The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-03-20
TAKING MY BOYS ADVICE.

n penny loF Ouf mdHiHia,
said Willie, my youngest.
'Oh, Willie, my boy, I'm trying to de-
eide what to do first this evening. There
is a pile of mending, the stockings and
socks to be darned, Joe's new books to be
covered, and Aunt Jennie is coming, and
the muslin curtains for her room should
be hemmed tonight.
Il know what I'd do, said rogue Willie,
with a smile.
well, what would you do, my boy?"
"Id let the stockings, and socks, and
other old rags take care of themselves un-
until tomorrow. Joe might cover the
cove out o. mischief, and 'spose the lar-dy
curtains warn't put up till after Aunt Jen-
ME got here, 'spect anybody'd die? Be-
sides there's a story in the paper I'm a-suf-
ferin' to hear read. Come on, NUM- seyl
read the paper tonight, an not do anythin'
else; jest rest your face an hands. Guess
| wouldn't crowd myself into a work-bask-
ct and thimble all the time!''
W iiSe eiiptShO voc, an " WI
the dear child knows of the cares and du-
ties devolving upon the mother of a fami-
ly. The next moment an impulse seized
me, which ordinarily would nave 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 Then
going to the closet found some nice brown
paper and the bottle of mucilage.
had no idea it would rest me so. 1t
was a real pleasure to watch Willie's face,
as the cleyerly written story unfolded itself.
and | was interested myself in finding how
it all came out. Pretty soon Joe came in
with his new school books. He was de-
lighted 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
a satisfied little face, and | sat reading
the entire evening, and it is a fact, my
sleep that night was more refreshing than
it had been for a long time; nor was that
all, it often occurred that during the morn
ing hours, overcome 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 explanation
she replied just as | expected:
"You know | would a thousand times
rather never see muslin curtains up, taste
full as they are, than to know you had over
worked to get them there. Mortal woman,
my dear, can do just so much, and no
more. Nature will have her due, first or
Iastr'
So | fell to rejecting as to whether, after
all, it was good Judgment Oh the part of
the housekeeper and mother, being so am
bilious to accomplish as much in a given
time as we naturally are. l well know the
satisfaction afforded by having everything
in apple-pie order when Saturday night
comes around, but would it not be wise for
us in the prime of life to pause for a mo-
ment, and ask seriously is it necessary, is it
best, all this wearying round of toll and
anxiety
know many a faithful wife and mother
will say the theory and arguments in favor
of occasional relaxation from a certain
round of duties is all proper and well
enough for those who can control their
time to suit their own convenience, but my
work would never be done if | failed to en-
ploy every wakeful moment, and should
hardly dare declare her mistaken. But
need all the work be done that is9 Is there
not too often an unwholesome ambition
One day, soon after my evening of rest,
Mrs. Harmon called to see what | would
make for the church fair. | replied with a
feeling of Encouragement, that would do
| what / could, mentally resolving not to
worry or tax myself too severely. even if l
did nothing, for with my crowded hands
how could | make fancy articles for the
fair? And a growing nervousness warned
lit VI udHSci olobiiu L ttcihPe wy AHNS
But | was dumb with astonishment and adj
miration for my %neighbor when she went
on and told me what she had done within
the preceding twenty-four hours.
The evening before she had worked till
eleven O'Clock on ar exquisite sofa pillow
for the fair; at five that morning she was
up, had swept and busted, and had a batch
of pies well under way before breakfast;
at dinner-time she had baked pies, mixed
a great plum cake, repaired a coat for Mr..
Harmon, and put away the weeks wash
ing. Since dinner she had put down a
| carpet, cut and basted a dress for Josie,
had written a long letter, and now, at five
| o'clock. she was all dressed up, sitting in
my parlor making a call.
".And / expect to do just as much within
the next twenty-four hours she added,
with a triumphant smile.
After she had gone, ! actually shed tears
thinking how much more energetic she was
| than l, with all my untiring perseverance
and diligence, for what day ever saw such
an amount of work accomplished at my
hands as she described?
1t was time for the spring cleaning, and
- - s~- g.. alto