put in some turnips, both harder work than 
what you have done, and I am not dis¬ 
couraged.” 
lie said the words in a triumphant voice, 
that seemed to argue superiority to all such 
trifling, terrestrial things as discouragement. 
“ Yes,” said bis wife, “you have worked 
all day at two kinds of work, neither re¬ 
quiring any mental labor. And when you 
had finished, you milked the cows, and at 
seven o’clock had your day’s work done and 
could sit down for the evening, I have 
worked since five o’clock this morning, at, 
at least, one hundred different things, all re¬ 
quiring brain-labor, and when my day’s 
work is done I have an evening’s work still 
before me.” 
“ Certainly,” assented Mr. Leach, “ I 
know r a woman works more hours in a day 
than a man, but they don’t work as hard.” 
« Well,” replied his wife, “ I think there is 
room for an argument there. There are few 
men who understand what a woman’s work 
really is. You plant your corn and bow 
your wheat, and that is not to be done again 
for a year, and from the simple act ol plant¬ 
ing comes, in due time, a bountiful harvest to 
reward you. ITow is it with me? 1 wash 
my dishes, and five hours later I wash them 
again. 1 bake bread, and a few days after¬ 
wards 1 have to do it again. Nothing comes 
of it, except that it disappears! I set the 
table. Three times a day I carry the dishes 
from the pantry and arrange them in order, 
on the table, an hour later I take them hack 
to the pantry and arrange them in order 
there, only to transport them to the table 
again in season for the next meal. Three 
times per day 1 bend over the hot stove un¬ 
til I rival it in warmth, working hard, and a 
glance at the table alter the family have 
arisen shows as great a barrenness as existed 
before. 1 sweep and dust, make beds, mop, 
scour, wash, iron, hake, churn, and I might 
mention fifty minor duties and not exhaust 
Uio list, and when night comes 1 review my 
day’s work, and what have 1 accomplished ? 
Nothing, absolutely nothing. To-morrow 1 
shall have the same things to do—next week 
—next year—forever.” 
A moment’s silence followed, and then 
Mr. Leach spoke: 
“That’s all true, Milly ; but then you 
escape the worry of providing for a family. 
Your work does not show for so much, hut 
wlmt of that ? You have the materials 
placed at your band, and have, besides, the 
pleasure of knowing you do your duty.” 
Mrs. Leach said no more, but she thought 
for a moment how unpleasant. “ duty” some¬ 
times was, and mentally decided that if the 
“ worry” attendant on a man’s portion of 
the burden of providing for a family tran¬ 
scended that of a woman, the whole mascu¬ 
line creation had her heartfelt sympathy. 
A silence followed, during which Mr. Leach 
thoughtfully contemplated the toes of his 
hoots, and Mrs. Leach sewed with renewed 
energy. Had her husband looked at her he 
might have thought the resolute lines about 
her mouth meant something. Suddenly she 
spoke : 
“John', have you anything particular to 
do, day after to-morrow ?” 
“ No, I believe not. Why do you ask ?” 
“ I thought, perhaps, if you hadn’t, you 
could get along alone, and 1 could go over 
to Aunt Caroline’s. It’s six months since 
I’ve been there. This is Tuesday; I would 
like to go to-morrow afternoon and return 
Friday, If you think you could manage alone 
so long.” 
“ Of course I can. Go, by all means. 
You can have Bess and the light wagon.” 
There was a little mischievous smile 
around the corners of his wife’s mouth as 
she replied: 
“ Very well, i shall take Alice and the 
baby, and leave Fred and Bertie here.” 
Mr. Leach said “ Well*” carelessly, and 
went yawning off to bed, while Ids wife sat 
up an hourlonger sewing away industriously 
at the rent garments that still occupied the 
largest portion of her work-basket. 
It was precisely two o’clock the next day 
when Mrs. Leach, carrying her eighteen- 
months'-old baby, and followed by Alice, 
came out to the gate where Mr. Leach stood 
holding the reins, and got into the little 
wagon, preparatory to starling for Aunt 
Caroline’s. 
