The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-12-08
A GOOD SUGGESTION.
Mr.. James Remarks to HIS wife
Prove Fruitful Of Good.

lAONO
Mrs. James seemed to feel when she
went to housekeeping that the time bad
gone by for her TO have any leisure for
reading OF any time to give further at
sention to music. Now. practical duties
would absorb her, but she hoped TO ind
little leisure nov and then to run
through one Of the latest novels, and to
glance at the magazne once q month, 90
% 10 be able to chat with some OF her
husbands literary friends about them.
hut as for any regular reading and study
thst was, OF course, out OF the question.
Mr.. james had enjoyed college edu-
cation and although engaged In active
mercantile life, he hsd literary turn OF
mind.had always been q great reader and
Wished still to read and study, At the
time Of his marriage he bad already ac-
cumulated library OF several hundred
volumes OF standard works, and be was
fond Df frequenting one OF the best book
stores, and often came home with some
new publication which he wished To en-
jnv with his wife As he was possessed
OF no wealth and was earning but mod /.
era,e income, Mrs. James kept but one
servant and was accustomed TO do much
of her light homework herself "A
bright, energetic, ambitious little body
she was, and she took great pride in her
new house and in beautify ing il 10 the
many artistic ways by which women can
now a-days adorn their homes.
Her little biue.eye ed daughter, Just
three years old, necessarily occupied
much of her time and thought, and her
mind was 80 much occupied evenings
With her various household cares and du
ties Mr. james had discovered when he
read aloud bis wife. who was always bu.
silly engaged with her fancy work. would
become absent minded or rather absorb.
ed with her own thoughts, and did not
hear what her husband was reading
Then often,imas her cook would come
to the parlor door and interrupt bel. ask.
ing for some instructions which might
have been given previously, or Mrs.
james, entirely diverted from the read.
ing, would think Of something abe wish
ed to cay to the cook about breakfast or
her early morning work. and 50 excuse
herself. thus breaking in upon the pleas.
ures OF the evening.
Mr.. James had been annoyed In this
way so many times that he spoke out
pretty sharply one evening: Snow. Liz.
zie, zee here; have given all the day TO
husiness and you TO household duties.
Let us start out this winter and have
some recreation in the evenings when We
are at home and dispose with unnecessa-
y interruptions.
"It will do us hoth good and we are
'oolish u We do not take II. want YOU
10 see Prof. Schmidt Tomorrow and en-.
gage him 10 give you one lesson o week
IN music. and then you practice On hour
every morning. let what will come, and
you will s,On enjoy your piano again
and give enjoyment 10 others ss you
used to. ,aaa ~ H
"And, another. thing, ] don't vant you
to do any more Of tha, 6ne fancy work.
drawn work, do you call !. . that takes
all your thought while l sm reading. II
is no pleasure for me to read aloud and
look up occasionally to meet On sppre.
ciative glance. wbeu come to some stri-
king Shaksperean utterance, to 6nd you
perfectly oblivioos TO what am reading
while sou are p%zzled over that work. Il
sometimes feel like tossing the whole
thing into the 6re!a
s'Now, I'm serious about this. This
is the only time We have 10 lsad and I'm