

EDITOU'S TAItI.E. 



without ever soiling their fingers, or exerting their strength, in whiit we call work, and just as 

 cnpiible of lining justice to a picture gallery and rooms of recherche elegance. 



But I wouldn't blame Mr?, Attuxs or any other lady for not wi.^hing to c:ill uji any such hid- 

 den genius. There are talents and occupations enough much more agreeable in their execution 

 and performance, and through which one can be quite as useful to themselves and others- 

 Tiiough I Avould not advise them to shrink from any duty, but where they have the choosing of 

 their own duties and manner of life, uutrammeled by compulsive circumstances, it would bo a 

 trreat waste of opportunities and time to seek notability in occupations which others, who arc 

 not capable of fillltig their sphere of duties, can do quite as well 



I was just thiiikinn of a day in my youth when I sat in a handsome city parlor with a mar- 

 ried friend whom I greatly admired. She possessed a mind richly and variedly stored— a coun- 

 tenance all sweetness and amiability, tinged with a soft dreaminess whicii peculiarly harmonized 

 with her quiet, gentle manner. One woidd scarce suppose her gifted with more than energy to 

 gently hint the presence of " dust" that might fleck her " carriage cushions." How I enjoyed 

 her cotiversation as she opened to my youthful mind the rich stores garnered in her own. I 

 seem to hear, even now, that lute-like voice. Now behold her in a Western home, far from 

 church or school, doing much household work, rearing her own little ones while she burnished 

 up her Latin and Greek to assist in preparing sundry nephews for college, and shrinking not to 

 ride off a dozen miles to take care of a sick neighbor's family through the night. Her fingers 

 have doubtless been often very " greasy," but did you know her, you would not dream of shut- 

 ting up your choicest rooms from her supervision and enjoyment. 



You can't have a hand in rearing my home, if you dubb children as troublesome creatures. It 

 is for my children that I wish it — for them I desire all things about me comfortable, convenient 

 and attractive. "Were I a lone maiden, or motherless wife, greatly diminished would my long- 

 iuiis f>ir these things be. I can scarce imagine how anybody can have hopes and wishes that are 

 not somewhere connected with children — children which one has, may have, or expects and 

 hopes to have. You "forget" them! Did you ransack your whole vocabulary for some word 

 to test the provocative depth of my wrath? Were there no more children on this eartli. how 

 quickly would all research, and invention, and improvement be stayed. Who would exert them- 

 selves when the fruits of labor would only be known and enjoyed by the present generation, so 

 soon to pass away. 



But Mr. Barry will shut me out of his beautiful monthly if I am so prolix and loquacious. It's 

 a pity that I am just now so particularly engaged that I can't pay you a visit of cheer and sym- 

 pathv, but I hope to hear better things of those swollen feet soon. If ever there comes for me 

 some leisure day — which now seems so improbable — I may knock at your gates if you will pro- 

 mise not to rank me among the " inquisitive idlers," but where objects of floriculture and horti- 

 culture present themselves, let me indulge my admiration and curiosity to its full extent. Elsie. 

 — Woodnde, Waukesha, Wis. 



This last letter of our fair friend " Elsie" is interspersed with many sharp and good 

 tilings, but really it is too long. Ladies's pens are like their tongues, not easily tired. We 

 hazard something in saying this. 



Ax Explanation. — "We have received a letter from Messrs. Tuokp, Smith, Hanchett & 

 Co., of Syracuse, in reply to a note of Dr. Eshleman in oar last number concerning the 

 Uosenshenk Pear. It will appear in our next. 



