Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

breakfast with her father, instead of lagging in ten minutes afterward, with elf locks, and shoes down at the heel.

Ellen."Really, mother, you make this clearer to me than I ever saw it before. But do you think Mrs. Benton is right? She has been passing some time in England and France, and she says that the people of those countries are much more exact in their habits than we are, and that this enables them to live with much greater comfort upon a small income than we do. She says that a French girl never takes off a nice dress or shawl without brushing and folding it carefully, pinning it in a napkin, and laying it in a drawer or on a shelf; and she insists upon it, that, in this way, it is kept fresh twice as long as when hung upon a nail and exposed to the dust. She says that when an English farmer's wife prepares a piece of meat for dinner, it is not cooked by accident,—as it seems so often to be with us, and brought upon the table either raw and indigestible, or with all the taste boiled out of it; but that she gives it exactly the time and attention necessary to produce the best flavor and the most healthy nutrition; and hence the English are not a nation of dyspeptics, as we are.

"O, mother, I wish you could hear her talk about English servants and house-keeping, and French shoemakers, and dressmakers, and clear-starchers! She insists upon it that it is exact teaching and exact performance which make the difference between them and us. She says it is quite difficult in this country to get anything done exactly according to the directions, or brought home exactly according to promise."

Mother."I have no doubt, my dear, that this is, to a certain extent, true, but not entirely so. There is as good house-keeping in our country as in any in the world. But let us turn all criticism, whether good-natured or not, to our own advantage. From the few instances which have been mentioned, you can perceive how this principle, carried into all the details of life, makes life in one home so different from what it is in another. Mary thinks it is troublesome to

be exact. On the contrary, it is the oil which prevents jarring, and permits everything to work easily. How much fretting, blame and ill-temper are saved by it!

"But the influence of exactness in speech is still more important than it is in action. It is said there is a great disposition among women, especially among uneducated or ill-educated women,

to talk of their neighbors' affairs, and to repeat what each says to each. This, to a certain extent, is natural, and might even be innocent, if exactness of speech was observed; but there is no habit so fraught with unhappiness to society as that of careless, unprincipled gossip. It separates friends, it creates enemies, it chills sympathy, it destroys frankness, and induces fear and suspicion in their stead. How can it be otherwise, when we know that a few words omitted, or a few words added, frequently give an entirely different character and meaning to an expression? I have lived in cities and in villages, and I have seen the sad effects of designed misrepresentation and detraction; but I have seen far more unhappiness produced by a thoughtless, careless, exaggerated way of repeating the opinions or the words of others. But notwithstanding that the fault is so common, every one pays involuntary respect and homage to the perfectly true. What finer compliment, what more noble epithet than a true woman? and no one can be true without being exact. I have known a girl of fourteen appealed to in all family differences, in everything which came under her own observation, for she was never known to vary. She saw clearly, and she reported faithfully. Yet this girl was full of fire and enthusiasm, and excelled in works of taste as well as of usefulness.

"I was once staying for a season in a country town, and, with several other ladies, attended, for amusement, the sittings of a court of justice. A case came up of great and universal interest. A respectable young man had been accused of a criminal action, and a large number of witnesses were brought forward on both sides. They all appeared to be sincere, and to wish to tell the truth; but it was astonishing how their testimony conflicted, and pitiful to see the wavering and uncertainty produced by the cross-questioning of the lawyers. But there was one lady acquainted with the circumstances of the case, who excited our admiration to the utmost. She was modest, and evidently appeared with reluctance; but she was so clear; firm and unwavering in her statements, that there was no getting aside of her testimony. A rough lawyer of the opposite party tried to brow-beat her, as several witnesses differed from her considerably, as to important circumstances; but she held firm, and, by the exactness of her answers, showed that she was clear as to the facts. This clearness and this exactness had such an effect upon the minds of the judges, that it saved the young man, and restored him to the good opinion

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

of his fellow-men and to his position in society. The judge declared, in his charge to the jury, that the testimony of this witness ought to have an important effect upon their verdict. And it had. You should have seen the respect with which she was followed by every eye as she walked out of court.'

Mary. "Mother, this should have had a novel ending. The young man whom she cleared by her testimony ought to have married her."

Mother."This did not happen. But the junior judge was so much pleased with the way in which she acquitted herself on this occasion, that he paid his addresses to her; and she is now Mrs. Judge N."

Mary."Ah! that is quite as well. I should like to see that lady. But, mother, you have made me thoroughly ashamed of the flippant way in which I began this conversation. I was more than half in jest; for I really do see and feel the benefits of exactness every day of my life. It is Ellen's exactness which makes our room pleasant and comfortable. It is she who saves me from many a reproof, by reminding me of time, and of what I have to do. It is certainly a great convenience to have such a sister. But I do think I was more particular in this respect before I went to my aunt's. They have such topsy-turvy, harum-scarum ways there, I defy any one to be exact.”

[ocr errors]

Mother. "My dear, do not depend upon your sister, but upon yourself. It is your own character which is to make you useful and happy in life, or otherwise. Strive not only to regain what you have lost, but set yourself conscientiously to form habits of exactness. Remember that the term includes order, punctuality and truth, all cardinal virtues in a woman. And, as we before remarked, that 'trifles make the sum of human, things,' it is in trifles that we must begin, if we wish to form any good habit. If you sincerely ask assistance from God, he will help you in every effort you make to improve yourself."

Mary takes the wisp of work from her basket, shakes it out and folds it carefully. She then winds up odd ends of tape, putting a small pin into each. After putting her spools of thread into the little

pockets designed for them inside the rim of the basket, she kisses her mother, and, with a pleasant and docile expression of countenance, leaves the room.

[ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][graphic]
[ocr errors]

flowers the rain-drops weeping, Have just called forth their beau-ty

[graphic]

2. The droop-ing blue-bell from the rude blast shrink-ing, Doth

-b.

[merged small][ocr errors]
[subsumed][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed]

b.

fawn and doe are drinking From pearly springs and riv

[ocr errors][merged small]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]

Although we call for dear ones gone, with weeping,
They come not forth with flower and bird, and tree,
Unconscious of the south wind's kiss, they're sleeping,
Beneath the wild rose and the willow tree.

4

They come not forth.

They who reposed in childhood's happy bowers,
They whose fair brows their guilelessness still wore,
Have bent before the blast like young spring flowers,
And passed away to bloom on earth no more!

5

They come not forth.

They left these scenes, the kind and gentle-hearted,
Ere yet the weight of age was on them laid;

In vain we call unto the dear departed,

Both bright-haired youth and fair and blooming maid,

Come forth, come forth!

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »