Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-08-11
Idle Hands,

usual midday hour and. as he passed
| by the parlor door, he saw bis daughter
a young lady Of nineteen, lounging on
the sofa with book in her hand. The
whrr Of his wife's sewing machine
struck on his ear at the same moment.
Without pausing at the parlor door, no
kept on to the room from which came
the sound OF industry.
Mrs. Thornton did not observe the en-
trance o. her husband. She was ben
! ding close down over her work, and the
noise of the machine was louder than
his footsteps on the floor. Mr.. Thorn
ton stood looking at her for some time
without speaking.
oh, dcarv exclaimed the tired wo-
man. letting her foot rest upon the
treadlc, and Strengthening herself up,
this pain in my side is almost beyond
ondurance,'
Then why do you SIT killing yourself
there" said Mr.. Thornton.
MIR. Thornton's aspect was unusually
lsober.
WHAT'S the matter? Why do you
| look so serious p asked his wife. Has
anything gone wrOng?' Mrs. Thorn
! toms couu.cuance grew slightly trou-
| blcd. Things had gone wrong in her
husbands business more thar once,
and she had learned the occurrence OF
disaster.
Things are wrong all the tme,' he
replied, in some impatience Of manner.
In your business?' Mrs. Thornton
spoke little family,
No, nothing especially out ofthe way
there, but it's wrong at home.'
L don't understand you, Harvey
what is wrong at home, pray?'
Wrong for you to sit in pain and
exhaustion oyer that sewing machine
while an idle daughter lounges over a
novel ID the parlor. That's what l
wish to say
1t isn't Efle's 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 q little case 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 iu this thing-all wrong,
continued the husband. And if Efie
is q right-mindcd girl she will have
more true enjoyment in the conscious
ness that she is tightening her mothers
burden than it is possible TO obtain
. from the Guest novel ever written. EX'
c.tenent for the Imagination is so sub
situse for that deep peace OF mind thai
ever accompanies and succeeds th(
rieht discharge of daily duties. Il is
moor compliment to Efiie's moral sense
to suppose that she can be cOntentet
to sit with idle hands. or TO employ
them in light iriyoliiies, while bel
mother is worn down with toll beyond
. her strength. Hester it should not be ]
And i. shall not e! said quick,
firm voice.
Mr.. Thornton and his wife started
: and turned to the speaker, who hat
entered the room unobserved, and had
been a listener to nearly all the couver
a sation We have recorded.
1T shall not bep And Efie cam'
and stood by Mr.. Thornton. Her fac'
was crimson; her eyes flooded will
tears, through which light was flashing
her form drawn up erectly; her manuel
resolute.
1t isn't all my fault she said as sh'
laid her hand on her fathers arm
I 'I'ye asked mother a great many times
> to let me help her, but she always put
me off, and says it's easier to do
thing herself than to show another
Nav be Pm a little dull-but every ont
has to learn, you know.-Mother didn'
get her hand iu fairly with that machin
/. for two or three weeks ; Pm certain /
won't take me any longer. If she'
only teach me how to use it coul
help her q great deal. Aud, indeed
}. father, am wiling
Spoken in the right spirit, my daugh
ier,' said Mr.. Thornton, approylnglJ
Girls should be as useful as boys, an
g in the very things most likely to be re
quired of them when they becom
women in the responsible positions
n wives and mothers. Depend upon j
Efle, an idle girl-hood is not the wa
" to a cheerful womanhood. Learn an
e, do now the things that will be require
w. X, of you in after years, and then yon wi
st have an acquired faculty. Habit an
le skill will make easy what might CON
hard, and be felt as very burdensome
And you would have her abando
all self-improyement,' said Mr.
" " Thornton. Give up music, readinI
society,"
There are,' saId Mr.. Thornton,
his wife paused for another word, son
fifteen or sixteen hours Of each day,
which mind or hands should be right
employed. Now let us see how EFF
- is spending these long and ever'rec1
ring periods of time, Come, my daug
20 ter, sit down, we have this subject IA
ly before US. 1t ia one OF great impo
2; tance to you, and should be well co
9 sidered. How 10 il u regard 70 y