Year: 1871

must be put in order, the dinner cooked,
the children looked after continually, their
clothes got ready, and the four washed and
dressed to meet dear father at FIVE
o'clock


So all day long, with busy brain, busy
tongue, and active hands and feet, Lily
wore away the day, and was herself in
turn worn away. She was nervous and
dispirited, and though che reasoned with
herself and tried to laugh away the depres
sion of her mind, the effort only rebounded
upon herself; the tears would come and
occasionally overleap their barriers and
/ drop upon her languid hand


/ Life seemed to her great burden which
could neither be borne nor thrown of.
At the last moment she was ready, and at
the door with her little brood, TO welcome
the father, whose rested, contented, happy
look did her good. He was full of play
fulness and good humor, and said You
are looking very handsome this afternoon
with your red cheeks, Lily; you have just
enough to do for health. [ don't know
what hired girl would find to do in this
neat house and as he chucked her under
her chin, he added An old friend of
mine vii! be here to dinner and spend a
few davs with US. You must be careful
and not work too hard


This was a drop too much upon her
overburdened heart and hands, and she
longed for place and time to weep but
there was neither, and bravely choking
down her grief, and spurring up her ener-
gies, she brought her husbands slippers
and evening paper, and while he lay upon
the lounge resting. she dished up and
brought in the dinner.


A noted lecturer was to speak upon an
interesting topic that evening, and Uncle
Toby and his friend determined to 60
The children could not be left alone, and
of course Lily must remain with them
but though Uncle Toby declared it was too
bad, and he regretted 1t very much, yet it
never seemed to enter his mind that he
could change places with her, and Jet her
have a breath of the outside world she so
much needed.


At the table next morning, the lecture,
politics, and the common events of the day,
were discussed, when Lily, not wishing to
be silent, aud anxious to do credit to her
well-informed husband unfortunately made
a remark which exposed her ignorance of
what she was supposed to know, and great


y mortified Uncle Toby. He raised his
head, stroked his long black beard, and
said Lily you must read more you
have two daily papers supplied you


The tension upon her spirit was tight
ening; an overstrain was upon the strings
of life and after a year or two more of
constantly increasing cares, they snapped.
Delirium came on, weeks of suffering fol-
lowed, the spirit was released, and the at
tenuated body was at rest.


Uncle Toby was greatly distressed, and
talked of the mysterious visitation of God
in thus cutting short the life of one who
had not lived out half her days, and who
was 50 essential to him and the children.
But he acknowledged the duty Of submis-
sion as urged upon him, and bowed to the
divine decree


Are there no other thoughtless Uncle
Tobys in our land, who are wearing out
human lives 1t IS poor economy to over
tax mothers with menial service. Save
them for the nobler work God has put into
their hands.-ChrSitian Weekly.