Year: 1859

from her TO fret and complain, ana tne


transmitted the same curse to other house


holds and another generation. Some, witt


finer sensibilities, shrank and withcred un


der it; while in some souls the waters o


bitterness and misanthropy wore deep anC
broad channels; for there was a numerou


household to feel the blight. She felt ant
knew that her family did not love her a


she would have them love her. She saw


that they were glad to live out of her pre-


sencc, though she was conscious that sh,


lived and labored for them. This created


in her a sense of injustice done her, whicl


engendered feeling akin to bitterness al


she advanced in life, and over this she fret


ted still more intensely; till, dear reader


she frettcd herself into the grave.


The looker-on, as he summed up the re-
suits of her life-work- might have written
over all her opportunities for great and
blessed achievement. Wanting, Fail
ures,' Lost,"-"Marred." And where
fore? Because of this enemy feeble one
at first, but nourished and cherished thro'
many years, grew at length her conqueror
and master.


o woman! whose highest honor it is to
mature and rear earth's men and women
for Gods service, and to breathe over tie
homes where you rear them something of
the atmosphere of that Home yours should
typify, exercise. | entreat you, this foul
spirit, this demon fretfulness, from your
domain Let its shadow never darken
your threshold. Let its breath never blight
the spirits where it is your province to ward
and watch. Would YOU be good and true
where God has placed you? Would you
have yOurs-your own dear ones, large of
soul-loving and beloved in their lives, liv-
ing in sunshine and gathering sunshine !?
Would you be to them while you live, and
live in their memories after you are dead,
as one of those sent of God and manifcsting
Him in their lives? Then let your brow
never be cloudcd, your tones sharpened, the
loving beaming of your eye never queneh-
ed by this foul spirit, that gathers its ven
ON and blight from discomfort and unholy
unrest A truly noble nan, loving inno-
cent child. might find better home in a
den of stinging reptiles, than with "a brawl-
ing" or fretful woman in wide house.
If you are sick, and cannot give to your
home service and care, give them the smile
of calm, unrufled soul, the sunshine Of
peace and love- and trust in God. If you
are burdened with care and toll, add not
the one you must needs carry, one you need
not, by fretfulness of spirit, bat let cheer
fulness and hope buoy you. Do Difficult
ties, dark and frowning, meet You? Does
your path lie over an intricate and thorny
way? Let the light of quiet spirit brigh-
ten it, and the music Of gentle. loving tones
thrill along its tangled maze.. Listen for
them, and you shall catch, ever and anon,
strains of poetry and measures Of melody,
even on the dreariest road. Have you the
greatest blessing a true woman's heart
Graves, affectionate friends, pleasant home,
a loving and noble man for companion,
and dear, promising children? o, let graf
itude to the Great Giver keep you always
from the lowering frown of impatience, and
the harsh grating tones of complaint and
fretfulness at the little ills, the little dis
the physical taxations, and
the nervous discomforts and ailments that
every mother of family, however blessed
and favored, must at times encounter. Let
each strive, in her own sphere and in her
own home, to make that home as perfect
that sphere as ennobled, as it can become.
If this is the aim and ambition, surely from
such home and sphere will be banishcd,
with much else that belittles and degrades
and mars it, the demon-Fretfulness.