The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-08
From Harper's Monthly.l
Ny Mothers Objections.

| argument which should induce her to
change her mind. Unless she did 50, the
case, knew, was hopeless; for Helen
| proud, beautiful darling that she was,
! would never marry a man whose family
| refused to sanction the match. My mother
was the best woman in the world, too
good for the world, | sometimes thought
too good, at least. for the world in
which lived, and to which had recent
ly transplanted her from the quiet New
England village in which she had lived
all her married life. If you know any
thing of the rigid spirit which prevails in
those quiet spots of New England where
a stern Puritanlsm rides rough-shod over
all natural tastes and instincts, you can,
perhaps, appreciate the force Of my moth
ers objections to my betrothed, Helen
Leighton; otherwise, you must take my
word for their cogency.
''She dances; she CANDLES; she laughs
in church"
These were the grounds on which my
mothers objections were based. | had
argued them with her, point by point,
many time, driving her from them one
by one, forcing her to acknowledge their
untenabilty. SO far so good but as a
bit of whalebone springs back when the
pressure upon it is relaxed, Just so surely
did her mind spring back to the original
point:
''She CANDLES; she dances; she laughs
in church"
Dance OF course she danced, like Il
wave of the sea or Il bubble of the air.
Thanks to my Puritanical training, had
had no opportunity of learning the art
until my muscles had lost their youthful
tleXibilty. Nevertheless, it was my de
light to watch her graceful figure and to
catch the bright glances which from time
to time she sent me as she tloated past.
Gamble2 She played cards, as every
body does, which hardly constitutes gam
bling; but this was a distinction which
my mother would by no means allow.
''Cards are cards" was her line Of az
gument. at may be a shade worse to
play for money, but i'll either case the
principle is the same"
AS for her laughing in church. who
would not have laughed, under the cir
cumstances, should like to know! You
see, her brother, Harry Leighton, was
gifted with a naturalist's tastes and in
stilcts. Bugs and beetles, worms and
Larvae, and all hideous flying and creep
ing things, were to him types of beauty
in its divinest essence. Now, on that soft
August afternoon, as Helen and Harry
were crossing one Of our city parks on
their way to church. his eye fell upon a
specimen of the rare DOrcaS birrfS, which,
by some miraculous means, had Strayed
thither. How was it possible for him to
resist capturing such a prize AS he had
come out unproylded with the collectors
supply Of boxes, murderous drugs, ento-
mological pins, and such like, an empty
envelope served to confine it, and he had
thrust it into his pocket. Unluckily, the
envelope was not sealed the beetle, by
no means pleased with its incarceration,
made its escape, and being Of an invest-
eating turn of mind, proceeded to burrow
under Harry's garments. 1t is in vain to
endeavor to preserve calm and decOrous
demeanor with mysterious claws burying
themselves in your skin in inaccessible
places When to this is added the feal
of injurng a rare and valuable specimen
in your frantic attempts at recapture, and
also the dread OF attracting the attention
of clergymen and congregation, Harry
Leighton's state of mind may be inagin-
ed AS for Helen, at first she had gaZed
upon her brothers wild cOntOrtions and
grimaces with mild wonder and alarm
The alarm was relieved by his whispered
explanation Of the true state of the case
profusely illustrated by frantic but eau
tiOus grabs at the cause of his woes
Now, | ask. could any mortal maiden re-
sist this, especially in place where tc
laugh was to feel herself forever dis
gracedg The very sense Of horror Whicl
she felt at the idea of her own untimey
levity only FASTENED the explosion. A lit
tie half smothered rivulet Of laughter
trickled out shame and fright only made
matters worse; the laughter became un
controllable, hysterical, until the welcome
sound Of "Let us pray :" enabled her t,
hide her blushing, agonized face.
Now | had again and again explained
the circumstances to my mother, but i
was all in vain.
i ''lf she had had proper sense OF tht
/ solemnity of the place, she never w0ul(
have been tempted to laugh" was al
that she would say adding, as her ulti
matum, ''If ever you find me gambling
dancing, and laughing in church, will
give my consent but until then. it il
quite useless to ask me-"
And so saving. my mother terminated
the argument by sweeping from the room
leaving me to chew the cud of sweet ant
bitter reflections. How my mothers oh
jections were to be answered, | confes
that could not see that she would eve
change her mind of her own accord
knew her too we'll to imagine. Could
inTeigle her into faro bank under pre-
text of a prayer-meetiug, engage her at
tention, and then bet in her name, per
suading her afterward that the act wa
the effect of her own volition! Hardl,
feasible; and, even if practicable, hov
were the other miracles to be accom-
plishede My mother dancing! my mothe
laughing in church Unless she joine,
the Shakers, | could not see how th,
first was to be effected. AS for the last
monkeys might perch on sounding board
and angle for clergymen's wigs, stra
dogs might run amuck up and down tn
aisles, with sexton and Sunday schoo
children in full cry after them, bats Nigh
flap and clergymen blunder, but | wa
quite sure that never a muscle of m
mothers face would move.
With a sigh | gave up the problem a
last, and sailed forth, all unconsciou
that fate was working for me in cas-
where was utterly helpless.
1t had rained for week-a driving
easterly storm, with occasional interlude
of heavy, foggy weather, low gray skies
and damp, raw air My mothers ches
being weak, she was debarred from al
outdoor exercise during its continuance
and, sooth to say, the time began to ham,
very heavily upon her hands. READING
is all very well for time, but when yo
have all your life been bustling notabl
housekeeper, finding your highest pleas
ure in new and recondite recipes, il