Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-10-20

TO THE FRONT.
BY MRS. A. N. PAYNE.
The speaker was becoming very much
excited with his subject and gesticulated
to an almost alarming extent. It was
the third lecture Of the Lyceum Course.
The evening was fine and the course
popular, 80 there was an overaowing
house. The lecturer-as speakers will
took to himself and his theme the credit
of the throng of listening faces, and pro-
ceeded to Exhaust the subject" of
Woman's Rights and Wrongs, at least
as far as his knowledge of it was con-
cerned.
"Oh, women, press to the frontp' he
cried, throwing up his arms wildly,
"you are needed in the battle-line. Are
you readyl Will you fight side by side
with your brothers who have borne the
deadly fire SO long? Oh! arouse, and on
to action, that when the trumpet shall
proclaim the victory, yours shall be the
victors' crown, and yours the rejoicing
hymnl Do not faint or grow feeble by
the way, but let your cry be, forward!
to the frontl'
"Oh, DEAR" sighed little Mrs. David
son, as she drew her shawl around her
shoulders and took her husbands arm,
that they might not lose each other in
the crowd, sit sounds so easy, but is
actually so impossible. I'm sure I
would be glad to do my part, but then
there are the children; they must have
new aprons this week, and Jane could
never get along without me. I hope she
has not let the nursery-fre go out.
John, wasn't that beautiful about era
ding future poets, and the intellectual
development of childhood9 "Yes," re-
sponded Mr.. Davidson, "I wonder how
he would like to help develop our John
nyT
"There!" exclaimed the lady again,
81 did not tell Jane to give him his
medicine, and the child will never think
of it himself. What was that quotation
about the snow and purity, and all that
I must try to recall it tomorrow. OH!
John, that is eleven o'clock striking
Do walk little faster"
The nursery-fre was out, and the
baby had wakened with the collie. Mrs.
Davidson was so busy and anxious that
she forgot about the quotation even the
next forenoon, and when the bell rang
after dinner and callers were announced,
she had not had time to think of the
lecture at all.
"Dear mer sighed the poor little
woman, as she hastily brushed her hair
and sent Johnnie for her afternoon dress
from the wardrobe, "they are sure to
ask me about the lecture, and they know
90 muchi / have not had moment to
think about it, and I am sure to make
some stupid blunder. Jane, do not let
Johnnie come into the parlor until you
have washed his face and banda"
eyes, lovely, wasn't it" she was say
ing ten minutes afterwards to her
friends, "and he was 80 Jealous for his
cause" ,....-s..-..s
"His cause, you should say our cause -
said Mrs. Grandson, with q truly dra-
matte wave of her gloved hand.
eyes, Of course I mean so," said Mrs.
Davidson, nervously; "though there is
50 little that I can do to help the cause
along that I feel hardly entitled to join
the ranks"
"You can do much if you would" said
Mrs. Grandson; "you can cultivate your
own mind, and SO advance your children
you can help raise those who are beneath
you to higher social plane"
II suppose I should, but" just tn
the parlor-door opened slowly and John
Davidson, jun, appeared with clean
hands and face truly, but bearing aloft
in triumph huge slice of bread.and.
molasses. "Why, Johnniel" said the
mother, helplessly.
The ladies rose in stately manner to
60 and when Mrs Davidson closed the
door after them she turned to find Jane
anxiously awaiting her.
"Master Johnny was that fractious ]
had to give it to him, num-" she said,
apologetically.
"Never mind, Jane-come, johnny
and then Mrs. Davidson went up stairs
and cried little.
When John came he was cross. and &c