Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-05-29

A Quiet House.

burst OF shrill, childish laughter sounded
from the nursery down the hall stairs and
into the sitting room where he was msk ing
out some accounts. ~ wish those childrei.
would be quiet. Amt II most bedtime.
Tulies''
They are probably undressing" :" replied
Mrs Turmoyle, quietly. IN 60 and see
II they are ready for bed"
do keep them quiet until they are"
There Was an interval OF profound 81
lence, snd in about half al hour the mother
returned
They are asleep now," she said. Tom
bad dressed the Kitten In Bessie's dolls
clothes"
The accounts finished. Mr.. Turmoyle
leaned back In his chair.
Il wish you had some management with
those children. Tillie." he said. Il went
over TO Stones on business, last evening.
and you would not have known there
Was child in the house. And Stone has
five while we have only three"
Perhaps they were all abed.'
They were all IN the next room was
the triumphant reply. "Ston. Is proud of
them and well he msy be. There Is Willie.
jost the age Of our Tom. studying Latin in-
stead OF dressing Kittens In dolls clothes.
and Amy, who will not be four years old
for three months, reads well aud knows
the multiplication table through. Look NJ
our sayages
They are getting aloug ~sn q. school
dear. think Marx il too young yet 10
study. The others did not 90 10 school
until they were nve."
And Tom just manages TO write = de-
cent letter al twelve, while Willie +. at
Latin grammar. And as ior manners why
Ion will make more noise alone than
Stones five children put together
Mrs. Iurmoyle, being woman OF sense,
did not continue the Argument, but mental
ly resolved to see Mrs. Stone the next day, +,
and talk with her about the wonderful Sc
cret OF having five children and a quiet
home.
II am sure can't do IL" the gentle,
loving msther thought. with a Sigh.
Seated, the next Dornlng, in close con-
versstion, the ladies presented n contrAs,
as marked as the atmosphere OF their own
houses. The tiny, blue-eyed woman, who
had no heart 10 suppress Toms merry
whistle or Bessie's silvery laugh, had LEFT =
home where constant care only secured
cleanliness. and where childish disorder
was nanifes, everywhere but In the bes,
parlor. She looked at this dark haired
woman opposite her. noted the exquisite
morning dress, faced with light silk, spot
less and unrumpled, and thought, regret
fully OF the marks Of ten chubby fingers
upon her own. printed there when her boy
baby, her darling Mark, had succeeded In
forcing n piece Of his sweetest candy into
Maiuma's mouth. She noted the dainty
order OF the sitting where every
chair stood pnmly 10 its appointed place.
and not even . thread rested upon the car
pet, and remembered Marks stable for his
'''spress cart" and horses under the lounge
and Bessies keeping house on the lower
! shelf Of the bookcase.
Visions hAu0ted her also OF snippings Of
paper, bits Of string, and odds and ends Of
dolls finery, upon the table.
Drifting from one scrap OF matronly talk
TO another, the ladies came naturally TO
the care aud management OF the children,
and Mrs. Turmoyle complimenied her
neighbor upon the appearance OF her house
and the proficiency OF her little ones.
al can't understand how you accomplish
it, she said frankly.
by system" was the reply. THE edu-
cation OF my children begins, may say in
their cradles. As soon as they can walk.
| they have their own proper place In the
room, and are trained to perfect silence
when older persons are present"
Mrs. Turmoyle thought Of the noisy
| chores OF shouts. the eager recital Of the
days pleasures or accidents, that greeted
papa, aunties or uncles In her own nursery
| and wondered II Tom, Bessie and Mark
would be trained TO sit quiet Ia one place
| for hours at time.
"At two yeats OF age teach my children
| their letters, and after that they are sent TO
school. All Of them were entered at three
years Of age at the private school, and at
five At a public one. In the intervals OF
school hours my boys have geographical
puzzles. spelling games and problems, and
| my girls are tanQht sewing.'
| But when d. they playr'
| "Their games and puzzles are Sufficient
for the boys. aud allow the girls to cut
out and nt clothing for large wax doll -
| "Bnt do they not have any hours for
running, balls, kites and other outdoor
playi'
IL disapprove entirely of outdoor play
1t ruins clothing and makes children rude
They have outdoor exercise in their long
walk TO and FROM school,"
As she spoke, the hall door opened qui.
etly and fall OF footsteps crossed the hal
to the sittiDg-room. Five children. thres
girls and two boys, came 10 with languid
footsteps and pale faces. from which oil
childishness seemed stricken. Spotlessly
clear. with shiny hair and polished boots
they followed 10 orderly fashion the lead
| of the eldest, who stood before his mothei
waiting for permission to speak.
well. my sOn?" she said. quietly.
There Is no school this afternoon. The
Senior class is to be examined" he sale
wezrily.
mo school! Very we'll. will set yor
some sumo after dinner, and find you som.
words to stsdy in the dictionary"
Silently the five sat down until the visitor
departed uncomfcrtably conscious Of tel
weary eyes. and five pallid. pinched faces
Crossing her own doorway, Mrs. Tur
moyle WAS greeted BY . merry duet.
"No school, No schOol!''
Then the tenor solo.
"won't you make some bObs for my kite
mamma! There's splendid wind!"