Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-09-07
NO REST FOR THE WEARY.

Mary Hewitt.
NO REST FOR THE WEARY.
''Now at least Ill have one hour to
myself, and a great pleasure it'll be too,
to know that the house is still for once
and T can be left alone with my own
musings, and not be afraid every mo-
ment that some one will come in sud-
denly upon me driving away all my
pleasant thoughts. No, thank fortune
I'm alone, for the children are at
school and Jim has gone. to the VIII
lage.
II don't intend to work very hard
either, for if woman can't have one
hour out Of twelve to rest, think it's a
pity"
So saying, Mrs. Smith sat down with q
woe-be-gone expression on her face,
such ag is only seen in the countenances
Of those poor weary souls who always
look on the dark side of life, making
themselves and ell around them I'M
happy.
''Let me see, why, I believe haven't
cad last weeks paper yet, and no Won
der when have to perform the duties
OF matron, seamstress, chamberma1d,
cook, waiter, washerwoman, dairy maid
and what not, busy from morning till
night scarcely taking time to breathe
tor fear something will be left Rndone,
Formy part can't see why have to
work SO hard and have no time to rest,
excepting when I'm asleep, while on
the contrary, the men seem to take 1t
easy. They come in at noon, eat their
dinners and have an hours incoming as
they call it, while the teams are feeding.
All this time I have to keep at work,
and by the time the dishes are washed
and q hundred and one other things
attended to it is supper time, then maid
OF all work must fly around and
have supper ready precisely on time, or
there will be growing froms the other
side Of the house.
AS soon as the men have eaten their
supper and finished the chores at the
barn--which, by the way don't take
more than thirty minutes, for many
hands make light work-they come in,
sit down, talk, smoke, chew, read the
daily papers, lounge around and enjoy
themselves in general.
While they are thus enjoying them
selves, poor soul, with these two tired
hands have to wash dishes again and
prepare breakfast, and then when Pm
almost tired to death, if I happen to sit
down to rest for two or three seconds,
Jim is sure to have some odd job or 9TH
er to set me at. To keep me out of
mischief, he says.
[ think if the truth was ever written
it was in those lines:
MAN works from sun to sun,
Woman's work is never done"
If j i'm would only let me have girl
to help me, but no, every time I men
ton it he's always so poor, 'tssafford
it, But he's got to afford to bury me
! some time, and that soon, if / have to
keep on working in this way.
Then | wonder where my hard earn.
ings viii! go to? I suppose to support
wife number two, to dress her in style
SO she can entertain visitors and make
| calls while Bridget does the work in the
kitchen. That's the way it generally
goes. Jim wouldn't get another wife to
! do as have done, one who would be 50
meek and gentle. No, sir, I tell you
| what, he'd have to stand around. i,
| would be his turn to be lamb like.
Bnt wouldn't care so much, if he
didn't have so much help himself, two
hired men all the time, and if he hap.
pens 10 get in q hurry he goes and hires
more, never stopping to think anything
about the aftording part.
Now | don't believe in this way of do.
ing business. like to see things bal
ance. There's Mrs. Simpkins, she
seems to have plenty of time, takes two
or three magazines, and newspapers b,
the dozen, and after doing her work anc
reading all these has time to make hel
weekly round Of calls, while I seldom
get into a neighbours house from one
years end to the other I can't see how
it is, but some people do have way o
getting through with their work that
don't understand. I'll warrant she don
cook much though. Now I think of i
the men folks over there do look kind O
haggard and starved like. NY! jim
would be as cross as bear, if dldn'
have soup, two or there kinds of vegeta
bles, puddlngs, pies and everything elsf
on the table for dinner. But suppos,
that is partly my fault, for they say be
fore | came here Jim had to put up will
anything he could get and not much Of
| that.
! remember when / was at home sis
terSue used to say I'd spoil any man if
| had my way about the cooking. and
don't know but what she prophesiec
Alright that time. But IN remembe,
next time when get mar
My! supposing some person was liz
! tening. Of course Jim is going to liye
Dear me what a'eommotion nv thought,
are in. I wonder why it is that can
think without speaking my thoughts
Jim says I'm always talking to mysel
| when l'na alone, but I can't help it, it,
! natural. .s.,,-~
I declare, it's almost time for the chill
dren to come home and I haven't real
any yet I must, for I've heard it said
| we must read % Little every day if bv
fifteen minutes, twill make itself fell
at the end of every year. >@ a.
Wonderful observation-disclosures 8
talking machinel What a labor-savinl
invention. Just the thing / want, for i
! is so hard for me to talk. It tires me-
almost to death. If ] only had one o.
these machines I would set one of the
children to turning the crank, and i
would do the talking instead of me
What 8 great relief it would be! Then
Jim would enjoy it SO much Iknow, fol
he liAss to listen TO any one talking, and
it being such an effort for me to talk, 4
it wasn't for the children poor fellow,
he'd get lonesome. r. .5.:
There, now, those children are com.
ing and I've got to get supper again. On,
deari I did think I'd get LITTLE time to
rest to, day, but no fate's against me
No rest for the weary Rural New Yor-
ker.
Ex-senator Edward III. Rollins. Of New
Hampshire, Is to form q copartnershir