Drudge-mothers And Lady Daughters

Every one blames the fiae-Iady daughter aod pities the poor drudge-mother. The daughter sits in the parlor, in nice clothcs and elegantly arranged hair, dawdling over a novel, or chatting with couipanions or friends. Her mother is toiling iu the kitcben, or t'retting her soul in the vainattempt to reduce the pile of "mending," and at the same time look after a tumbling baby. The mother's face is worn and thin. Baby bas pulled her hair askew. She still wears the old dress that she put on in such a hurry at half-past live in the morning, when baby awoke from a wcary sleep. She is tired ! She is always tired. She is tired on Saturday, and she L tired on Sundny ; she is tired in the evenipg ; she goes to bed and gets up tired. It is hard not to be angry with the daughter, we confesa. She can look in her exhausted mother's face, and know "how much work there is to be done: and never willingly put forth a hand to help her. Nay, she is going out to tea this evening, and will come to her motber to have her dress adj usted for the great occasion. She casts much of the burden of her existenoe upon the too generous heart that she does not appreciate, and never once feels the impulse to give the aid of her youthful strength. In all our modern world there is not an uglicr sight than this, no not one. It is but natural to throw the blame of itpon the dauahter. "IIiuurtleBs wretch 1" we have heard such a girl called by indignant acquaintances. She is tobe pitied, rather. When she was a little child, all lovely and engaging, her mother said to herself, "She shall not be the drudge I was. She shall not be kept out of sohool to do hqusework, a I was. She shall have a good time while she is young, for there's no knowing what her lot will be afterward." And so her mother mado her young life a long banquet of delights. Roujih places were made sinooth for her ; all difficulties were removed from her path. The lesson taught her every hour for years and years was that it was no great matter what other people suffered, if only her mother's daughter had a good time. She learned that lesson thoroughly, and a frightful eelfishuess was developed in her. Her eyes may f'all upon these hnes. If so, we teil her that people in general will make no allowance for the faults of her bringing up. They will merely say, "See what a shocking and shameful return she makcs for her mother's indulgent care." - Selected.