South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-07-23
IDLE HANDS.

hand. The whlrr OF his wife's sewing
machine struck on his ear at the same
moment. Without pausing at the
parlor door, he kept on to the room
from which came the sound of indus
try.
Mrs. Thornton did not observe the
entrance of her husband. She was
bending close down over her work,
and the noise of her machine was
louder than his footsteps on the floor.
Mr.. Thornton stood looking ut her
for sometime without speaking.
oh, dear 7 exclaimed the tired wo-
man, letting her foot rest upon the
trcadle, and Strengthening herself up
this pain III my side is almost beyond
endurance
Then why do you sit killing your
self there ? said Mr.. Thornton.
Mr.. Thornton's aspect was unusual
~ sober.
What's the mattera Why do you
look so serious?' asked his wife
Has anything gone wrong2' Mrs.
Thornton's countenance grew slightly
troubled. Things had gone wrong
in her husbands business more than
once, and she had learned the occur
renee Of disaster.
Things are wrong all the time,' he
replied, i'll some Impotence OF manner.
In your business?' Mrs. Thornton
spoke little family.
NO, nothing especially out of the
way there, but it's wrong at home
Il don't understand you, Harvey
what is wrong ut home, pray?'
Wrong for you TO sit in pain and
exhaustion over that sewing machine
while an idle daughter lounges over
a novel IN the parlor That's what /
wish to say
1T isn't Efiie's fault. She often
asks to help me- But can't see the
child put down to household drudge
~. Her time will come soon enough.
Let her have little ease and comfort
while she may
If we said that about our sons re-
piled Mr. Thornton, and acted on the
word, what efficient men they would
make for life's trials and duties You
are wrong in this thing-all wrong
continued the husband. 'And if Ellie
is q right minded girl she will have
more true enjoyment in the con-
fsciousncss that she is tightening her
mothers burden than it is possible to
obtain from the finest novel ever
written. Excitement for the imagi-
| nation, ic No c,,bofitntn TO-. +Io4 ,1oo,,
peace of mind that ever accompanies
and succeeds the right discharge of
daily dntics. 1t is IL poor compliment
TO Etiie's moral sense to suppose that
she can be contented to sit with idle
hands, or to employ them in light
| trivolitics, while her mother is worn
down with toll beyond her strength.
Hester it should not bc!'
And It shall not bep said q quick,
firm voice.
Mr.. Thornton and his 'yifc started,
and turned to the speaker, who had
entered the room unobscrvel, and
had been listener to nearly all the
conversation we have recorded.
1T shall not bc!' And Effie came
and stood by Mr.. Thornton. Her
face was crimson her eyes flooded
with tears, through which light was
flashing; her form drawn up croctIy (;
her manner rcsOluts.
1t isn't all my fault she said as
she laid her hand OH her fathers arm
'I'vo asked mother great many
times to let me help her, but she al
ways puts me off, and says it's easier
to do n thing herself than to show an
other. May be I'm little dull-but
every one has to learn, You know
Mother didn't get her hand in fairly
with that machine for two or three
weeks; I'm certain it won't take me
any longer. If she'd only teach ne
how to use it could help her q great
deal. And, indeed, father, | am will
ing
Spoken in the right spirit, my
daughter said Mr.. Thornton, APPROX
ingly. Girls should he rs useful as
boys, and in the very things most
/ likely to be required of them when
they become women in the response
bic positions Of wives and mothers.
Depend upon it, Enie, an idle girl
hood is not the way to a cheerful wo-
manhood. Learn and do now the
things that will be required of you in
after years, and then you will have
an acquired faculty. Habit and skill
will make easy what might come
hard, and be felt ~ very burdensome.
'And You would have her abandon
all self-improvement, said Mrs.
| Thornton. Give up music, reading,
sooioty--'
There are, said Mr.. Thornton n
his wife paused for another word,
some fifteen or sixteen hours Of each
day. in which mind or hands should
be rightly employed. Now let 70 sec