The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01

do it heartily. There is nothing which
l enjoy more than the pleased and happy
smiles l get, once in while, after my in
vestigations."
The excitement of the mornings exer-
ton was reaoting upon my friend, and
she looked tired and troubled as she sat
listening to my talk.
"Well," she said, ~ think could en-
dure the care of the homework, for there
is some variety in that; but my greatest
dread is in the silver cleaning, it is such
an interminable job, and such disagree.
able one besides"
" Is it possible that you have anything
to do with the silver-rubbing ?"
"Why, how can l help it2 / have no
daughter, as you have, and when the safe
is all open and the dozens of little things
which have to be kept bright are all ex-
posed, must set the work out, or l shall
lose many small piece, which might
never miss for months"
"What do you mean ?" said. You're
not afraid your girls will steal ?"
"Of course do not suppose that they
intend to do it when they set down to the
cleaning; but 1 know that such times are
great temptations, and it is not always
safe to trust these people. One of the
trials in my life is that l have to lock up
twenty closets and drawers before | can
go out to ride or even to church. My
husband says, Sarah, you'll make them
all thieves and rogues if you never show
any confidence in them l tell him, l
can't undertake to harden them to tempta-
ton at the risk of losing things which /
could not replace"
swell, don't see but that you have
the hardest part of the work yourself.
I should 60 distracted if could not be at
rest in my home. Of all places in the
world, | want freedom and quiet and con-
fidence there. I've made cake, and swept
rooms, and cleaned silver, and l know
how it ought to be done; but my time is
precious to me for something else so long
as | can hire the woman l need to attend
to my house. prefer exercise in the
open air; and as to trusting my servants,
| would not hurt their feelings for all the
world, by showing them that l had no
confidence in them. I've no right to say
that you do wrong in your suspicious, but
Pm sure it is wearing thing to feel
yourself constantly served by people who
would do you wrong whenever they
could without detection. Deliver me
from silver and laces, if l must keep my
eyes on them all the time. The truth is,
l believe that those who serve us are al.
most exactly what we make them; they
certainly must feel the influence of higher
motives if we treat them kindly and hon
orably ourselves" Feeling afraid that
this last remark would offend my neigh
Dor, without waiting for any reply, took
another turn and said, " With all the out
side demands of city life, don't see how
you get time to read or study"
"Oh bless you," she replied, "my
studying days were finished lon g ago,
and really | haven't read book, page at
ter page through, in the last three years.
declare, since my trip to Europe, I've
done nothing, it seems to me, but arrange
and take care of the useless things we
bought in all the different places"
"You might as well go to Europe
again, should think, for this kind oil
home life will wear you out in less than
five years-there is no rest in it should
rather suffer the risks and discomforts Of
travelling"
Rising, with an apology for staying SC
long, l hunted in my mind rapidly fol-
some pleasant word to say, that / might
depart leaving less irritating impression
than feared had made. A sudden in
spiration, as l felt it, came to my relief
and said, DWELL, no matter how tirec
you are, MIR. Rolph can certainly boas
that his wife is an excellent housekeeper.
EYES," she replied, I've got him so hi
appreciates a good dinner and clear
house, and I've no doubt that do stanc
pretty high on his list of saints"
The door closed between us, and l wen
out into the sunshine, saying to myself
A woman should be something more il
her home than mere housekeeper. She
ought to strive after such refinement anc
cultivation that her daily presence should
elevate all who are near her. If, indeed
MIR. Rolph Is perfectly satisfied with hi.
wife as hurried and harassed house
keeper, however successful she may be il
ministering to his comfort and displaying
the purchase of his money, think thai
the wife herself may have had much tc
do with the lowering Of his standard Of
woman's true life and excellence. This
excessive devotion, in mistaken way, tc
the beautiful art of home economy, pre-
vents this good wife from whitening il
thls uirecGlou VI lmporIdnt dCtlViIy Du
what will become of the other facultie:
of her nature? She has proved herself
such bad manager that no time ha'
been saved from hard drudgery of wori
and anxiety in which to refresh and cult
vate the mind. By her own confession
she is not even glad and serene in the
sacred hours of the Sabbath. The trouble
is that she is living wholly and only as {
house-keeper to attain high degree o.
excellence in this direction is all her pride
and ambition. Other women rise or fal
in her estimation, as they are compared
with this standard, and she is satisfied t.
be the best housekeeper her husband ha
ever seen. The physical interests of thu
home are, as they should be, thorough.
attended to; but growth in other ways il
discouraged by neglect. This woman
home is rich in certain kind of beaut,
and comfort, but it is deplorably defcien
in stimulating and elevating influences
it is not home to which the affections
cling with most delight, nor in which tn
best dispositions are cultivated and ma
acknowledgement.