Sharp County record., 1880-05-27
H. "Give up music, reading, So

cietv-"
There are,n said Mr.. Thornton, as his
wife paused foranotherw word, "some III
teen lr sixteen hours of each day; IN
which mind or hands should be rightly
employed. Now, let us see how Ellie
is spending these long and ever-recur-
RING periods of time. Come, my daugh-
ter. sit down; we have this subject tar
" before us. 1t is one of great impor-
tIance to you, and should be well conSld-
cred. How is it in regard to the en-
ployment of your timeP Take yester-
day. for instance. The records OF the
work of day will help us to get toward
the result afterwhich we are now search
ing" ~,
EAie sat down, and Mr.. Thornton
drew a chair in front of his wife and
daughter.
"Take yesterday, for instance" said
the father, chow was it spent? You
rose at seven, | think"
eyes, sir; came down just as the
breakfast bell was rung," replied Ellie.
"And your mother was up at hall.
past five, | know, and complained OF
feeling so week that she could hardly
dress herself. But, for all this, she
was at work until breakfast time. Now,
if YOU had risen at six, and shared your
mothers work until seven, you would
have taken an hour from her days bur-
dens, and certainly lost nothing from
your music, self-improvement or social
intercourse. How was it after break
fast? How was the morning spent?
81 practiced an hour on the piano
after breakfast.
$50 far so good. What then" :,
81 read the Cavalier till eleven"
Mr.. Thornton shook his head ana
asked:
"After eleven, how was the time
spentP' -.
81 dressed myself and went out lit
tie after twelve o'clock" :"
can hour was spent in dressingP
"Yes, sir" .,
"Where did you go?" >,
81 called on Helen Boyd, and we took
a walk down Broadway"
"And came home just in time for
dinner? l think met you at the
door?"
eyes, sir.n
"How was it after dinner?
81 slept from three until five, and
then took bath and dressed myself.
From six until tea-time sat at the par
lor window" ...
"And tea?"
"Read the Cavalier till went 10
bed"
"At what hOur"
"Eleven O'clock"
"Now, we can make up the ac-
count" said Mr.. Thornton. ourose
at seven and retired at eleven-siXteen
hours. And from your own account
of the day, but single hour was spent
in anything useful-that was the hour
at the piano. Now,. your. mother was
up at half-past' five, and went to bed,
from her sheer inability to sit at her
work any longer, at half-past nine. Six
teen hours for her also. How much
reading did you do in that timeP'
And MIR. Thornton looked at his wife.
"Don't talk to me of reading! I've
no time to read,n Mrs. Thornton an
swered, little impatiently. The con-
trast of her daughters idle hours with
her own life of exhaustive toll did not
affect her mind very pleasantly.
"And yet," said Mr. Thornton, 'you
were always fond of reading, and | can
remember when no day went by with
out an hour or two passed with your
books. Did you lie down after dinner?"
..Of course not.
"And didn't you take a pleasant
walk down Broadway? Nor sit at the
parlor window with Effie? How about
that?"
There was no reply.
"Now, the case is very plain one, "
continued Mr.. Thornton. :" In TACT,
nothing could be palmer. You spend
from fourteen to sixteen hours in hard
work, while Effie, taking yesterday as
a sample, spends about the same time
in what is a little better than idleness.
Suppose new adjustment were to take
place, and Effie were to be usefully en-
ployed helping you eight hours OF each
day, she would still have eight hours
left for seli-improvement and recreation;
and you, relieved from your present
overtasked condition, might get back a
portion of your health and spirits, OF
which these too heavy household duties
have robbed you.'
Father" said Ellie, speaking through
her tears that were falling over her
face, 81 never saw things in this light.
Why haven't you talked to me beforeP
I've often felt as if I'd like to help her;
she says that you can't lott; I'd rather
do it myself Indeed it isn't all my
fault"
.'It may not have been in the past,
Efie," replied Mr.. Thornton, "but it
certainly will be in the future, unless
thpre is q new ARRANGEMENT of things.