Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-07
NO. 1874.
Gales and Sketfhes.
DEBBY ANN.

| Y.
Laura. as that damsel came down Ian
guidly late to break fast
You know Debhy Ann. the mainstring
of our establishment? Dating with the
/ century, alert and brisk as ever she was
at twenty years; suns may set and stars
may wane; daughters come and 90;
boys marry, or come back from afar,
bringing their sheaves with them; the
dead are carried out; the babies are
brought to the old house to be tossed and
shown off in her proud arms-through all
the sparkle and shifting scene, the sor-
row and the deep exceeding Joy, she
| stays, the very anchorage OF our home
| BY no ties OF blood is she akin to US,
but by the How shall translate it into
modern speech which knows not such
relations? ''Our grandmother brought
her up" 1t is the simple service of the
olden time, knit by sixty years of mutual
love and helpiulness into nearer and
dearer tie. Now the acknowledged head
and arbter OF the household. she COM
bines the devotion of a mother with the
sagacious criticism OF an aunt. Fighting
our battles with the butcher and baker.
charging fearlessly on patoons of Irish
or colored help for their shortcomings
in our service, she does not sp IRE us in
| short comings either, il we fall to reach
the lofty standard OF old.
| That standard briefly expressed, is
this: that men are superior beings, com
ing home very tired at night, and to be
peiled and worshipped from that hour
TILL they start out again next morning 10
their warfare with The world that a wo-
man who is good for any thing is good
for great deal. There is nothing in the
mechanics OF the household, from driv-
ing nail. papering room, even into the
deep mysteries OF gas meters, bot-water
pipes, drains, and iuxnace draughts, that
she, Debby Ann, does not understand as
well AS any man. Consequently there is
no excuse Tor other women, who pretend
to keep house, sitting he pless as boobies
wheh any thing goes wrong, and sending
out for some impudent workman to come
in and ''muss up every thing,
What modified views OF woman's mis-
sion have caWe to the women OF our
househ, Id in witnessing the daily life of
Debby Ann, with its supreme faculty, 10
gether with her profound reverence for
man, in the abstract, as power, will be
known perhaps at that great day when
women shall cast in their votes.
Her effect on the masculines OF the
family is simply this: il ever the great
house-cleaning shall come in national
politics when cellers and vaults shall be
thrown open to the sun, creeping things
brought to light, and ioul things sw. pit
away; when the woman's broom shall
bring down many an ancient cobweb,
and clear many dim and grmy pane,
then we know whom Ce shall vote tor
for President of these United States, spite
OF her seventy years!
So | listen-as which of YOU would not
Ito the question, slightly spced with sar-
casm in It's tone, Nv mats the reason,
Laura, that You are forever tired ?"
at is the heavy skits think, Debby
Ann" says the young lady's mamma, COM
ing to the rescue. and herself scarcely
suppressing yawn.
Your grandmother always wore jack
cts to her skirts, and made EN- for me"
was the Instant response.
Upon inquiry find that they all did,
those women Of old, hang their skirts TO
their shoulders instead OF their hips, which
cross examination divul geth is the mode
in modern attire.
Do you remember the good mothers
bag in the fortunes of the Family Robin
son ? sound cid book. quite crowded out
of sight ly the cheap sensation and slang
of the boy bullies now staring it in school
libraries. The resources of that homely
bag, stored by a mothers foresight and
sympathy. were astonishing. Put your
hand into it for wharever you wanted, and
10! II was there. My faith in Debby Ann
is simply that of the Swiss pastor In the
bag. So draw at a venture as take NY
third cup OF coffee from her outstrelched
hand.
She made the coffee; every drop of its
amber is sparkling and clear. LET an
Irish girl make coffee Boil it to death
Catch her at it !" And she resolutsly brings
it to the table in its shining cdfateire of
block-tin, "'cause it spoils it. your grand
mother always said, to pour it out"
After few futile struggles of ieSe-md
jeSte in favor of natty silver urn, one of
her shining wedding presents, my spouse,
acquiescing long ago, is not only con-
vinced. but converted II the wisdom of
the old-word way.
"Debby Ann l ask, abruptly, 'you
weren't "A tired young gill, We're you?"
BLESS you! Never had the time nev-
er knew it if was! You see, was a
tomboy when | was young. | went to
school with the boys, and out of school |
played with them just as rough. | had
| NY MOlh W W. diOl6 Wtul, Out WUtu L
came home from school would tear off,
instead of sitting down to sampler-work
as your grandmother bade me. She and
Is had many bout over that sampler
used to hide it in all sorts of places, and
she found it regular-weren't many cor.
ners in her household she didn't look into
every day. At last popped it into the
big dictionary, and it lay there safe for
years. She had such a raft OF boys, you
know, the house was never quiet and |
couldn't for the life of me sit down to sew
when there was snow-balling or wasp
fights going on oatside. But | did my
work afore !"
And Debby Ann drew herself up erect
and glowered at Laura, whose daily duty
it is to trail gracefully with coque ttisn
leather brush over the books and pictures
in the drawing-room, and who now, at 9
A. NJ, had just made her pretty morning
toilet. with the labors of the day still be-
fore her.
But YOU did learn TO sew throuob 1,