“ I have done everything,” she said, as she 
took the lines from her husband’s hand, “so 
you will have nothing to do but get your 
supper. Oh, by the way, JonN, you will 
have to bake to-morrow, and churu, too; 
but as you have not. much to do, it. will he 
nothing. Take good care of the children.” 
She nodded, with a smile to the two little 
figures who stood by waiting iter departure, 
gathered up the reins, chirruped to Bess, and 
departed. 
“ We shall see,” she thought, with a smile, 
“ if it. is such easy work 1" 
“ Meantime, Mr. Leach, with sundry curi¬ 
ous mental sensations regarding the baking 
and churning, made his way to the garden, 
where he worked until four o’clock, aud then 
entered the kitchen and prepared to get 
supper. 
“ Let me see,” he muttered, opening the 
safe door and surveying the edibles, “ noth¬ 
ing here but a few cold potatoes, some but¬ 
ter, cheese, aud meat; the meat 1 can warm. 
I shall have to mix some biscuits." 
lie built a fire, placed the meat, to warm, 
and the potatoes to boil, and then proceeded 
to the task of making the biscuits. He went 
down cellar and brought up some butter¬ 
milk, and then, having forgotten the short¬ 
ening, had to make another journey below. 
Half a dozen trips to the pantry collected the 
requisite materials, ami with sleeves rolled 
up, and dishes of all descriptions at his elbow 
Mr. Leach began. 
“ Let me see,” be thought, pausing with 
both hands covered with batter; “ I’ve got 
milk,saleratus and shortening, I believe that’s 
all—yes, I know it is." 
He fell to work vigorously and soon had 
the bread ready for the oven, and then for¬ 
got to turn the damper until it should have 
been half done. Result:—clammy and half 
dried biscuits. He then hung up the rolling 
pin and kneading-board covered with Hour 
and dough, and put away the mixing-bowl 
without having sifted the flour, ne next set 
the table, putting the cloth on wrong side 
out, and placing the knives and forks on the 
plates. While draining the potatoes the 
meat burned, and when ready to eat Mr. 
Leach discovered that he had forgotten the 
tea-kettle. 
“ I can drink water,” he thought, as he 
took his seat at the table. “ If I was a 
woman and used to these things, I shoukl’nt 
forget.” 
Supper over, during which the housekeep¬ 
er made another discovery, namely, that he 
had not salted his bread. Mr. Leach pro¬ 
ceeded to wash the dishes, which he accom¬ 
plished by wiping them out, of the same wa¬ 
ter they were washed in, and then placed 
them ill the pantry, putting the spoons ami 
knives into one Compartment of the knife 
box, and the teaspoons wrong cud up in the 
receiver. The plates he put in the place of 
the teacups, and piled the saucers on them. 
The pepper-box and salt-cellar he placed in 
a conspicuous position before the sugar-bowl, 
aud ranged the tumblers along the edge of 
the shelf. 
“ It doesn’t look exactly as it does when 
Milly fixes it,” he thought, surveying his 
work, “ but it’s just ns well.” 
And then he washed the milk-pails with 
the dish-cloth, aud punched a hole through 
the strainer, by wiping it with the towel 
wrapped around a fork. 
Having successfully discharged these du¬ 
ties, Mr. Leach considered his work done. 
He was awakened in the night by a lively 
chorus from the cals, aud laj r awake two 
hours, listening to the feline music, before lie 
remembered that he had neglected to give 
them tlveir supper. Having discovered the 
cause of the trouble, Mr. Leach lost no time 
in depositing a crumbled biscuit and half a 
dozen potatoes in the cats’ plate, and retired 
to sleep peacefully. 
