The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-28
FOR THE WOMAN.
A LADY ALWAYS.

1t Is grave mistake for a mother to
lose sight of the fact that she is lady,
because she thinks she has no time to
cultivate or practice the many little
accomplishments which once tended to
make her helpful and render her at
tractive and agreeable to others and
her life bright and worth living. Let
me illustrate this point: A lady who
had in earlier days been a school teach
er and bright and attractive COM
panion, married man possessed of a
large farm. From the first she was
unequal to her self. imposed tasks, out
doors and in, and to dress according to
her works, her costumes became more
and more stout and ill-6tting. She
soon became poor correspondent, be-
cause it required some of her precious
time to write, and because of her ever
increasing cares she neglected all so
cial gatherings and soon came to
realize that she no longer compared
favorably with her former associates.
After few years her life was spent in
the kitchen, and while her two daugh-
ters thrummed the piano she washed,
lstarched, ironed, baked, sewed and
scrubbed until they came to look down
upon her, and soon they were not a
little ashamed to have her seen by
their young friends, in her short cotton
gown and coarse, heavy shoes. She
neglected writing until she herself was
ashamed of the cramped and awkward
lines which her stiffened fingers FASH
ioned, and then she gave up entirely.
She scrimped her own wardrobe to
provide her daughters with gowns
which made the contrast between them
the more marked. Thus she, who had
been a constant attendent at church, q
Sunday school teacher, a valued help
in the choir, an efficient director in the
ladies' aid-in short, well-dressed,
well-informed lady with a host oi
friends, had, by her unselfish, misguid.
ed and unappreciated notions, lowered
herself to level beneath the most
Ignorant hireling. Finally, utterly dis
couraged and broken in heart an6
body, she sickened and died, and once
lagain occupied prominent position
at the funeral. The worn-out body
was robed in finest fabric, with plait
lings and bands of glossy black satin
with kerchief of filmy white folded
lover the breast; the silvery hair, looset
from it's rigorous twist, had resumed
somewhat Of its old-time wave and
curl; the distorted fingers held buncl
of hothouse flowers, such as she had
never had in her life; the casket was /,
marvel of finest broadcloth, molding
festooning, plaitings, fringes and oxi
dised silver, while the daughters, whit
had never made her life glad by an
niversary, birthday or Christmas gift
because they had no reason to thinl
that mother cared for such things
paid 81 for an enormous wreath t.
properly bedeck her coffin, and for tn
first time in their lives almost fel
proud of mother. Now, mothers
please don't give up looking neat an,
attractive; don't give up bright colors
pretty decorations, suitable reading
and music. Don't defraud yourself G
every bit of leisure. Don't let hus
band or children ever be ashamed G
you, but be just and lenient with your
. self as you would with any of God
creatures. Be alive to the require
ments of the times, live useful life
deserving of appreciation, and you wi
J be quite sure of obtaining it.
MRS. M. M. HATCH.