And Some of Us Read Entirely Too Much

Having stepped all over the toes of some of the nicest people in the world with this post, I shall now endeavor to take a sledgehammer to my own erring feet. There is a sloth of the mind that says, "I just don't have time to read," and there is likewise a sloth of body that says too often, "Just as soon as I finish this chapter...." Worse, that final chapter slips by perhaps a dozen more times before the absorbed reader ever notices. Worse again, the only reason that absorbed reader does notice that the chapter is ended is because she has, to her great chagrin, reached the end of the book.

Yes, some of us read entirely too much, and we read when we should be doing other things. However, I cannot advise you as to how to improve your ways if you are part of that vast sisterhood because it would be gross hypocrisy. The Progeny, after all, read this blog, and they do know their mother. So let us look to the advice of Aunt Sophronia. We look in upon her and find her occupied in her study, alternately reading a book by Ben Franklin, and picking up her mending to occupy her hands while she thinks of what she has been reading. A neighbor, young Miss Black, drops in for a visit and expresses astonishment that she should always find Aunt Sophronia occupied and busy, and she wonders why she does not sit with her hands folded like a lady of leisure. Aunt Sophronia tells her:

"When God created Adam, he created also a business for Adam; he did not make him a gentleman of leisure, with the first years of Creation hanging heavily upon his hands; and so, every since, when God sends a reasonable soul into the world, he sends with it its especial work and round of duties, which belong to no other soul; believe me, God investigates our doings here, and will make inquiry whether or not we performed this work which he intends for our doing..."

After some further conversation upon industry in the home, Miss Black takes her leave, and then, Aunt Sophronia tells us,

"I sat considering what a sin parents commit, who do not bring up their children to be industrious, to feel that every home should be a hive of industry, that, in one way or another, every member of the family must contribute their share of labor to home activities. How little do we think of impressing upon the minds of the young the fact, that God expects them to do something! ... I never yet read of a good person who was not a busy person; business and happiness seem also commingled in this world; and activity, useful activity and good health go hadn in hand.... What a fashion in slow suicide is this much talked of 'killing our time!' The hand of the diligent maketh rich; being 'not slothful in business' is one of the main ways of serving the Lord, who called us to labor...

While I was thinking thus, Cousin Ann came in. She had driven in to the village with a quantity of eggs and butter for the hotel, and she came, as she often does to take dinner with me.... I said to Cousin Ann, when she was comfortably seated and had begun to knit on a stocking for Helen's Tom:
"Cousin Ann, you are never idle, and your children are just like you in that."

"Trained them to it," said Cousin Ann.

"I should like to know how you did it. I have had the subject of industry and indolence in Homes brought before my mind this morning, and I want to know how you proceeded in bringing up all your family to be industrious."

"I made a habit of it, in the first place," said Cousin Ann, "and then I gave them an object in it; and meantime I studied the children themselves, so as to direct their industry as far as I could in a natural bent, and not make labor a bitterness to them... We ought to study children in giving out their work, and while necessity rules often in distributing employment, we should follow the natural bent, just as far as we can.... I made industry a habit for my children.

...through it all they got a fixed habit of being helpful and busy, and of not sitting idle when there was work to be done, and other people were busy. ...I don't mean that now [my daughter Sarah] would not sit down, or take a book... because there were dishes to wash, and the servant was washing them; so long as the girl knows how and has the time, her own work can be left to her; but Sarah feels that she owes to God the right use of her time, and she would not dare to spend an idle day; she changes work, and rest in the change; she is working while she informs her mind [reading]; makes her clothes, and takes her part in the homework of all kinds."

I will add that Cousin Ann and Aunt Sophronia both agree that the work of the day ought to be completed by the evening meal, with only washing up to do afterward. They suggest that the evenings are set aside for reading, visiting with family, and quiet family occupations. Even those who work for others, they believe, should leave their evenings free, after having put in a full ten hour day of labor for their bread. They also believe in keeping the Sabbath, by which they mean not the Sabbath, but Sunday. Milking, feeding, and watering the animals must be done, but they suggest that even the eggs should not be collected until Monday morning, and only simple meals prepared so the mother can spend her day reading, praying, and talking with her family.