CHAPTER XIII. "Can fancy paint more finished happiness? THE most strenuous advocate for the exclusive importance of a woman's being an adept at all those employments which belong particularly to her department in the conduct of a family, would have been satisfied with Amy's skill in housekeeping. Every one, who entered her father's house, could not but notice the beautiful order that prevailed. There was nothing of what is so emphatically and well called fussing, upon extraordinary While her father was rich, and the same when he was comparatively poor, she adhered to a mode of living which she thought was properly conformed to his means. Upon the subject of entertaining company, it was her principle, to provide more amply, not differently, for guests. While they were rich, this required no sacrifice, and was com occasions. paratively an easy thing, and gave her the full enjoyment of society; but when their means became limited, it required some effort of principle, to resist the temptation of adopting a style, when company came, which they could not usually afford. Her father was always urging her to this sort of display; but Amy was faithful to her principle, of making no false pretences. "I wish," she would say to her father, "to be truly hospitable, and yet to enjoy our visiters. Now, if we expend money in entertaining them, which we cannot afford, I cannot take pleasure in seeing them; for I should feel as if we were doing wrong. Let us appear to the world as we really are; our welcome to our friends will be as sincere as ever." "The world will soon forget us, if we do not conform to its customs," said her father. "But there is a dignity and truth in living according to our means, that even the world will acknowledge and respect, father; and our real friends will surely not forsake us." They thus had an opportunity of finding out who visited them for the sake of the style in which they lived, and who out of real regard. Mr. Weston was surprised to see that some of those, whom he considered his fastest friends, fell away with his fine houses and elegant carriage and horses; and he was still more astonished to see that some, whom he had looked down upon or forgotten, stood by him and his daughter in what he considered their day of adversity. She In her treatment of the domestics, Amy never forgot that we are all equally the children of God. She ever recognized the truth, that the difference between the employer and those whom he employs is adventitious and accidental-imposing mutual duties, but leaving the natural rights of each the same. She felt that the heaviest and most sacred obligation rested upon the most favored party. thought that he, who pays money for faithful services, always gains what is, in itself, more valuable than what he gives; and that if, in addition, he receives confidence and affection, he has given the perishable for the imperishable treasure, and that the bargain is unfair, unless he returns love for love. Some will say, "All this is very excellent; these are grand principles, and show that Amy had a just notion of Christianity; but it does not prove her a perfect housekeeper. Could she make puddings and pies, and did she under stand the whole arcana of the pantry and larder?" Yes; she could make puddings, and pies, and soups, and sauces, and jams, and jellies, and cakes, and custards, according to the most approved receipts. "Was she punctual at meals?" asks some dyspeptical gentleman. "Were you certain that the dinner would not grow cold, and her husband's temper grew hot, while she finished dressing?" Yes; she was sure as the clock, and ever at her post, ready for its summons. "And was she patient with those who were not punctual, that harder duty?" asks the nice moralist. In this, too, Amy did not fail. Her cousin Fanny said of her, that "she was the only punctual and careful person she had ever known, that she could tolerate. Unlike these pattern folks," she said, "when another was too late, when another was so unfortunate as to lose anything, Amy never remarked that she never lost anything - she never kept people waiting." She thought it was well to be faithful in her attention to these minor duties, but believed that any degree of boasting would diminish, if not efface their merit. There is one question that perhaps no one will be impertinent enough to ask, which we Was Amy must therefore put ourselves. careful, and neat, and attentive, in her per sonal appearance? Self-respect, regard for others, even her religious sensibilities, all combined to urge upon her mind the importance of this duty. She wished that her dress might please others, for she wished to give pleasure in every thing. The human body, this exquisite instrument of knowledge and happiness, so cunningly, so wonderfully made should it not be the object of as much care as we bestow upon some of God's lesser gifts? Does it not contain a celestial spirit? Some may call it a fanciful enthusiasm; but Amy felt that since Jesus had consecrated the human form, it should be kept as a holy temple, in which divine excellence had once been enshrined. We ask pardon of the reader, for giving such a list of Amy's excellences as a wife and a housekeeper; but she was too modest to speak of them herself, and they could be known fully only to intimate friends and daily visiters. Edward had much improved during his absence. His character was more firm, more decided. There was an open-hearted pleasantry, a Christian cheerfulness, in his manners, |