Year: 1875

pers, and they are luxuries more es-
sential to my happiness than these al
tices of dress, so | do my own needle
work, and with the money thus saved
we purchase something that will ney-
er 90 oit of fashion-an intellectual
heritage for our little ones, as we'll as
a perpetual feast for us"


But how do YOU find time to do
such work ? | cannot conceive how or
where"


"Well, hardly know, myself
said Mrs. Merton, laughinsly. "My
husband sometimes tells me he believes
the fairies help me. Iseldom sit down
to it in earnest, but I catch it up at
odd moments, and before ! am aware
Of it myself, it is done


80, dear" and Mrs. Nelson sighed
81 wish I had your faculty. Do pray
Mrs. Merton, tell me the secret Of
your success in everything. How
do you always find time for every
thing ?"


"Do you question me seriously or
only mockingly, to remind me how
much ! leave undone ?"


"Seriously? Yes, very seriously.
TO own the truth, it was to learn this
l came over here to-day There are
thousand things long t. do, because
they would not only greatly increase
my own joys, but those of my husband
and household, but I cannot find the
time. Yet you do them, and you
have more cares and duties than |. If
you will tell me your secret, believe
me, ! shall feel under the deepest OBJ
legations to you"


Her friend hesitated a moment
She was not wont to speak very much
of herself, believing that character
should reveal itself by actions mostly,
and conscious that it will too, wheth-
er it be perfect or faulty one. Yet
there was such an urgency IN that
voice that had asked it now, that she
at length conquered the scruples of
moiesty.


81 am afraid | shall remind you of
great /, if l undertake." said she,
with blush, yet l can hardly give
you my experience, without subject
ing myself to the charge of egotism.
Yet, as we are alone, and as you seem
to think have avoided some of the
bese,ting evils Of this life, why | will
reveal to you what you call my Sc
cret.'


"My mother early instilled into my
mind and heart, by precept and exam
pie, a few rules OF action that | have
seduously endeavored to follow, and
which, I believe, almost more than
anything else, have contributed to my
domestic peace and happiness,


"One of them, is to always have a
time for every ordinary duty, to have
that time at such day at such a hour
of the day, as is best. When l first
get ap, l merely throw on a wrapper
and cap to sweep in, till the house is
clean, then l am tidy for the rest OF
the day. Whereas, if | wait till after
breakfast, must spend time to take
another bath, and make another
change of dress. Now, | confess, it
is hard sometimes to keep to this rule.
When my sleep has been broken by
the restlessness Of my babe, or when
something has kept me up later than
usual the previous evening, feel
strongly inclined to lie in bed, and let
the sweeping hour 60 by. But the
direful consequences always stare me
in the face so rueiully, that sleepy and
weary though may be, | struggle
out of the bed for it is verify strng'
gle, and tying down my hair, and lat
toning on my wrapper, AMI drawing
on my gloves, as my old aunt used to
say, | make business fly And l as
sure you l always find myself enough
happier to compensate Inc for my ef-
orts hard though they seemed"


"And, then, for second rule, | al
ways put everything in itsplace, and
thus waste no time in looking after
things. For example, perhaps you viii
laugh at it, but always make it rule t'
put my ,himble in my sewing box
when l leave my work, no matter hoa
great the hurry, and you can have nc
idea until you have tried it, how much
time is thus saved. Why | have ont
friend, who says she lost so much b!
looking up her thimble, that she has
bought herself three, SO that when on