Year: 1879

"No breakfast ready yet | do wish !
could get my meals when / want them; |
should have been off an hour ago" This
was the greeting John Ashton gave his wife
one cloudy spring morning, as he strobe into
the kitchen.


Z" 1t will be ready in ten minutes" said
Mrs. Ashton. " | am sorry, but baby is so
cross, and there were the children to dress,
for Ellen has not returned yet"


The baby was crying Justify in his crib in
one corner, while the two other little Ones
BERTHE and Annie, were playing horse up and
down the room, and shouting with delight
Tho nnisa ;rritataa .Inhn and seizinp. the
baby he gave him a good shaking, which
the little fellow resented by screaming louder
than ever, while little Annie, who, at the
sight OF her father, had left her play to lisp,
Morning, papa" found herself seated not
very gently in chair, with warning not to
move till breakfast was ready.


90 John how could you Z" said his wife.
Poor baby is hungry; 81 was obliged to
neglect him or spoil the breakfast"


"There is no need of his crying so-why
can he not be quiet some time ?"


"You know he is not we'll" said Mrs.
Ashton " he moaned half the night with
his teeth


at is nonsense" said John, "sitting up
all night rocking him; | would give him
good whipping and he would be glad to go
to sleep. If you would manage the children
better they would not be so much trouble
but you are spelling them ALL"


Mrs. Ashton thought of the weary hours
she had sat by the crib, while her husband
slept undisturbed, and it seemed very hard
to be found fault with; angry words rose to
her lips, but she checked them and gave the
children their places at the table. Her
heart was too heavy to say much as she
wiped away little Annie's tears, for Johns
face was cloudy as the sky, and he swallowed
his breakfast apparently without noticing
that she had prepared with great care his
| favorite dish in the absence of the only
servant. But there was no breakfast for
her till all was cold, for baby must be taken
up, comforted and fed, and the other waited
on. Then, as soon as he could be prevailed
upon to sit in the crib again, John must be
helped off to the city, and it was run here
and there, sew on button, while he grum-
bled that his clothes We're never ready, with
never a kind word or kiss for the pale, tired
face that bore all so patiently. At last he
was gone, and Mrs. Ashton took up baby,
who had wearied of his playthings, and sat
down to get breath. She felt tired and wor-
ried, and when Annie came, and stroking
| her face said, Poor mamma p the bitter
tears that had been restrained so long fell
thick aud fast. Berthe loves mamma" said
the little boy. The mother kissed them ten
derly, and thought, sorely as they had tried
her at times, they were all the comfort she
had. Oh for some kind heart to whisper
comfort, even in the future. What would
all her care and patience avail if her hus-
band had no patience to bear with their
many faults Surely he should share with
her this great responsibility. In God was
her only comfort; he alone could bless her
efforts and crown them with success.


After while the baby dropped of to
sleep, aud making him comfortable for his
nap, Mrs. Ashton sat down for days sew
ing. Mr.. Ashton would be absent all day
so the little servant, who had returned by
this time, would be able to perform the
household duties, and get the simple lun
cheon, with the aid of few directions from
her mistress. As the mother sat and sewed
her thoughts went back TO the days when
young and free she was an inmate of hei
fathers house in distant city-the pet oi
the house. Not one of her brothers or sis
ters thought of doing anything without con
sultng Helen, and she was always ready
with counsel or sympathy. 1t was great
grief TO all when she left them for her new
home in distant rural district, as well a.
to the circle in which she had moved fol
she was a general favorite. Many of hel
friends wondered what had attracted he
to the grave, stern stranger, much olde
than herself who rather repulsed the Ell
forts of her acquaintance to know him bet
ter. Her father felt the loss more than any
one for she, being the eldest girl, hac
grown to be his prop and comfort since the
death of her mother some years before
But" he said, "you must do as you wisl
in this matter, Helen you know your Owl
heart. One who has been such gooC
daughter must make true wife. God gram
you have chosen wisely, my darling"


As her thoughts dwelt on the past, he
fathers words REQUIRED to her, and sh,
thought, " Did choose wisely 7" but with
sigh Of " Too late too late !" she buried he
aching brow in her hands and wept, for he
heart was full TO bursting. 1t was hard :,
keep from comparing the past and present
Then, there was hardly a day but she wa
the recipient of kind thcughtfulness iron
some one it might be drive planned fol
her, or some little token of remembrance, o.
her opinion wanted on some subject. But
now, how different John never seemed x
think she needed any change from the daily