The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-08-02


middle of the room with arms folded,
and eyes cast down, thinking intently.
"Apenny foryour thoughts, mamma!'
said Willie, my Youngest.
oh! Willie, my boy, I'm trying to
decide what to do first this evening.
There is the pile of mending, the stock
ings and socks 20 be darncd, Joe's new
books to be covered, and if Aunt Jen-
ME is to come on Saturday, the muslin
curtains for her room should be hemmed
tonight"
know what I'd do?n queried rogue
Willie, with smile.
well, what would you do, my boyP''
'l'd let the stocks, and socks, and
other old rags take care of themselves
till tomorrow. Joe. might cover his
books himself; do'im good, and keep
the cove out o. mischief, and 'spose the
lar-dy curtains warn't put up till after
Aunt Jennie got here, 'spect anybody'd
die? Besides, there's story in the pa
per I'm a-sufferin' to hear read. Come
on. Mumpseyl read the paper tonight,
and do not do anythin' else. Jes rest
your face and hands, Guess wouldn' t
crowd myself into a work-basket and
thimble all the timen'
My first thought was, All! how little
the dear child knows. of the cares and
duties deyoNing upon the mother of a
family. The next moment an impulse
seized me, which ordinarily would have
seemed to indicate lack of reason on my
part.
would take Willie's advice, and see
what the result would be.
well, get the paper, Willie, and in a
moment | will be ready to read.n 1hen
going to the closet, / found some nice
brown paper, and the bottle of muci-
lage.
had no idea itwould rest me so. In
the first place it was real pleasure to
watch Willie's face, as the cleverly writ
ten story unfolded itself, and was in
terested myself in finding how it all
came out. Pretty soon Joe came in with
his new school books. He was delighted
at the thought of covering them himself,
and it astonished me to see how nicely
he set to work.
AT eight O'Clock Willie went to bed
with satisfied little face, and sat read
ing the entire evening, and it was q
TACT, my sleep that night was more re-
freshing than it had been for a long
time, nor was that all, it often occurred
mat during the morning hours, over
come with unconquerable drowsiness,
would drop asleep in my chair, but that
morning | felt bright enough to equal
any exertion.
1t is true, when Aunt Jennie came
the pretty muslin curtains were not up
at the windows, but to my simple ex-
PLANTATION she replied just asI expected.
u on know | would a thousand times
rather never see muslin curtains up.
tasteful as they are, than to know YOU
2 nad overworked to get them there.
mortal woman, my dear, can do Just so
huch, and no more. Nature will have
her due, first or lastr'
30 fell to rejecting as to whether
after al it was good Judgment on the
part OF the housekeeper and mother, be-
ing SO ambitious to accomplish as much
IN given time as we naturally are.
Wen know the satisfaction afforded
6y having everything in apple pie or
ger when Saturday nightcomes around.
put would it not be wise for MS in the
prime OF life to pause for moment
anu ask seriously, is il necessary, is il
anxiety?
know many a faithful wife and
ler nolaer VIII say, the theory and argu-
Hiehts In favor of occasional relaxation
from a certain round of duties is all
PIoper and well enough for those who
can control their time to suit their own
convenience, but mi work would never
pe done if | failed to employ every
Maketul moment, and / should hardly
uare declare her mistaken. But need
y al the work be done that isp Is there
hottoo often an unwholesome ambition
sity? . Ae'AA 'ie0es-
One day, soon after NV evening Of
iesI' MRS, Harmon called to see what /
'', wouid make for the church fair. | re-
iI,, Iied, with feeling ofdiscouragement,
mat would do what | could, mentally
.esolVlng not to worry or tax myself too
seeerely even if did nothing, for with
my crowded hands how could | make
iiaucy articles for the fair, and grow
ins nervousness warned me of the
puanger should 1 attempt too much.
nHv was dumb with astonishnent and
-S.n.1ll a,llrl'aitlon for my neighbor, when she
,,;,L wsIe on and told what she had done
"iIain I'M thepreceding twenty-four hours.
an nc evening before she had worked
~ It eieven O'Clock on an exquisite
ssola-pillow for the fair; at five that
do.ning she was up, had swept and
uu,,, nus.ea, and had batch Of pies well
t;r snuer way before breakfast; at dinner
ui,l ,1ne she had baked pies, mixed a great
eGIuln-cake, repaired a coat for MIR.
tatLnn.on' -atL.' and put away the week I
SIssning. Since dinner she had put
sou SVwn carpet, cut and basted dress