Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-31
IT MIGHT IItN. BEEN.

1t was Monday moning 1t was also
"washing day i lnl4, where the family
consisted of In AM ami wife and five
small children t.lr latter Of whom were
gifted with peri tiy marvellous faculty and
facility for "ic:. liz and Destroying and
especially for soiiin :, beyond hope of rcdemp-
ton, every clean garment with which their
much enduring mother provided them during
the week. Mrs. Stcfale, like all other moth
eIS, was proud of her chillren and liked to
see them neat and clearly dressed. even DO
You'd the average necessity OF child's simple
toilet. Consequently her washing basket
Monday morning was sight calculated to
strike awe and terror into the soul of any
young maiden on the brinl, Of matrimony.
She sat idly tapping the red covered wash
ing book with her ivory pencil while her
eyes rested on the basket at her feet but not
with their usual calmly-satisled glance
Something was evidently wrong. What
was It'll
"Ei~hty-five dollars for the lace pocket
handkerchief she carried" said the wife OF
twelve years standing, musinsly; land $50
for ler shawl, while that silk dress of hers
would positively stand alone. All. me! it is
well TO he her! And might have been Judge
Iloweli's wife myself, for he asked me to
marry him six months before he ever saw her,
and fit to blow his brains out when | re-
fused him AT least he said he was, All,
men
And then the lady sighed again, and gave
the washing basket spiteful shove with her
slipppore1 foot
Mother, can't End my sheet"
Mother, do you know where my blue
tie isi'
Mother, will You come and fasten this
frockf 1t is so tiresone.h
Mother, isn't breakfast most reaiy"
"Muzznr ne lis, you'
These cxclamltions burst upon her ears, as
the doors of the nursery suddenly opened,
and showed five curly headed, rosy checked
healthy looking girls and boys, who looked
at her wonderingly, as she neither rose nor
replied to their questions.
"Mother isn't breakfast most readyin called
out the most venturesome Of the little brood,
the blueeyed Tommy, who had already asked
that question once before
The interruption sounded harshly The
mind Of the thoughtful woman was absent
from the body at that moment, wandering
back through the rosy paths Of the past,
where handsome and wealthy lover cGme
to woo. And now, in the present, she was
the ard-worked wife Of poor and strug-
Cling man; the mother of five troublesome
human beings, for whose sake nil su.h beau
tiful vanities as lace handkerohiefs, and India
shaws, and silks that "would stand alone"
must he forever given up.
The contrast was very decided and by
no means pleasant one She looked up
go away. children. all OF YOU at oncel"
she said, in a harsh voice. Breakfast isn't
ready yet, and I'm sure don't know when
it will be, with such a pack of young
troubles to look after There, go down
stairs, every one of you, and don't speak
to me till | get this washing list mads
out
Looking at each other with mortified and
cres;fallen air, the children stole away, one
after the other, and went down to the break
fast room, where their father sat reading his
paper, and waiting patiently for the morning
meal
Presently the sound OF many voices and
much laughter penetrated to the upper room,
where the mo'her still sat brooiing alone
She listened a moment or two, and then rose
from her chair
"Nhe' noise they do make when they are
all together" she said, fretfully. And. oh.
dear, how discouraged and weary of il all |
do feel! viii lie down for five minutes and
Ann can take in breakfast TO them all II
they have that they will not mis- me- How
strangely my head does feel. Eighty
dollars FOR one single pocket handkerchief
1t is really too bad that | should te drudging
here day m and day out, with hardly decent
gown once year, while she-"
\ stranf,e, drowsy feeling oYercame her
and hu bed her trouble and repinins together.
Her eyelis closed Her head sank back upon
the pillow She slept, or seemed to sleep
Rising up from that long slumter at last.
but stu feeling strangely heavy and dull,
Mrs Steflne went down stairs, idly reproach-
ing herself for her desertion Of her husband
and children at the breakfast hour But the
breakfast room was empty, though the de-
serted table gave ample and sufficient evidence
thai her absence had by no means affected
the appetites of the party
She rang the bell. The Irish servant an
s~ered.
Where IS your mas.err asked Mrs, Ste
fame, feeling strangely hurt that she should
have TO put such a question to a servant as to |
her husbands whereabouts
The master, ma'am," said the good ns- |
tured Am with broad smile sure. ma'am.
and he said he'd be after taking all thu
chiider down the river, as it was such fins
day They were tst wild to CO. the dsr.
ingsl7
Down the river!r gasped Mrs Stefane,
feeling as il she could not believe her cara
That down the river trip had been long
looked for and eagerly discussed pleasure to
be shared by the whole family and by her
And they had gone and left bert
you see, maam, you was in such boauti-
full slape that the master would not hav> Won
disturbed went on tbs stupid but good
natured Ann And 20 be told ms to drsu
the childer mysslf, and l did And vsy
pretty they looked, tbs LITTLE dariings!s
Clear the breakfast thinsy swsyis "A
Nh GtsfanA !