Tho following day passed much as the 
previous afternoon. Mr. Leach mixed the 
bread as he could remember his wife’s doing, 
but letting it stand too long it was too light, 
and consequently ran over the tins and 
vexed our housekeeper’s soul sorely. Alter 
dinner he placed his bread in the oven, and 
then concluded to let the dishes remain un¬ 
washed while lie devoted his energies to 
churning. Having churned vigorously for 
the space of twenty minutes, without any 
signs of butter, Mr. Leach came to a halt 
with a long breath. 
“ Whew! this is warm work,” lie ejacu¬ 
lated, wiping the perspiration from his face, 
“ I wonder if it isn’t too cold!” He lifted 
tho lid, peering down into the cream in per¬ 
plexity. “ I believe it is. I’ll try some hot 
water any way.” 
Accordingly he poured in a quart of boil¬ 
ing water, and in five minutes the butter 
came, white, soft, and oily. Rejoiced at his 
success, our hero hastened to take it from 
the churn, but not wetting the ladle suffi¬ 
ciently, the butter adhered to it, and baffled 
his best efforts at removal. Abandoning the 
ladle to its fate, the housekeeper proceeded 
to wash the butter in two waters, salted it 
without rolling the salt, and finished opera¬ 
tions by placing it down cellar in the bow). 
He then replenished the fire, and attacked 
the dishes. Long standing had dried them, 
and the task nearly exhausted Mr. Leach’s 
patience. 
In the midst of his dish-washing he was 
arrested by a strong smell of burning bread, 
and rushing to the oven, found it filled with 
blue smoke. Using the dish-cloth for a 
holder, he succeeded in rescuing the burning 
loaves, having burned the fingers of one 
hand to a blister in the operation. Before 
the bread was disposed of Freddy cut his 
finger, and set, up such a howl of pain and 
fright as nearly drove our housekeeper lYan- 
tic. Hearing a loud crash, Mr. Leach 
turned from depositing the last loaf of bread 
on the table in time to see Bertie emerging 
from the ruins of a large crock of butter¬ 
milk which he had placed temporarily on 
the broad shelf of the pantry, aud which 
the boy had knocked off, deluging himself 
with milk and bits of crockery. Of course 
his cries were added to those of his brother, 
and for a time pandemonium reigned. 
Mr. Leach’s efforts finally produced some¬ 
thing like order ; and, tired and warm, he 
returned to his dish-washing. 
“ I wish Milly was here,” he thought, dis¬ 
consolately, as he scraped away at a refrac¬ 
tory kettle. “ l vow I’m tired. I’ve had 
more to do—” 
He stopped suddenly, remembering that a 
woman’s work was easy. 
“ ’Tisn’t so very easy, after all,” he con¬ 
tinued, looking lugubriously at the black 
loaves on the table. “ One has to think of 
so many things at once. I can’t wonder 
that Milly was worried. I had rather 
work all day at harvesting than bake a batch 
of bread. Ah, what’s that ?” 
Mr. Leach hastened to the door to meet 
the climax of his troubles. His cousin, liv¬ 
ing thirty miles distant, had arrived. 
“ Thought I’d stop and get some dinner. 
This is Mr. Ross,” introducing his compan¬ 
ion. “ We’re on the way to the city. 
Where’s Mildred?” he added, surveying 
our hero’s apron and dish-cloth. 
Thereupon Mr. Leach explained his situ¬ 
ation, and proceeded to the task of getting 
his guests some dinner. Warm work it was, 
in the housekeeper’s tired and warm con¬ 
dition, but there was no help for it, and Mr. 
Leach’s sympathy readied out to his wife 
during the process of cooking that meal as 
it never lmd before. 
Inhospitable as it was, he watched his 
guests depart with hearty satisfaction, and 
washed the dishes with secret longings for 
his wife. 
“ I’ll confess my mistake,” he thought, 
“but she won’t come till to-morrow. I wish 
she would.” 
“Oh, papa!” shouted Bertie, “there’s 
nmmma.” 
Mr. Leach dropped the dish he held and 
turned around to behold his wife. 
“ I came back sooner than I intended. 
