Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-28
Breaking the Left Arm.


tide Of labors and responsibility, chauced TO
break his left arm feel sure he has some
things TO learn ! don't refer 10 the sudden
sfmeung fall on the ice, when your first con
sciouslfess is that you need help, aud are
faint. and have one limb scattered and help
less nor to the swellings, aud spliuts band
ages aud pains. and aruica congresses and
long weary nights, and the useless thing
hung in a sling, TO be carefully carried about I;
nor do ! refer 10 the many condolences and
congratulations YOU have, "that il was not
your right arm, and how thankful YOU es-
caped with the right arm uninjured," etc.
You are truly tempted 10 say, MY good
friend, how much more thankful YOU ought
to be that neither Of your arms has been
broken" How many daily forget this great
mercy But ! took up my pen tO speak of
the broken left arm.
One night, between sleeping and waking,
between opium and pain, overheard dia-
locue between the right and the left hand,
by which was not a little amused, but still
more instructed.
Now, my good fellow" said Right Hand
10 Left, "you see just how it is lou may
as well be quiet and get well. You are not
much missed, as you hear everybody con
graduating the owIsr that it was you rather
than me who is laid aside We shall get
along admirably without you and, indeed,
YOU are not Of much consequence"
II seems so" meekly replied Left Hand,
but am hardly satisfied with the place
YOU giyeme. VIII you please tellme wherein
your great superiority consists 2"
Up started Right Hand, as fierce rs q chal-
longing bully, and answered thus
"My superiority why in everything.
My owner can't hold quill and write a
most valuable piece unless hold that pen.
"True, but who holds the paper on which
he writes ~
Who holds the hammer willie the black
smith forges and shapes his iron p
" And who holds the tongs that grasp
that iron and turn it over on the anvil 2"
"Mho holds the plane while the carpen-
ter smooths the board z"
And who steadies the board while he
POINTS and smooths it 2"
"When my owner walks the streets who
has the honor 10 salute, lift the hat. and
shake the hand z"
And who holds the traveling-coat and
carpet-bag while he does it 2"
"In war who wields the sword aud draws
the trigger at the right moment ("
"And who holds the scabbard while the
sword is drawn; and who holds mp the gun
while it is fired ;'
"Who gallantly helps the lady into the
carriage 2"
And who holds the carriage door oper
while she enters the carriage ?"
You interrupt me and trouble me, and
/ won't talk if You do So"
Sc don't want to do that" said l.ef
Hand but suppose | ask you a few ques
tons now; You certainly are very skilfu
in this matter. Who shaved your ownel
yesterday
"Why, did, and wanted you to hold hi,
face; and because you We're gone cut hin
eight times, badly"
Couldn't you help it 2"
No, indeed the best barber in town
cant shave a man unless the left hand hold
the nose and other parts of the face"
"Will YOU please, Mr.. Right Hand, but
ton that wristband of yours which is open ?
Why, you know | can't do that. neye
did that in my life. You have always don't
that"
"Wou't you please wind up master
watch We shall want to know when to ex
pect morning z"
"Pshaw you know ! can't wind mp til,
watch unless You are there TO hold it,"
You surely can wash tumbler %
Not unless yon hold it for me"
You can take the money out Of the pnrs
and pay for what our master wants"
Not unless you hold the purse But
can hold the whip, and make old Dobbin G,
fast
Yes, if | hold the reins, and guide hin
while he goes The real fact is, that will
your help alone the master can't cut tn
leaves Of his new book, or read it when cut
The mistress cant darn stocking or max
pudding"
\" Well, well, Mr.. Left Hand, you make on
that you are of great consequence; and
| don't deny it. appreciate you; and have
| not held you carefully every night since yo
/ have been sick during sleep "
Yes, and have been grateful for it,
was Just as | should have done for you"
1t is possible dear old helper, have no
realized how much real service you perform
just tell me how you estimate Yourself"
Why, sir, | am to you what good VIII
I is TO her husband. You have the honorabl
things to do, and the honorable orders O
Mrs. Brain to execute; but am always a
hand to help. When our owner fell leape
out to break the fall, and broke my ow
wrist, while you flew up in the air aud cried
What an escape | have had am to th
body what the wheel-horses are to the stag,
taking every twitch and luroh of the ca
riage. The wife is to her husband what III
mate is to the commander of the ship, ey,
on the watch, managing the crew, while III
captain has all the honor of successfl
voyage. The wife is the untrng friend {
her husband, more Jealous Of his good nam
than of her own, never wearied in promotin
his interests, never asking for the praise {
the honors that fall on him continual
doing small but necessary things meetin
the trials of life, the greater part Of whic
fall most heavily on her, without complain
ing or mourning that her lot is not bette
The husband is the Right Hand aud III
wife is the Left. The one can dolittle will
out the other. You know that since hay
been laid aside you can't button a collar {
tie crayat. You are the man aud am III
woman--a helpmeet, And ! have bee
thinking, as have lain here throbbing an
aching that perhaps no man could break h
left arm without learning to value his ow
wife the more. He sees that even the Rigl
Hand is crippled when | am disabled. II
learns that uncomplaining, untiring ministl
of woman, so necessary for the human fan
ily, so freely bestowed, so seldom appreciates
Appointed 10 be the Left Hand She NEE
every duty, be her lot high or low, wit
cheerfulness and alacrity. 1t can never |
too often told to her honor that, when the X
deemer was on earth, though maligned an
prosecuted by man, there is not one instan,
recorded Of his receiving anything but kin
ness and sympathy from woman. Is N
this a crown Of honor on the head of woman
And no thinking, observing man can loo
back upon the path of life which he and h
wife have walked hand in hand withol
giving her the credit Of having done, u
tiringly, the humble but necessary duties {
life, and helping him TO do most Of what |
has accomplished and making him what !
is. q woman, Left Hand of the family, TIL
husband may well praise thee, and value the
more and more as long as he lives
Fright, right, my true yoke-iellow tho
hast hit il. llenceforth | will look upo
thee as my wife; and II hear people her
after offering their congratulations that
was not the right hand that was disabled,
at least will feel that | have learned goo
lesson by the breaking of the left arm"
In never pays to throw stones, because a
our houses have more or less glass in them