18G6.1 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
31 
witli mild moralities about tlie beauty of slcnplicily, and 
the sin of vanity ; wliich silence without satisfying lier, 
and leave me self-] eproaclu'd for preacllins what 1 would 
not practice, except tlirougli necessity, 
MAY. 
A most unhappy record to-day. Came down to break- 
fast, worried and irritable, and found Arthur holding a 
young canary Ijird in his hand. " Look, mother," he ex- 
claimed eagerly. " Harry Warren has given me this 
dear little bird ; his mother let me choose the prettiest 
one in the nest." " And what are you going to do with 
it?" I asked impatiently, some evil spirit making his 
happy excitement utterly distasteful to me. "Why, keep 
it, of course. You'll get a cage for it, papa, won't you? 
I've wished fur a bird so long ;" and his imploring Idok 
at me should have been enungh to dispel the hateful feel- 
ing. Butnotso. I answered h.astily : "No such thing. 
Yuur father cannot afford to buy cages, while so many 
things are more needed. Carry the bird back again ; I 
can't he bothered with it." Almost before the speech was 
ended, I had repented. But it \^as too late then to recall 
it. .\ithur was too proud to leiuonslrale. and without a 
word marched out of the room, coming back no more. 
.My husband gave me one look — that was all. The meal 
passed in miserable silence ; the day has gone by as 
wretchedly ; Arthur avoided me in proud resentment — 
my ov\n conscience my sorest punishment. 
Spent the afternoon shopping on Broachvay antl Canal 
street. Getting into the stage, tired :ind heated, my 
lunids full of small parcels, and tny spirits dejecteil in the 
lefollection of iiow much tnoiiey I had spent, and Imw 
little 1 had to show for it, I encountered Mrs. Bright, and 
two of her children, all three looking provokingly like 
their name I They were dressed so charmingly in the 
frcsliest of spring attire, and had been to the Academy of 
Design. " Had I visited the Exhibition this year? Was 
I not delighted Avith those lovely girl-faces of Wenller's? 
tlioae delicious Utile landscapes of Shattuck's ? " and so 
on, and so on. till I felt more dejected than ever in my 
jcanfal consciousness of a contrast, not to my advantage, 
that Mrs. Briglit's presence always forces on me. She 
takes life e:«£ily. I wish I had her secret. * * * 
Poor Ellie gone to bed in tears. She and herdoU were 
invited to Helen Bright's biithday party, but the dull — 
sigruftcantly named Flora McFlimsey— had, like her 
natnesake, "nothing to wear." EUie would not go with- 
out her, and I feel self-reproached for her disappoint- 
ment. I ought to have dressed her doll long ago ; but 
how can I, with so many human dulls wanting dresses ? 
JUL-Y. 
Bridget's evening out, and I took licr place in the nuis 
cry, to guard the sleeping children. A feehng. half lu- 
dicrous, half pitiful, look possesion of me as I sat there 
sewing ; a wish that I was servant instead of mistress, 
that I might have the privilege of at least one evening in 
the week to spend as I pleased I Ridiculous, of course ; 
nevertheless it is painfully true that I do not have as 
mucli time for recreation as my own servants. 
Third of July, and to-morrow the awful Fourth must 
be endured, with its multrpUed miseries of run mad, 
frightened babies, servants "on a rampage," etc., etc. 
Wish I could have escaped into the country, as Mrs. 
Bright did ; but, alas I tliere is a mountain of sewing to 
be leveled before I can attain to the breezy hills and shady 
woods that I sigh for. * * * 
Baby grows thin and fretful — the lieal seems unusual- 
ly oppressive tliis summer — and his father is very im- 
patient to get the children out of town. " How long be- 
fore you can be ready?" he asks almost daily. lam 
straining every nerve to get through the necessary work, 
but it will be August before the ciiildren ran be ready. 
AUGUST, 
Out of tov.-n at last through much tribulation. My 
husband declared that the children must wait no longer 
if they went without clothes ; so packed up what remum- 
ed of my work to finish in the country and started off 
yesterday. The journey very unpleasant, owing to heat 
and int<derable crowding ; but our boarding-house pro- 
mises to be comfortable, and the country around is 
beautiful, with ample range for the children. Found (to 
my advantage) that Mrs. Bright and her children had 
been here since the 1st of July, and was a fa\oiite in the 
liouse. Under her direction mucli more attention was 
paid me than I should olherwite hn.ve received, and in 
many ways she has been exceedingly kind. I remember 
(,to my shame !) that I have sometimes had uncharitable 
thoughts about lier. * * * 
Tiiere is a remedy, we are told, for every evil under 
Uie sun. Mrs. Briglit asserts, with encouraging confi- 
dence, that a Wheeler Wilson is llic remedy in rny cnsc. 