How have you got along ? ” 
Mr. LEAcn dropped into a chair, twirling 
the dish-cloth around his fingers. 
“Tired to death, Milly, and worried to a 
state oflunacy!” 
Mrs. Leach waved her hand. 
“ My dear, you shouldn’t let trifles worry 
you. It does no good, aud is really quite 
useless.” 
Her husband looked at her with a faint 
smile. 
“ I own up, Milly. They are not trifles, 
aud a woman’s work is not easy. I’ve learned 
by experience” 
“ I’m very glad of it, John 1 ” 
“ And," continued Mr. Leach, “ I beg for¬ 
giveness, Milly, aud hereafter you shall 
have a girl when j'ou have need of one. I 
strongly suspect that your visit was intended 
to give me an opportunity to see for myself.” 
Milly laughed. 
“It was, John ! And you have seen?” 
“ Yes,” replied Mr. Leach, emphatically, 
“ I should think I had ! ” 
■-- 
DUMB, BUT ELOQUENT. 
The following touching story of “ a hand¬ 
some English coach dog” and his drunken 
master is vouched for by a leading Boston 
paper, from which we quote: 
“ The man pursued his devious course, 
closely followed by his lbur-footed compan¬ 
ion, until at length he approached the door 
of the saloon referred to, and was about to 
enter, when, to the surprise of all who had 
witnessed the affair, the dog jumped up, aud 
catching the Blurts of the man’s coat, sought 
to prevent him from going in. The inebri¬ 
ated biped spoke in angry tones to the beast, 
but without avail, until a more than ordi¬ 
narily severe command induced him to re¬ 
linquish his hold, and the man hastened in¬ 
side, followed by his faithful companion and 
would-be protector. 
“ Actuated simply by curiosity, we also 
went in, and as we gained a position near 
the bar, saw in close proximity thereto the 
beast and his master, the latter trying to 
reach the bar, and the former standing on 
his hind legs, with his forepaws placed 
against the mau’s breast, vainly endeavoring, 
even at the eleventh hour, to prevent him 
from again indulging in the intoxicating cup. 
“To the credit of the bar-tender, be it 
stated, that, he refused to furnish the mau 
with more liquor, and tears were drawn from 
eyes that had long been unused to tbe melting 
mood, as at each refusal the undoubtedly 
heart-stricken canine would bestow a look 
intended, doubtless, to be one of gratitude 
upon the dispenser of ‘juleps,’ ‘slings,’ and 
‘ tods,’ and then turning, would, as it were, 
mutely beseech his liquor-loving master to 
abstuin.” 
--- 
A muddy stream, flowing into one clear 
and sparkling, for a time rolls along by itself. 
A little further down they unite, and the 
whole is impure. So youth, untouched by 
sin, may for a short time keep its purity in 
foul company, but a little later and they 
mingle. 
#ocial (femirs. 
COMPENSATION. 
O deem not they are blessed alone 
Whose lives a i>eacefnl tenor keep; 
For God who pities man. hath shown 
A blessing for tbe eyes that weep. 
The light of smiles shall SU again 
The Uds that overflow with tears; 
And weary hours of woe and pain 
Are promises of happier year*. 
There is a day of sunny rest 
For every dark and troubled night; 
And grief may bide an evening guest 
But Joy shall come with early Itght. 
Nor let the good man’* trust depart, 
Though life its common gifts deny; 
Though with a pierced and broken heart. 
And spumed of meu, he goes to die. 
For God has marked each sorrowing day. 
And numbered every secret tear. 
And heaven’s long age of bliss shall pay 
For all his children suffer here. 
[Bryant. 
--♦♦♦- 
A MODEL HOME. 
- i 
BY PEN DENNIS. 
I often wonder why there are no more 
homes that can safely he epoken of as models. 
