The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-04-12
AN Ideal HONE.

woman, cit is results we are after. What
ever will tend to produce a happy home is
worth all the rest"
II was at a social, and ways and means
had been discussed nd lbitum, each Offer
ing some opinion, when one of the younger
matrons said:
81 would give anything to hear Mrs.
Morton's ideas on domestic subjects; for l
think hers is the happiest family I know
off, A brief silence ensued and then one
and another took it up.
4 declare, l believe you are right;
though / never thought much about it be-
fore. No, / don't think there was ever any
discord there
$50 there when you viii, everything
seems harmonious"
"And do yea know, neither Mr.. nor Mrs.
Morton seems to grow old, or has the care
worn expression the majority of ms have.
She must be ~forty-five, if she is a day, and
she does not look over thirty"
II mean to ask her for her experience
when she comes" said Mrs. Parker, at
last.
| was visiting my old friend, Lottie
Bruyn, and listened curiously to their re-
marks and looked forward a little eagerly
to the appearance of Mrs. Morton. She
came presently, and Lottic whispered to
me: t.she is the best read woman in the
place and the least affected, tie kindest
hearted, and | think the prettest.'
/ looked up and saw a woman rather
above han below medium size, well de-
veloped, perfectly proportional, aud well
dressed, with a clear complexion, soft dark
hair and large, soulful grey eyes.
A slight color rose 10 her cheeks fer an
instant, when Mrs. Parker proifered her
request; but seeing at a glance that she
was sincere, she said:
"My experience viii probably he o iittle
value to any of you, but | will give it
cheerfally. You are right in thinking we
are happy, but We are so quiet that | did
o suppose anyone had noticed it. | am
half awed sometimes when think how
happy We are. To begin with, we never
worry. Early in my married life, | found
that it was worry and not work that was
the most fatigning."
ssHow arc we to escape worry, Mrs.
Norton"
II can not tell You how you can, for each
individual must decide these things fer
herself; but | managed it in this way. |
drew a broad line between little Incidental
%anuoyances and real troubles. and il pos
sible laughed away a provoking matter in
stead Of fretting over it. 1t is not often
that we endure heart crushing sorrow; bat
we can wear our lives away in worrying
over trifes hat really should be beneath
MS. So instead of marching through trials,
l have gone over them. Sin and death are
terrible realities; but the most Of us make
a great deal of trouble for ourselves"
She stopped a moment, then went on
with heightened color;
u think | have been happiest, because
first | loved God with all my heart and my
husband next. There has never been q
shadow in our hearts-diiferences Of opin-
ion, Of course, but nothing that ever aE-
fected our love. We have always been en-
tirely equal in all things, yielding respect
to the others views, consulting the others
Judgment in matters of little or grave im-
portance. The purse has always been i
common one, and unpleasant occurrences
have been resolutely avoided. Then, each
night, we have together asked Gods help
and blessing for the succeeding day, and,
trusting Him for all things, we have rested
calmly ia His assurance that lie will be
always with us. We realized that We were
to live together until one of Us died, and
We made each day just as pleasant as pos
| sible. To do this, | found that | must
guard my health and temper, though the
latter depends on the former to a great ex-
ters. So, l never allowed a day to pass
without exercise in the open air, and never.
unless in ease Of sickness, allowed myself
to get thoroughly tired out or to lose my
sleep"
"IIow did you manage to prevent 1t,
pray?'' asked Lottie.
'sBy simply not doing it. Ii was not es-
sential that my work should be done in
lust such a manner; but it was essential
that my husband and children should have
a homc-keeper who was not tired and
cross. Ineyer sat up a night in my life TO
mend, nor spent time with trimmed I'M
derclotling or pillow eases, when my
| children were small. I remember once it
| cost me quite an effort, some twenty years
AFRO. when asked how I trimmed those ar
ticles, to reply that | had not a trimmed
pair in the house. But | did find time to
play with my children, to teach them, and
to love them; and kept up with the times
and kept myself fitted to be a companion
to my husband. More than once have
left my supper dishes till morning that !
might give my time to some plan of his.
Laughing a little, she continued: Nc
doubt, you think that very sloyeniy; but
| am well repaid for the risk ] may have
run OF not being a good housekceper, by
feeling sure that ] have been q good home
keeper. III q place where it was The rule
for husbands to spend the evenings away,
mine was Invariably at home. Ny children
l. $500 I.o... hot af oil hav ga