 to
"take a nap" in the afternoon, that
she might be bright and wakeful when
Harvey came home. But all that wore
of in time. We are creatures of habit
no more nor less-as Lizzie discovered; I;
for ere many months had passed
she found it no hardship to rise
with the sun, while the improved ap-
pearanoe 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 30 late Of mornings was con-
tinually hurrying to make up for lost
time was always behindhand with my
work, and consequently always tired
when night came. But now it's all so
different / have time for everything,
sewing and all, and am never really
tired, while the consciousness that am
pleasing one Of the best of husbands is
alone worth the effort have made to
overcome a habit which was fast rob-
bing me Of all energy and ambition.
You're good girl, Lizzie" said
Aunt Bent, warmly, "and deserve to
be made an example Of"
=
So have followed Aunt Bent's sug-
gestion, and made an example of Lizzie
Ellis, feeling sure that many of her
sisters possess her =" one fault. Then,
like her, overcome it. You, who are
wives OF workingmen, remember that
you are helpmeets as well as wives, and
do not allow self-indulgence to rout
wifely virtues. Perhaps it seems
scarcely worth while to exhort you so
earnestly on such prosaic subject as
the one chosen, but these practical
trihes make up Internationally a
working life and those men are few
who do not esteem as the best wife,
mother, sister and daughter, she who
is the active, industrious early riser. y