If would seem as if those who pass their lives 
in the country,—whose daily occupation 
brings them in constant contact with the 
varied beauty of field, and forest, mountain, 
and plain,—who are constant witnesses of 
Nature’s great mysteries,—would, of neces¬ 
sity, be fillod with noble thoughts ; that their 
eyes would gather continual delight from the 
beauties about them; and their whole lives 
shape themselves in grander forms as a 
natural result of their surroundings. Yet it 
is undeniably true that in gathering up riches 
for the future,—which after all they may 
never behold,—they forget the claims of the 
present, and allow their souls to grow less 
instead of greater. So it comes to pass that 
the childreu going out of these houses, and 
finding themselves, as they often may, in 
refined aud polite society for a tipie, become 
dissatisfied with home, and seek a life that 
shall give them the advantages which they 
suppose they cannot obtain in the country. 
Is it not folly to he so intent upon the things 
which perish with the using, as to forget 
higher aims ? Is it not an evil when parents 
allow themselves to lie so absorbed by cares 
that they neglect to instruct their children 
in the proprieties of every day life, to say 
nothing of the small sweet courtesies, the 
little acts of grace so fruitful of good ? A 
brief notice of a Model Home points out the 
effects of a better way. 
John Haven and his good wife Mabel 
began their married life in quite a humble 
way. The small farm was only partly paid 
for, and of “ goods and gear” there ivas no 
great abundance. Mabel’b education was 
not a finished one, judged by the standard 
of these later days; but she had a good 
foundation, and better still, an active mind, 
and a disposition to make the most of her 
opportunities. Both had been somewhat 
desolate iu tlieir earlier years, and their 
home seemed to them the most precious 
place on earth. All plans tended to its im¬ 
provement, aud all dreams of earl lily happi¬ 
ness centered about it. A few years of econ¬ 
omy cancelled the debt with which they 
began. Whatever else they denied them¬ 
selves, hooks and papers abounded. “ It 
will never do to stand still.; minds need food 
as well as body,” John was wont to say; 
and there is no doubt that the prosperity 
which, rewarded them was largely owing to 
this fact—or to the intelligence and thought 
thus guiding their hands. John rarely la¬ 
bored from sunrise till dark, even in harvest 
time, and Mabel didn’t do all the house¬ 
cleaning, soap-making and oilier extras in 
addition to the usual items incident to a 
fanner’s wife. Consequently, doctor’s bills 
were rare, and there was no “running 
down,” or being “ used up.” At least once 
a year they traveled for a few days—took 
some pleasant little trip, combining business 
with pleasure. 
As their family increased, I wondered if 
these pleasant things would be stopped; but 
I saw no change. There was still the same 
yearly jauut, the same care for bodies and 
minds, the same careful attention to speech, 
a nicely arranged table, neatness and order, 
thought and taste everywhere apparent. It 
is tho happiest household I ever saw. The 
children having been carefully trained from 
infancy, find themselves at ease iu any place. 
Music, drawing, and painting make their 
home-life delightful, aud give it a charm un¬ 
known in many households. The young 
people confide in their parents, and are con¬ 
sulted in all domestic arrangements of any 
moment. Mr. Haven and his wife — an 
elderly pair, of course, as years are counted— 
will always he young at heart, and a power 
for good wherever they are placed. Their 
views and practice seem wise and right to 
me, aud tlieir home a model, wherein — 
quoting the beautiful words of David —the 
sons are “ as plants grown up in tlieir youth; 
the daughters as corner-stones polished after 
the similitude of a palace.” 
QUEEN VICTORIA AND AMERICA. 
A writer in the Boston Transcript re- l 
lates the following, which is only another F 
illustration of the good sense and kindliness 
of heart characteristic of England’s worthy 
Queen: 
Several years since an American lady of 
rare good sense ami Christian attainment 
went to Germany to seek health. On her 
way home she went to England. Iler posi¬ 
tion at home, her education and refinement 
of manner, entitled her to be presented to the 
English sovereign. To gratify her friends 
she went to St. James, little thinking much 
pleasure was in store for her. As the Queen 
approached thelady she was attracted by her 
quiet and possessed manner, and by the ex¬ 
pression of universal charity of thought and 
deed which came like a benediction from the 
face of my friend to all those who ap¬ 
proached her. A few royal words of wel¬ 
come were said, the Queen passed on, and 
Mrs.-thought her part in the pageant 
was done. A little after the “ gentleman in 
waiting” brought a request from the Queen 
to the lady that she would visit her at Wind¬ 
sor. The day and hour having been named, 
a carriage was sent to bring her. 