1 have seen for myself how e;isily her household cares 
sit u|)ou her. I have also seen that her phildren are not 
neglected, as I once imagined. If a sewing machine is 
as etiicient a helper iis her experience seefr(S io piove 
what price would be loo dear to p:iy for it ? 
SEPTEMBER. 
Have tested an Idea which came to me some time ago. 
and found it wortliy of record. It was simj)ly to suggest 
for Alice a permanent instead of temporary interest in 
the little orphan Jessie, and show her how to turn it to 
good account. Which I did accordingly; and it is now- 
one of her chief interests to work for little " Jet." She 
saves her pocket-money to buy books, or phiylhings, or 
small urliclfs of dress for her, and gives up many of her 
play-hours to sewing for her. What she can do is of 
course nothing very important in itself, but I encourage 
it for its influence upon her own character, and see al- 
ready the good effects. Her sense of responsibility make* 
her thoughtful and womanly ; and where before she was 
rather inclineii to self-indulgence, this new interest has 
taught her practical lessons of self-denial. May these be 
only first fruits of a life rich in good works and 
charity. * * 'f 
Attended a bright litlie dinner-party last night, at Dr, 
R 's. Met several celebrities of the pencil and the 
pen, who for once were as enjoyable personally as in 
their books and pictures. 
OCTOBER. 
Celebrated the anniversary of our wedding-day by a 
drive in the patk. a stroll down the Lovers' Walk, and a 
row across the Lake. The day was heavenly, wilii its 
soft misty sunshine and brilliant Autumn foliage, and our 
own hearts harmonized with all its loveliness. Tliirleen 
years since we were married, and it seems only yester- 
day I But such happy, loving years press lightly. On 
the Lake, floating in one of those fairy-like skiffs among 
the swans and water-lilies, H grew poetical, and re- 
pealed those four loveliest stanzas of "The Miller's 
Daughter ;" 
"Look into mine eyes with Ihine, true wife " 
But as f\jr me, I could only think of the sweet old 
hymn, " When all Thy mercies, O my God !" for one 
verse had been in my mind all day: 
"Thv bounteous hand with wordly bliss 
lias made my cup run o'er. 
And in a kind and lailhful friend 
Has doubled all my store.'' 
Paid my annual subscription to the "Association for 
the Relief of the Industriou.s Poor.'' This cluuily 
especially inteiests me, because it is ba?ed on a sound 
principle — employment fuinished to the destitute, and 
full value paid for the labor. Thus self-respect is jue- 
served while distress is relieved. 
IVOVEIUBER. 
Another birthday to be recorded ; not celebrated by a 
doli's tea-parly— Alice is too old for that— but not less 
lovingly commeraoiated. Her father's gift wiis an en- 
graving of Ary Scheffcr's "Temptation," one of asetof 
scriptural subjects wliich he is collecting for her, and in 
which she takes great enjoyment. Frank bought her a 
dainty copy of " Tlie Chiidi en's Garland from the Best 
Poets ;" and my own gift w as the published record of a 
beautiful life not long since ended, the "Memorial of 
Alice B. Haven ''—rather mature, for her piesent ;ige, but 
she will appreciate and, I trust, emulate its sweet lessons 
of failh and charity in after years. * * * 
A busy and pleasant day, spent chiefly in making up on 
my sewing-machine a number of garments for Christmas 
tlistiibution amongst the poor. * * * 
An hour at the piano wi'.li Frnnk. It is one of my 
fancies that the influence of mu^ic at home and the 
power to produce it themselves, goes a great way toward 
keeping boys out of mischief; so have taken pains to 
teach Frank carefully, as well as Alice, in anticipation 
of the lime when we can afi'ord masters, * * * 
DECEMBER. 
A merry evening with the children, preparing decora- 
tions for our Christmas tree. The little ones, wlio slill 
keep faith in Santa Claus, were safe in bed, Init Frank 
and Alice assisted gleefully in making cocked hats. 
cornucopias, and candy boxes, and even papa conde- 
scended to lend a helping hand. We adhere religiously 
to all the time-honored observances of Christmas ; en- 
deavoring to make it not only a merry holiday, but a 
special occasion for inculcating by precept and example 
the sacred lessons of Him who came to bring "peace on 
cai th, good-will to men." * * * 
Packed and sent away the usual " Christmas boxes" — 
a gown for Widow McCauhiy, a basket of groceries for 
Mary O'iVeil, a doll for little motherless Janre Thomp- 
son, and other such simple offerings. With the longing 
in my heart to do so much more, this encourages mc : 
"A cup of cold water only shall not lose ils reward." 
To-dity brings the close of the year marked with fewer 
cares than blessings ; and the last page of my diary, not: 
always fuitliful in recounting them. Let the final rec<u'd 
at least be one of thankful acknowledgment for the 
" unnumbered comforts" that have surrounded me. Afeo, 
a prayer for the " calm artd thankful heart " that is fref) 
alike from "murmurs'' and " vain confidence.' 
