The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-06-03
A Converted Clergyman and a Mis-
sionary Mother-in-La1y.
From Harper for June.

| had been ugnlied with the name OF the
study. was the best and pleasantest room
in the house, and in it were drawn together
| all the best that the house atforded-here
was the prettiest paper and the best car
pet the only lounge, the easiest rocking
chair, the gayest table cover, the best
| lamp, and the prettiest ornaments, all
gathered here by his young wifes unset
fish devotion, and her husbands devoted
selfshness.
A tall, stout well-made, horid young
man. never intended by nature tor any
sedentary lite one whose broad shoulders
and strong arms would have made better
and healthier man of him in the field on
the workshop; one who as farmer or ma
chinist might have made something OF his
muscular inheritance, but who had been
thrust into Il position he was wholly un-
fitted for by the weak ambition Of a doting
mother and the vanity and self-indulgent
Incidence OF his own character.
A gentle step. a timid deprecating tap
at the study door. Eyes right = atten-
tion" In one moment, like a soldier on
drill, the reverend gentleman had wheeled
into position at the table, snatched up 4
pen, dipped it in the ink, and held it sus-
pended over the paper, as he said, in the
halt-annoyed tones OF a person suddenly
disturbed in some absorbing train of
thought, You can come in
Softly the door was pushed ajar, and q
sweet young face, fair and fresh as an
apple blossom, and framed in braids of
soft brown hair, peeped timidly in.
"luite alone, dear?n she asked, glanc-
ing round the apartment; and then, salts
fai fhnt bn tho vjtn in n
girlish figure, though one arm clasped her
sleeping baby to her bosom; in the other
hand she bore a small tray with snowy
way to deposit the child among the cush-
ions of the lounge, she came to her hus-
bands side.
"What have you got there, Lucy?' he
said, in halt-reproachtul tones, though his
eager eyes contradicted his assumed in
difference
''Only little lunch for you. dear, " said
the little wife, coaXingly, and she removed
the desk and set the little tray before him.
You silly child! what is it ?" Lucy
raised the cover, and revealed small
juicy beefsteak, temptingly cooked, Il
buscuit, and a class of foaming beer.
"Oh, have not any appetite; | don't
want it," said the husband. making very
faint demonstration OF pushing it from
him.
"Yes, YOU do, dear; know best Did
not you tell me yourself that brains need
ed food, and that mental labor was more
exhausting than any other? Take little
sip of the beer first, dear, and maybe that
will bring an appetite"
"You are little goose, Lucy" said the
Reverend Boswell, as he took the glass
from her hand; and so, just to please the
atfectionate little thing, he ate and drank
all she had provided-and he did it, too,
Just AS if he relished every mouthiul You
would never have guessed he did not relish
it. Oh Ire was such 4 good man, And
Lucy sat by, delighted that her idol had
condescenden to accept her meat and drink
offerings.
There now; these poor. dear, tired
brains will feel all the better" she said,
laying her soft hand caressingly on his
low brow at is too bad for you to have
to sit here. hard at work, all this lovely
day; but tell me, have you been very hard
at work this mornings
"Well, no, not very said the sell-con
victed idler. "Itis too warm to do much"
"Warm here, dear? ?" said Mrs. Holland,
glancing round the cool, fresh, orderly
little room, and contrasting it with the
kitchen, the heated scene of her own Ia
bors "'rhen it must be because YOU feel
weak; do you?"
Il thought you would come up and read
for me, Lucy !. have been expecting you"
But | could not come to-day, you
know" said the wife. deprecatingly. 'It's
washing dayr'
"Well, what if it is? You do not wash,
presume"
mo, dear, not exactly but Katie does'
But you are not Katie"
IL beg your pardon, but an on wash
ing and ironing days"
"W hat do you mean ?"
"Only, of course. that when Katie is
washing, | have her daily work to do
Il do not see what great amount Of
work there can be to do in such a family
as ours"
That is because it is.not in..your line,
Boswell. If it was, you would soon find
out that there is work to be done in every
well-managed family, however small and
where there is baby, and only one mex
perienced servant, there is Il good deal of
work to be done"
"Work, work - said the parson, fret
fully. "One would think, to hear You talk
of your work, that we lived in palace
and entertained company every day of our
lives"
81 am very thankful that we do not"
laughed the sweet-tempered little woman
"Well, | can't understand it I'm sure.
DO tell me now what hare you had to do
this morning?"
Il WILL" said Lucy, seating herself on
the lounge by her child. 1T is fine day.
and Katie has q very large wash; so | set
her at work early, and made the beds
and put the chambers in order; and then
l cleared away the breakfast things. and
swept and busted the parlor and entry
and put fresh flowers in the vases, and
picked and shelled the peas, and made
the pudding, and cooked your steak, and
tended the baby"
"Well he is asleep"
Yes, he is ,s0ao but he was wide awake
all the morning. and just as cunning as he
could be. | only wish You had seen him
when /"
"Oh yes, ! dare say; but don't care to
hear about it,"
Lucy bent down over the sleeping child
to pat and kiss him, and when she raised
her head there was a tear on the baby's
dimpled cheek. Poor little thing! Had
he been weeping in his sleep j.? for the
mothers fair face was as unruffled as be-
fore.
care you coming to read to me, Lucy ?n
Lucy hesitated. II will if | can-after
dinner
"Oh, | am going out to dine with the
Aliens"
You are? Why, Mr.. Holland, you did
not tell me''
'No, | did not think of it; and do
not suppose it makes much difference to
you"
81 thought it would be a good day for
you to 60 over to see that old deaf Mrs.
Otis hear she tells everybody she does
not know her minister by sight"
"Well. she won't acquire that knowledge
to-day, any way. Mary Denny promised
to call for me at the Aliens and take me
for drive in her pony-carriage down to