Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-12-25

MINCs IlAhIOIE <ts OI1ICN
The Christian at Work.
ooh, DEAR" said tidy Mrs. Jewett,
"there's Willie in the parlor again
with his muddy boots, and Jennie
has fingered the woodwork of the
piano all over, / see, that I polished
so nicely only yesterday. I know
the door of the spare room has been
left open, too, for the muslin curtains
are pulled all aWry, where pussy
must havefrolicked in thefolds and,
dear, dear, there's Jack this minute
with his feet on that stuffed chairW
"Come, come, Mother, ! wouldn't
fret" said easy Mr.. Jewett; "the
children must put their feet some
where, and suppose kittens will be
kittens and fly about where they can
find the most fun"
ooh, yes" rejoined Mrs. Jewett,
cts very easy for you, Father, to
think children and cats can 90 where
they like and do what they please.
Pm not fretting, but it's hard work
to sweep, and polish, and do clear
starching; and men never did know
anything about the work of house
keeper and a mother"
So saying, Mrs. Jewett, with her
fair, pretty face all in wrinkle, went
out of the room with worried:
"Oh, dear!"
And her husband looked after her
with a compassionate:
"Poor Mother!"
Naturally, Mrs. Jewett was of a
happy disposition, but like many an
other fond, faithful mother, she was
mconsciously falling into the habit
of worrying over the inevitable faults
and thoughtlessness of her children.
She was a scrupulously neat house
keeper, and as her things had not
come as easily as to many others,
they acquired all the more value and
Importance in her eyes, once they
came into her possession.
But the usual restlessness of boys
and girls, and even poor capering
kitty herself, was fast developing in
Mrs. Jewett that irritating fretfulness
and impotence, which kills true
happiness and comfort in many a
home, and where the mothers real
object is to make all as comfortable
and happy as possible.
In vain Mr.. Jewett limited that
things were always going on wrong,
somehow, and that there was no end
of peevishness and fault-finding TAX
ing root in his family.
At such times Mrs. Jewett would
shed tears and declare no one could
do more than spend all their time
and energies for the welfare of their
family, as she did.
One morning the curtains were dis
covered to have been rolled up all to
one side, while the summer sunshine
was flooding with its wholesome
light, the bright pattern of the new
Brussels carpet. Jennie and Carrie
had left their school books scattered
around on the chairs, and Jacks
muddy boots stood in the middle OF
the floor.
Mrs. Jewett burst into a TRADE OF
displeasure, but thechildren were out
of hearing, SO instead of judiciously
and patiently calling them in and
obliging them to put things in theil
proper places, she began to putting
things to rights herself, allowing Mr.
Jewett, as frequently happened, tc
bear the brunt Of her displeasure, and
for once his good nature gave way
and he said, pettishly:
II declare, wife, it's a thousand
pities there are any children here, t.
bother you So"
Mrs. Jewett made no reply, but
going to her room she sat down for 6
moment to consider whether or MOI
her husband meant what he had JUS
said.
But by degrees the room fadec
from her vision, the house became
quiet-terribly quiet-the sunlight
died out, and shade and stillneS,
reigned supreme.
There were footsteps heard, bu
hushed, creeping, awed.
All of active life had ceased; ever
the kitty had taken herself off, ant
was nowhere to be seen.