New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-10-06
IDLE HANDS,.


IDLE HANDS.
Mr.. THORNTON returned home at hi
usual midday hour and. as he passed by
the parlor door, he saw his daughter, q
young lady of nineteen. lounging on the
sofa with book in her hand. The
whirr 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 industry.
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 tho floor. Mr..
Thornton stood looking at her for some
time without speaking.
"Oh, dear!'' exclaimed the tired
woman, letting her foot rest upon tho
treadle, and Strengthening herself up,
"this pain in my side is almost beyond
endurance"
'.Then why do you sit killing your
self THEREOF said Mr.. Thornton.
Mr.. Thornton's aspect was unusually
sober.
"What's the matter? Whv do
you look so seriousp'' asked his wife
''Has anything gone wrongP' Mrs.
Thornton's countenance grew slightly
troubled. Things had gone wrong in
her husbands business more than once,
and ske had learned tho occurrence OF
disaster.
"Things are wrong all the time"
he replied, in some impotence of man
ner.
"1n your buslnessP'' Mrs. Thornton
spoke little family.
mo, nothing especially out of the
way there, but it's wrong at home"
IL don't understand you, Harvey
what is wrong at 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 l wish
to say" ..-...... .-.-...
ut isn't Effie's fault. She often asks
to help me. But Ican't see the child
put down to household drudgery. Her
time will come soon enough. Let her
have little ease and comfort while she
may" -...
IF we said that about our sons"
replied Mr.. Thornton, "and acted on
the word. what efficient men they
would make for lifc's trials and duties!
You are wrong in this thing - all
wrong" continued the husband. "And
if Effiie is right-minded girl she will
have more true enjoyment in the con-
seriousness that she is tightening her
mothers burdens than it is possible 10
obtain from the finest novel ever writ
ten. Excitement for the imagination
is no substitute for that deep peace of
mind that ever accompanies and sue
ceeds the right discharge of daily du-
ties It is poor compliment to Efie's
moral sense to suppose that she can be
contented to sit with idle hands, or tc
employ them in light frivolities, while
her mother is worn down with toll be-
yond her strength. Hester, it should
not be!'
'.And it shall not be!'' said q quick,
firm voice.
Mr.. Thornton and his wife started,
and turned to the speaker, who had en-
tered the room unobserved, and had
been listener to nearly all the con-
versation We have recorded.
lit shall not be!'' And Eifie came
and stood by Mr.. Thornton. Her face
was crimson; her eyes flooded with
tears, through which light was flashing;
her form drawn up erectly; her manner
resolute.
1T isn't all my fault she said, as
she laid her hand on her fathers arm.
.'l've asked mother a great many times
to let me help her, but she always puts
me off, and says it's easier to do thing
herself than to show another. May be
I'm little dull 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 me how to use it I could
help her q great deal. And, indeed,
father, I am willing.'
s.Spoken in the right spirit, my
daughter said Mr.. Thurston, approx
ingly. Girls should be as useful as
boys, and in the very things most likely
to be required Of them when they be-
come women in the responsible posi-
tions of wives and mothers. Depend
upon it, Edie, an idle girlhood is not
the way to q cheerful womanhood.
Learn and do now the things that will
be required Of you in after years, and
then you will have ON acquired facility.
Habit and skill win make easy what
might come hard, and be felt as very
burdensome.'
''And you would have her abandon
all sen-improvement,' . said Mrs. Thorn.
ton. Give up music, reading, 50.
cietY-''