SEPTEWIBER. 
Have discussed the sew ing-machine idea with uiy 
liusbiuid, and find, to my satisfaction, that he heartily ap- 
proves of it. A little economy in oilier expenditures will 
enable us to purchase one, and my heart is already 
hghtened, in anticipation of the burden of Fall work. 
For Ihe last week, at least, I will give myself up to liie 
full enjoyment of these lovely September days, with 
their misty skies and faintly turning leaves. I will roam 
the fields wiih the children, in search of wild grapet, 
lake swimming lessons in the river, join " crabbing par- 
ties," and "bob for eels!" Also. I will exploje the 
windings and hidden springs of tliat laughing luook in 
Ihe woods, and in some green nook, witli rippling water 
and murmuring leaves about me, I will read Jean Inge- 
low's ])oems. Wlio can tell ? Peihaps the time is com- 
ing when I shall have leisure to read when I piease. Just 
now, an idle hour with a volume of poems seems the 
larest luxury. * * * 
Hume again, and the burden of household cares drop- 
ped for a while, must be taken up once more. Fall sew- 
ing, fall house-cleauing, pickling and preser\ing ; send- 
ing the cldldren to school, and getting settled generally ' 
But I bring to tlte task new energy — boon of rest and hope. 
OCTOBER. 
The important purchase has been made, and 1 am real- 
ly the owner of a 5ev\ing-machme. I walk around it 
with a sort of awe, fingering the mysterious hooks and 
gauges, and wondering shall I ever comprehend and 
make available its delicate mechanism I Mrs. Bright as- 
sures me that I shall, under the careful instructions fur- 
nished by Messrs. Wheeler &, Wilson. I go this morning 
to their beautiful rooms cm Broadway for my first lesson. 
Gave Arthur for his birtlulay a present which will make 
him forget my unkindness about the canary-bird. It was, 
in fact, the same bird, which I look pains to obtain, and 
for which I bought a pretty cage ,• denying myself a new 
pair of gloves that I need in order to do so. A small 
enough sacrifice to attme for my fault! Hung up the 
cage in the ditdng-room window, and laid a little note on 
Arthur's plate, signifying his ownership. The quick 
tears in his eyes, the warm color flushing his brow when 
lie read it, expresseil everything without words. I knew 
tliat he understood all I mean by the gift; and his look 
of Idving gralitude made me able, for the first time, to 
forgive myself. 
WOVEMBEB. 
Fall sew ing almost done ; thanks to my invaluable sew 
iiig-machine. It has been all that I hoped— move than I 
dared to anticipate—in tlie way of assistance ; and, indi- 
rectly, other advantages flow from it. My husband looks 
up witli a smile when I lake my seat after dinner : " Not 
quite so exclusive as you used to be I " And the chil- 
dren: "Oh! mamma sits down stairs every evening 
now. Isn't it a great deal nicer, papa ? " It is pleasant 
to feel that my presence is the attraction for all of them; 
and I inwardly lesolved that it shall not be lacking in 
future. I will "use all diligence" to retain and perfect the 
family reunion, not forgelling to be thankful for the op- 
poilunity to do so. * * * 
Played and sang with the children this evening wJule 
tliey practised some Christmas carols for their Sunday- 
school concert. Looked over my shoulder — hearing a 
maidy base suddenly in the " Three Kings of Orient," 
and met ray husband's eyes, with a look in them that 
said : " This is what I like." So prolonged our lehears- 
al till the children's bed-time ; and finished the evening 
with a game of chess, in w hich I had the satisfaction of 
checkmating him— purely by accident, as he conceitedly 
declared. 
DECEItlBER. 
A couplet from Stoddart's charming version of ''The 
Children in the Wood" has flitted through my brain 
all day : 
"And leaf by leaf the rose of youth 
Came back to Lady Jane." 
Truly I am younger as well as happier, now tliat the 
weight of a forever-unfinished task is lifted from me. I 
shall never cease to be grateful to I\Irs. Bright for intro- 
ducing me to her "household fairy." It has proved to 
me more than that — a household angel, * * * 
'* Merrie Christmas" is at hand once more, and all 
hearts aic attuned to its gladness. The children are full 
of important secrets. Jlamma has hers also , among 
Ihem a marvelously-diessed doll that will gladden Ella's 
heart, and a braided dress that will satisfy Annie's wild- 
est desires. Suspicious-looking parcels are smuggled in- 
to the house from time to time, showing that papa has 
his little mystery, too, and I think I shall not nuicli long 
er covet that cnpy of " Melodies and Mailrigals .'*' We 
do not forget, either, these little childi en of God in wliose 
homes no Christmas-trees grow. Our good cheer shall 
be shared with them, for His sake who said. "Inasmuch 
as ye did it to one of the leaet of these, ye hflv« done it 
unto me " 
