The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-03-28
IDLE HANDS.

midday hour and as ne passed by the parlo
door, he saw his daughter, young lady o
10, lounging on the sofa with book in he
hand. The whirr of his wife's sewing. ma
chine struck on his ear at the same moment
Without pauslng at the parlor door, he KEEP
on to the room from which came the SOUND
of industry.
Mrs. Thornton did not observe the en-
trance 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 at her
for some time without speaking.
sob, dearl" exclaimed the tired woman,
letting her foot rest upon the treadle, and
Strengthening herself up, ''this pain in my
side is almost beyond endurance"
"Then why do you sit killing Yourself
there?'' said Mr. Thornton.
Mr.. Thornton's aspect was unusually
sober.
Whats the matter? Why do you look so
serious?" asked his wife.
"Has anything gone wrong?" Mrs. Thorn
toms countenance grew slightly troubled.
Things had gone wrong in her husbands
business more than once, and she had learned
the occurrence of disaster.
Things are wrong all the time, ne re-
piled, in some impotence of manner
a 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 exhsus-
ton over that sewing machine while an idle
daughter lounges over novel in the parlor.
That's what l wish to say"
at isn't Effies fault. She often asks to
help me- But can'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, 'sand acted on the word. what
efficient men they would make for life's trials
and dutiesp'
"You are wrong in this thing-all wrong"
continued the husband. "And if Effie is
right-minded girl, she will have more true
enjoyment in the consciousness that she Is
tightening her mothers burdens than 1t is
possible to obtain from the finest novel ever
written. Excitement for the imagination is
no substitute for that deep peace of mind
that ever accompanies and succeeds the right
discharge of daily duties. 1t is a poor COM
pliment to Elites moral sense to suppose
that she can be contented to sit with idle
hands, or to employ them in light frivolities,
while her mother is worn down with toll be-
yond her strength. Hester, it should not
bep'
sand it shall not bel' said quick, firm
voice.
Mr.. Thornton and his wife started, and
turned to the speaker, who had entered the
room unobserved, and had been listener to
nearly all the conversation we have re-
corded
ox,1
stood by Mr.. Thornton. Her face was GRIM
son; her eyes flooded with tears, through
which light was flashing; her form drewn up
erecrly; her manner resolute.
at isn't all my fault" she said, as she
laid her hand on her fathers arm. ave
asked mother great many times to let me
help her, but she always puts me of, and
SAYS it's easier to do thing herself than to
show another Maybe Pm little dull-but
every one has to learn, you know. Mother
didn't get her hand in fairly with that ma
chine 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 l could help her a
great deal And, indeed, father, 1 am will
ing
'Spoken in the right spirit, my daughter"
said Mr. Thornton, approvingly. "Girls
should be as useful as boys, and in the very
things most likly to be required OF them
when they become women In the responsible
positions of wives and mothers. Depend
upon it Efie, an idle girlhood is not the way
to a cheerful womanhood. Learn and do
now the things that will be required of you
in after years, and then You will have an
acquired facility. Habit and skill will make
easy what might come hard, and be felt as
very burdensome."
s'And you would have her abandon all
REINFORCEMENT" said Mrs. Thornton
|sGive up music, reading, society"
There are" SAID Mr. Thornton, as his
wife paused for another word, s'some Is oil
l6 hours of each day, in which mind or hand;
should be rightly employed. Now, let us see
how Effie is spending these long and ever re-
curing periods of time. Come, my daughter
cit down; we have this subject fairly before
US. 1t is one of great Importance to you
and should be we'll considered. How is 1t IL
regard to the employment of your time
Take yesterday for instance. The records o
the work of a day will help us to get toward
the result after which we are now searching
Fife sat down, and Mr.. Thornton drew s
chair in front of his wife and daughter.
take Yesterday, for instance" said tn
father, show was it spent? You rose at I,
think"
Eyes, sir; / came down Just as the break
fast bell was rung," replied Effie.
"And your mother was up at half-pas
Eve, know, and complained of feeling s.
weak that she could hardly dress herself
But, for all this, she was at work until break
fast time. Now, if you had risen at six, an
shared your mothers work until seven, yo
would have taken an hour from her day
burdens, and certainly lost nothing from you
music, self-improvement or socialintercours
How was it after breakfast? How was tn
morning spent?"
81 practiced an hour on the piano afte
breakfast
$50 far so good. What then?"
Il read the Cavalier till eleven"
Mr. Thornton shook his head and askec
"After eleven how was the time spent2"
II dressed myself and went out lit
after IL o'clock"
"An hour was spent in dressing2"
Eyes, sir"
=, Where did you go?'
s'- al called on Helen Boyd, and we took
walk down Broadway"
49, aAnd came home just in time for dinner
think met you at the doorT
~. Eyes, sir"
"How was it after dinner?"
al slept from three until five, and tn
took bath and dressed myself From s
untit tea time sat at the parlor window"
"And tea?" cautt 3l.t
"Read the Cavalier till went to bed. u
aAt what hourf"
ELEVEN o'clock" 40 : F J
Nov. we can make up the account" sc
w Thornton. "You rose at seven and !
- - .3.yor-16 hours And from yo