The Queen and Prince Albert received 
her alone in the library. Her Majesty told 
her she had long wished for such an oppor¬ 
tunity, and had ventured to ask this inter¬ 
view, that she might learn from an American 
lady more particularly concerning the inner 
home life of a country so nearly allied to 
England, and claiming and fondly clinging 
to its old traditions and histories, and speak¬ 
ing the same language. She asked of the so¬ 
cial relations as they manifest themselves in 
the different grades of society; of the ob¬ 
servance of public worship; of the standing 
and influence exerted by the clergy in pri¬ 
vate life; of the estimation in which we hold 
our learned literary and scientific men; of 
the religious training and education given 
by the mothers of the land to their children ; 
how much they were intrusted by a certain 
class of mothers to the care of servants; 
what was the interest people of the so-called 
higher classes evinced toward the servants 
in tlieir employ, and of Iho education and 
training received by them; of tho intellectu¬ 
al education received and deemed essential, 
and of the accomplishments usually attained 
by the young daughters of the better classes, 
of the mingling of the various grades, and by 
what rules society generally was governed. 
These and many other similar questions were 
asked and answered •when tho hour had 
passed, yet all tho information the Queen 
and her husband, Prince Albert, wished had 
not been given. 
A second interview was appointed, and 
Mrs.-went again to the castle. At its 
close the Queen said“ Madam, my country 
and your country are of one blood. We are 
hound together by traditions, by the past, 
and by like hopes ami aspirations. God 
grant there be no unkindtiess between us; 
(then turning to her husband she added,) and 
there will never he, so long ns wc may avert 
it." These interviews, sought by the Queen 
to learn from a true woman of tho home life 
of a people so connected with her own land, 
tell us of a good woman, of a true Chris¬ 
tian, whose interest goes out to benefit, if 
possible, all who speak the language of her 
own realm. I thought often in those dark 
days, when distrust and wrong came be¬ 
tween these two great nations, of that sad 
and widowed soul—of the good Queen, and 
of the hour when (parting from Airs.-) 
she took her hand, then laying the oilier 
upon the arm of her husband, her supporter, 
her strength in her many trials and cares, 
said again, “ There shall be no distrust be¬ 
tween my country and your country if we 
can avert it.” Only one of that trio now 
lives. Prince Albert and the American lady 
have both passed away. 
-♦-*-*- 
SOCIAL LIFE. 
Rev. Edward Everett Hale has been 
philosophizing on social relations and duties, 
and among other tilings, he said this; 
For all I can say, or anybody else can say, 
it will be the manner of some people to give 
up meeting other people socially; I am very 
sorry for them, hut I cannot help it. All I 
can "say is that they will be sorry before they 
are done. 1 wish they would read Hi so p’s 
fable about the old man and his sons and the 
bundle of rods. I wish they would find out 
definitely why God gave them tongues and 
lips and ears. I wish they would take to 
heart the folly of this constant struggle in 
which they live, against the whole law of 
the being of a gregarious animal like man. 
What is it that Westerly writes me, whose 
note comes to me from the mail just as I 
finish this paper?—* I do not look for much 
advance in the world until we can get people 
out of their own self.” And what do you 
hear me quoting to you all the time—which 
you can never deny—but that “ The human 
race is the individual of which men and 
women are so many different members.” 
You may kick against this law, but it i3 
true. It is the truth around which, like a 
crystal round its nucleus, all modern civiliza¬ 
tion has taken order. , 
