River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-01-23

QeteStaOle 10 ner ear.
make them plain if you are in hur-
~; children don't need trimming ups
they are prettiest In simple clothes.
can finish off that batch of aprons before
dinner, If you will put that ruffliue away.
Come now do, it Will be load off your
mind, and Polly won't know the differ
ence.'
81 always do trim them, and every one
does," began Mrs Bennett, who was we'd
ded to her idols.
when / was in London | saw a dukes
children dressed in plain brown linen
pinsfores, and | thought had never seen
such splendid babies. Try it, and if
people make remarks bring in the En-
glish aristocracy, and it will be all
right"
There was twinkle in Mrs. Gays eye
that made her friend ashamed to argue,
so she laughed aud gave up the point,
acknowledging with sigh that it was q
relief.
at Is this mania for trimming every
thing that is wearing out so many wo-
men. Necessary sewing over, then drop
your needle and read, rest, walk or play
with the children, and see how much you
have lost heretofore with this everlasting
stitching. You'd soon get over that pain
in your side if you'd let the machine
stand lille while you went out for ~
hour every day."
"Pernaps 1 should, bu. can't leave tho
children, Biddy is so careless"
"Take them out with you. Roll baby
up and down that nice dry sidewalk anG
La 1clI fNaF lAa q
ferent set of people in month"
do you really think SOL"
"Not only that, but if you'd change
your way of living, don't believe you'd
need to go to Florida at all"
why, Mary Gay, what do you mean2
demanded Mrs. Bennett, sitting erect up.
on the couch in her surprise at this I'M
expected remark.
II have often wanted to say this before
and now | will, though you may think
I'm an interfering woman if | do. Never
mind, if can only save you farther wor-
~ and expense and suffering | won't
mind, if you are offended for time. In
the first place, you must move" and Mrs
Gay gave such decided nod that the
other lady could only calculate. "Why
where2 when2"
because you want more sun and space
into this room because youwill find both,
and to- day, because l am here to help
you"
Mrs. Bennett gave a lsttle gasp aud
looked about her in dismay at the bare
idea of living in her cherished best par.
lor.
'RIt the back room does very well,
she protested. sit is warm and small
and handy TO the kitchen aud we always
live there"
mo, nv dear, it does not do very we'll
for those very reasons. 1t is 200 warm
and small and near the kitchen to make
it fit place to live in, especially for lit
tie children. Why don't you put your
plants there if it is such nice place2'
asked Mrs Gay, bent on making a clean
sweep of her friends delusions and pre-
JUDGES.
"Why they need more sun and air and
ROOM so | keep them in here"
Exactly and your babies need sun
and air and room more than your roses
geraniums and callas. The plants would
soon die in that close, hot, dark north
room; do YOU wonder your babies are
pale and fretful and weak2 Bring them
in here and see how soon they will bloom
if you will give them chance"
~ never thought Of that. I'm sure
could do anything to see them well and
hearty, but it seems pity TO spoil ms
nice parlor. Wouldn't the best chamber
overhead do as well2n
II want that, too, for your bedroom
and the little one at the side for The
children. You use the back chamber
now. and have the cribs there also, dom
your
"Yes, My patience! Mary, would
you have me turn the house upside dowl
just for little more sum-
''Do you love your best room better
than your children2 Hadn't you rather
see them spoilt by daily use than empty
and neat, because the little busy feet were
gone, never to come back? I'm in earn
est, Lizzie, and I know you will agree
with me when you think it over. My
own dear little boy was killed by my ig-
norance, and have learned by sad ex.
perience that we mothers should make il
the study of our lives to make home
healthy and happy for our boys and girls
no matter how much we sacrifice show
aud fashion. Come, now, try it for q
month, and see if you don't all feel
the better for enjoying the best and sun
niest side of life"
Mrs. Benefits eyes wandered around
the pretty room, and went from Polly
singing to herself as she sat looking out
of the pleasant window, to baby content
eddy playing bo-peep through the bars OF
the fender with the yellow flames, which
were his delight, then came back to her
/ friends kind, earnest face, and seemed to
wake with sudden energy and life and
resolution.
"I'll try itt' she said, feeling that il
was heroic thing TO give up all her
cherished ideas and put her Sunday best
things into everyday wear. But Mrs.
Gays words touched and startled her,
and with self reproaohtui 3ang she re-
solved that it should never be said that
she loved her plants more than her chill
dren, or that the house should ever miss
the sweet clamor of baby voices if she
had the power to keep the music there.
"Geod / know you would, and I'm
going to show you how easy it Will 30 to
change the climate you live in as Sell as
the scene, and tighten your work, and
benefit your health without goin,, far
away" cried Mrs. Gay, delighted with
her success, and eager TO see her reform
we'll carried out.
"What will John say2" aud Mrs. Ben
net felt inclined both to laugh and TO
cry at the thought Of the coming revolu-
ton.
He will approve; men always like TO
have things bright and roomy and nice
shout them. l have been through it,
and know, for when we kept in two
rooms we got careless, and narrow, and
low-spirited Now we 1--we all over the
house and keep everything as bright, and
pretty, and nice as we can. George does
not shut himself up in his untidy den,
but stays with me, and people drop in,
and we have a social, happy time OF it,
all enjoying our good things freely to-
gether, and feeling the worth OF them"
"How do we begln?' asked Mrs. Ben
nett, fired with the spirit Of emulation
now that the first shock was over, for
John did shut himself up because the
dining room was so full of an evening
with two tumultuous boys. and the little
woman wanted to see her husband dur
ing the only leisure hour she had out of
the twenty four.
81 should just move all the delicate
things into the little library there out of
the way f the children. That room is
rather bare, and they viii make it more