Year: 1878




more than in legislation may be found
the solution to the veXed question that
is now agitating our sex all over the
land and breaking out in discontented
murmurings everywhere


"Oh, it is all very well for people to
work whose necessities require it," said
Mrs. Ellis; "but Belle is your only child
and will inherit your fortune. What
need has she to work?"


"Because she will be happier if she is
usefully employed. Besides, the wheel
of fortune is revolving one; and
though to-day we may be rolling in lux
ury, tomorrow may find us crushed be-
beneath misfortune. Listen while
| briefly relate the story of my early
womanhood. l would I might write
it as with . pen of fire upon the brain of
every mother in the land. Oh, | can
not tell you what an intense interest |
feel in the young girls growing up
around me! My heart ycarns to urge
them to make specially of whatever
their inclinations prompt them to do,
and then concentrate every effort upon
that one pursuit until they excel in it.
But to my story: I was the daughter
of wealthy parents, the youngest child
by several years, and of course a great
pet. OF an extremely delicate organi-
zation, my kind and indulgent mother
shielded me from every hardship, ard |
grew into womanhOod novice in the
art of housekeeping, From q child |
was passionately fond of reading, and
at school excelled in all my studies.
Pleased with the progress | made and
proud of my attainments, parents and
teachers urged me forward, stimu-
llting my ambition with words of
encouragement, until, at the immature
age Of IS, l graduated the brillian.
girl in Madam B IS school, and car
ryiDg off, amid the plaudits of friends
and acquaintance, the honorS Of my
class. But, alas! l was superficial in
many things; for while it had been easy
for me to commit my lessons, l found it
equally easy to forget them. Keenly
did | feel this defect, and in order to
perfect myself, I wished, after leaving
school, to teach, but so bitterly did my
parents oppose this that l yielded to
their wishes and returned home. [
plunged into round of gayety and
amusement, and from this whirl of ex-
element | emerged the bride of one
whom my parents did not look upon
with favor. The young man was an
employee in wholesale house in the
city of N. He was poor, but possessed
a well cultivated mind. Unfortunately,
however, he had no chosen trade or
ayocation. Idleness had made me a
dreamy, visionary being, and there was
q sort OF charm about beginning life in
poverty. 1t would be so delightful to
toll with and for him loved SO fondly.
This is all very beautiful in theory and
in practice also, where there are four
strong hands to perform the labor; but
close application to the desk and breath
ing the unwholesome city air had Sc
riously impaired my husbands health
We had married at a time when
neither was strong enough to battle
with the stern realities of life De-
pendenCe upon the salary of clerk or
book-keeper in large city is very pre-
carious for family. 1t was year Of
unprecedented hard times, necessitating
great economy in business. HUNDREDS
lost their situations, and my husband
among the rest. All, then began the
search for employment! For every va
cancy there were scores Of applicants,
and you Invariably received the answer,
Persons of experience wanted Oh,
| can never forget that weary tramp,
tramp, up and down the streets, jOstled
by crowd as cold and heartless as the
very stones under ones feet! | enyied
even the servant-girls; but alas! the
mysteries of the cuisine were as Greek
to me, and l dared not apply for so
menial situation as theirs. My poor
husband was in wretched health, and
almost frenzied at thought of the misery
and degradation he had brought
upon me. For his sake l hid my ach-
ing heart behind smiling face. One
night after he had retired, in hanging
up his coat, vial dropped from the
pocket. Picking it up found it labeled
Laudanum, and then 1 knew he was
beset with the terrible temptation to
take his own life. Flinging the vile
drug into the street, l sank on my
knees, and 90 my God! lead him not
into temptation, but deliver him from
evi,' was the prayer that went up from
my agonized heart. How desolate l
felt In the midst of great city
friendless, well-nigh penniless, and,
worst of all, haunted with the dreadful
fear that my husband would commit
suicide. From the time we would sep
arate in the morning until we met again
at night lived in a state of absolute
torture. At length, despairing of find
ing any thing in the city to do, we turn
ed our faces countryward, feeling that