Year: 1871

HOUSEHOLDS.


Meanwhile the careless or iudolcnt
husband, who spends money enough in
tobacco in few weeks to buy his wife a
decent dress, or in few mouths sewing
machine, wringer, or some other assistant
ip her labor; and who wastes time enough
in lounging around smoking the vile weed
to lend her helping hand occasionally
when some heavy work is to be done, is
really pited as a martyr, because he has to
wait half an hour for his dinner, or tend
the worrsome child whose nerves have
been tuned to agony by that very tobacco
smoke"


"Dcar me Mrs. Foster" laughed some
of the ladies, "what public lecturer you
would make"


"I should pity your husband" said an
other, Z" if he we're user of tobacco"


"Or if he ever offended you in any
way" sneered a simpering old maid, who
believed that the least difference in opinion
was proof of matrimonial infelicity.


The circle soon after broke up, leaving
Mrs. Foster to reflect that if few were
offended with her for thus expressing her
opinions firmly and earnestly, there were,
probably, many present too timid to rally
around her, upon whom her words might
be as good seed to reappear in tho harvest
field of life.


Lizzie Marshall sat alone in her dirty
kitchen, nursing her fretful baby. The
child was teething, and having been left
to the care Of the older children through
the day was now determined to have its
mothers attention. BY dint of resolute
and continued crying it had gained its
purpose. although the weary woman looked
with a sigh from the long line of clothes
just hung to dry to the tubs of suds left to
scrub TIE floor, and thought Of the supper
not yet begun.


She had seen the ladies pass her house
that afternoon upon their way to and from
the sewing circle. They passed lightly
along, chatting gaily with each other.
The few who looked towards her humble
home did SO with sneer or word Of disap-
proval, such as washing this late in the
week )" "in the suds, as usual" or some
thing as little complimentary.


One of these lightly uttered remarks
had reached Lizzie's ear, as she stood par
TALLY concealed by clump of bushes, upon
which she was hanging the last pieces of
the wash.


Words are kcencr than swords. This
one little sentence had wounded Lizzie
worse than blow. AS she sat there in
the gathering twilight, with her half-sick
babe in her arms, she felt willing to have
it die, Tests its after life should be one of
toll like hers. Only for a moment she
looked back upon the happy grhood
which knew no care, and the tears fell thick
and fast.


A gentle rap on the door, and then Mrs.
Foster appeared Seeming not to notice
her agitation, she seated herself by Lzze's
side, and took the now quiet baby in her
arms.


as baby better today? You should
not do SO large wash in Que day, or you
will worry his fool. You try to be too
smart, dear! l noticed your long line of
clothes from the window, and as I had
locke for larger number than come to-
day, l thought you would let me bring you
in luncheon, lest you should tire yourself
still more in getting supper. You really
must take it, for baby's sake. Nursing
mothers must take all the help they can
get. Those who have no such treasures
to be proud of may be proud about some
thing else, if they like"


The child knowing, as every child does,
the tone of genuine Kindness, was Nesting
down in her arms as if in its own cradle.


He will tire you" said Lizzie, " Susy
will rock him to sleep! Here, Susy.
Susy !"


The little girl came in with a discon-
tented air, for she had been trying all day
to amuse or hush him.


"Susy! Oh! No, indeed" said Mrs.
Foster, smiling pleasantly to the little girl.
Susy will spare me the baby for a little
while, and lay the dishes on the table for
her tired mother. See, there is a white
cloth already spread. Put the dishes on
neatly, my little girl, aud then run over to
my garden, and get nice little bouquet
to make it look bright. l love flowers on
the table, don't you, Susy? ?"


Glove flowers everywherc" !" exclaimed
the child eagerly. " If mother only had
time to plant them, and take care of them
as you do, | should be so glad"


" Mother has prettier flowers to take
care of than any of mine, so you must do
that yourself. Come in next spring, when
| am planting my garden, aud 1 will give
you some seeds, and tell you how to man.
age them. You had better get your ia.
ther to give you corner of the yard for
little flower-bed. 1 will give you some
bulbs this autumn, and early next spring
some rose bushes and other hardy shrubs,
which will keep you supplied with flowers
all the year."


BY this time, the child with light steps
ana smiling face had prepared the supper
table, and now stood hesitating.


Please, Mrs. Foster, am afraid I
might gather some you did not intend to
have broken or iujure some Of your nice
plants"