The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-11-10

the failings Of others would have come
from him with an i'll grace.
The evening meal was lees cheerful
than usual: the tea biscuit were decided
ly clammy, and Mr.. Vinton's relish for
them was not improved by his being in.
formed that the stove could not be ex-
pected to bake we'll until properly repair
ed. 1t was certainly unreasonable to ex.
pect him to attend to 1t, for he could
scarcely find time for the transaction OF
more important busin IS. True, it would
take but Eve minutes to make 1t all right,
but somehow the day always slipped BY
before he knew IT, 1t was easier to talk
about Eve minutes than to find them.
The countenance Of William Henry
their eldest hopeful, wore most discon.
ted expression, and In reply to inquiries
from his father, he growled out disre
spectful speech about "old jackets, and
mothers never having any time to do
anything" which occasioned his dismis.
sal from the table.
A note was presented to her father BY
one OF the little girls, containing par.
ticular reqIest from their teacher that
some Of their lessons might he attended
to at home Ia order to facilitate their
progress This note wss dolly passed to
the mother and had the affect Of deepen.
ing the shadow upon her brow-for ho W
was It possible, in the multitude OF ber
cares, for her TO find time to assist the
little ones in their daily tasks2
On the whole. everybody seemed to
feel rather uncomfortable, and the very
table itself partook OF the general unes.
siness, and after uitering mos: unusual
groans beneath iis ordinary weight OF
dishes suddenly came to the ground With
a loud crash.
BLESS me!' exclaimed Mr.. vinton,
startled out OF his usual composure
"those screws have really given away at
last. have been intending TO Ok thai
table for q month past, but the days are
so short and my time is 90 fully occu.
pied"
IL wish you could ever fnd leisure
moment to attend to little things about
the house," remarked bis wife as, still
more dlscomposed, she proceeded to
gather up the fragments OF the broken
d shes. "However, cannot blame you.
for / am continually experiencing the
same difficulty. Everything is disorder.
ly and neglected, merely from want OF
time. l cannot think how some people
manage to bring so much to pass. You
know Mrs Benson. ! called to see her
the other day; her family is larger than
ours but she keeps only one servant, and
very seldom employs a sesmstress; eve
rything In the house Is in perfect order.
end yet she absolutely has some time to
spare, reads good deal, and even prac-
tees occasionally on the piano that she
may not lose her knowledge Of music
They have q large and well-cultivsted
garden, q perfect contrast to ours Mr.
Benson takes the whole care Of It, al.
though his time is as much occupied as
your own
"Impossible!" interrupted her hus
band "you must be mistaken in this last
statement. Mr. Benson has no leisure
to attend to gardening
"His wife told me herself that he took
the entire charge OF it and had no assist.
ance except the little which. she could
give him." returned Mrs vinton. II do
not know how they contrive it, but l wish
We had their secret"
"Mrs. Benson's children are always
frst In their class at school," remarked
one Of the hright-eyed little girls who
was an attentive listener. "Their mother
helps them With their lessons every even
ing"
II guess she has not 60 noisy set to
deal With as bave," replied the mother.
Tor she would not feel much like teach.
ing in the evening. For nv part am
glad to send you sll to bed that may
have quiet moment to sit down and
compose myself after the trials and vex
ations Of the day"
Further conversation was prevented
nv loud ring OF the door bell,and Mrs.
Vinton was somewhat alarmed by the
ominous sound OF heavy trunk ss it
Was deposited upon the steps.
"Who can 1t be ?" sbe exclaimed.
"Not q visitor, I hope. I am sure
cannot ind leisure 70 attend to my own
family"
But nov hustle was heard in the ball
snd the door being thrown wide open by
the little girl who had answered the ring
at the bell. pleasant.looking elderly
little woman entered, whose quick steps
and air Of brisk activity gave evidence
that the vigor and freshness OF youth
we're retained even in advancing age.
lI spite OF the discomposure o! Mrs.
Vinton's % nd and her dread of visitor.
she could not repress an exclamation OF
pleasure IS she gszed upon the Eew.
conner and hastened to meet her with
warm words OF welcome. "My dear
Miss Polly, l sm delighted to see you
and, indeed you are almost the only per-
son in the world to whom could say
this With truth at the present time; for
as usual you ind Us oil at skies and sew.
ems. You know how it is in large fam,
lily; some things have to be neglected"
mo apologies are necessary to an old
friend,' replied the lady with benevo.
lent smile ~ am glad that you have q
welcome for me, for l have come to
claim your hospitality for few weeks" !"
"For months IL you desire it," return
ed Mrs. Vinton, and she was quite sin.
cere in this expression OF feeling; for
Miss Polly, or, IS she should he more
properly termed, Miss Mary Smithson,
was one OF those good, useful persons
whose presence is always desirable 10 q
family, and who seem to have sort OF
magic power in overcoming diftlcul.,es
"selting things to rights," and pr 3duc-
ing order out Of chaos.
From Mrs. Vinton's earliest recollec.
tion. Miss Polly bad occasionally ap.
pesred 10 her childhood's home, and al
wavs, it would seem, at the time when
cares pressed the heaviest, and her pres.
ence was ever welcomed as q CLEAN OF
sunshine on rsinv day. Since her
marriage With Mr.. Vinion one or two
visits had Leen received from the good
old lady, but several years had now
elapsed eince she had seen her, and she
had supposed that the inci easing in.
drmilies OF age confined her to one
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